Career Definition for Ancient History Teachers
Ancient history teachers are subject-specialized instructors who normally teach grades 7-12. They act as learning facilitators, plan presentations, and tailor individualized and small-group instruction to help students grasp historical concepts. In addition, ancient history teachers also evaluate student performance, give grades, and meet with parents and teachers. Specific job duties include the preparation of overall curriculum and daily lessons, the instruction of students in ancient history of regions around the world, communication with parents on students' progress, and administration of exams.
| Education | Bachelor's in history or related field |
| Job Duties | Evaluate student performance, give grades, meet with parents |
| Median Salary (2021) | $61,820 (all high school teachers)* |
| Job Growth (2021-2031) | 5% (all high school teachers)* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Educational Requirements
An ancient history teacher in a public school needs a bachelor's degree with a major in history, concentrating, if possible, on ancient Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Asian civilizations. While most states require that teachers have a degree in their specialty subject matter, some regions do allow for individuals with a bachelor's degree to secondarily qualify for a teaching license in the field regardless of what the degree was earned in.
Licensing Requirements
State licensure requirements vary by state. The majority of license regulations mandate that a teacher has fulfilled minimum course requirements related to the teaching field; required courses often include human development, psychology, teaching techniques, and supervised classroom practice. Many states now offer programs, listed with the National Center for Alternative Certification (NCAC), allowing people with bachelor's degrees to become licensed to teach without education credits.
Required Skills
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that ancient history teachers need the following skills:
- Highly developed verbal, critical thinking, and inductive reasoning skills
- Ability to instruct students who may have a variety of learning styles
- Sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others
- Ability to tolerate stress
- Communication skills when interacting with parents about their children
Employment and Salary Outlook
According to the American Historical Association (AHA), opportunities for specialists in subjects such as ancient history may be greatest in private schools, since public schools often emphasize more generalized social studies instruction. The BLS reported that the median annual salary for a high school teacher was $61,820 in May 2021. The BLS also indicated that the employment of all high school teachers was expected to increase 5% from 2021-2031, which was about as fast as average for all occupations.