Santa Clara University

An undergraduate major in History is an excellent way to begin to prepare yourself to teach History and Social Studies in a California secondary school.

To earn a credential to teach History and Social Studies in a California secondary school, you must:

• Earn a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution such as Santa Clara University
• Pass the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST)
• Pass the California Subject Examination for Teachers (CSET)
• Complete an additional fifth year of study in an approved graduate program in education to earn your teaching credential.

The CSET consists of three parts, all of which you must pass:

• American History
• World History
• Social Studies, especially Government and Economics

History majors wishing to prepare for the CSET and the credential program may choose any emphasis which the Department offers.

However, as part of your major, the Department recommends that you take the following courses:

• American History
  • HIST 96A and HIST 96B (The Survey of American History)
  • HIST 184 (American Historical Geography)
  • HIST 186 (California)
• World History
  • HIST 104 (World History Until 1492)
  • HIST 105 (Modern World History)
• Social Studies
  • ECON 1 and ECON 2
  • POLI 1
  • one additional Political Science course dealing with American government
  • a course in World Geography (ENVS 50 or POLI 50 or ANTH 50)

The Department also recommends that you complete the requirements for the Urban Education minor in the Liberal Studies Program.

For more information, please consult with the Department's pre-teaching advisor, Robert M. Senkewicz.