Teacher Certification Information

For MA/LS Applicants Only

If you are a certified teacher and hold an initial license, you will need to earn a master's degree to obtain professional certification. The MA/LS serves this purpose, provided that:

• you successfully complete at least 12 credits in the content area in which you hold an initial license;
• you have these content area courses pre-approved by NYSED (see contact information below);
• final grades in these content area courses must be a "B-" (B minus) or better; and
• you follow the steps outlined in our Sample Professional Certification Application website.

Prior to applying to the MA/LS program, you should review the University's course offerings to ensure that they are relevant to your certification needs.

• SPD Courses—Most of the courses you will take will be offered through SPD. If you are applying to the MA/LS Online program, please note that we have separated those course listings for your convenience. MA/LS Online students may be eligible to transfer credits if our online offerings do not meet your certification needs (contact the SPD Admissions and Advisement office for more information).
• University Courses—This link goes to the Registrar's website, which provides a complete listing of all graduate courses offered at the University. MA/LS students may be eligible to take courses offered from other academic departments to meet their certification requirements (contact the SPD Admissions and Advisement office for more information).

New York State Education Department

Advisement on teacher certification (particularly how individual SPD courses may be used to satisfy teacher certification requirements) must be obtained by either writing or calling NYSED:

Office of Teaching
NYS Education Department (NYSED)
Albany, NY 12234
Telephone: 518.474.3901
E-mail: tcert@mail.nysed.gov
Web: www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/

School of Professional Development—Admissions and Advisement Office

School of Professional Development
N 201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Building
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4310
E-mail: spd@stonybrook.edu
Tel. (631) 632-7050 (option 3)

Statement of Student Responsibility
Students themselves—whether new, returning, or continuing—are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and adhering to their degree and/or certificate program requirements. (SPD’s Non-matriculating (non-degree) Graduate Students [GSP] are responsible for adhering to the guidelines related to non-matriculated status.) All SPD students are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and complying with University and SPD regulations, policies, and procedures, as described in all official publications, the University website, and the SPD website, including, but not limited to, SPD’s online references, the SPD Student Handbook and SPD Academic Calendar.