/Continuing, Professional and Online Education
Teacher Education

Master's Degrees for Current Teachers

If you're currently a teacher with an initial certification in New York State, you'll need three years of full-time teaching experience plus a graduate degree in your content area to apply for professional certification.* 

Stony Brook University offers 80+ master's degrees in a wide range of subjects, many of which can be pursued on a part-time basis. Some of the more popular with teachers include:

  • Master of Arts in English. This program requires 30 credits, including a master’s thesis, for completion. Students also have the option to specialize by completing a concentration in Writing and Rhetoric. While pursuing the MA in English, students may also earn an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in women’s, gender and sexuality studies, media, arts, cultural and technology, or composition studies. Students in the MA in English Literature program can enroll full-time or part-time. We offer flexible schedules with evening courses and online course options.
  • Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. A 33-credit program that allows teachers to build the 
  • Master of Arts in Mathematics: Secondary Teacher Option.The Secondary Teacher Option is a 30-credit two-year, part-time master's program designed for secondary school mathematics teachers who are seeking permanent certification. The nine required courses in the program are given in the evenings and in the summer on a rotating basis; each required course is offered at least once every two and a half years.
  • Master of Arts in Romance Languages: Language Pedagogy Track for Secondary School Teachers. This 30-credit MA is designed for students who have completed a BA and teacher certification in one Romance Language (French, Italian or Spanish) and a minor in a second Romance Language.  The MA in Romance Languages allows teachers to further concentrate in the language and culture they teach while improving proficiency in their secondary language. All courses are offered in the late afternoons/evenings with some online options.

  • Master of Arts in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The MA TESOL 30-credit track is  intended for those who already hold NYS teacher certification in an area other than TESOL and who wish to obtain TESOL certification. The degree is considered a valid master's for professional licensure for all teachers in New York State. 

For a complete list of Stony Brook University master's programs, visit the Graduate Admissions website.

 

Next Steps to Certification

After you've earned your master’s degree, you will apply for the professional certificate directly through the New York State Education Department’s online TEACH system via certificate progression.

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*To find the exact requirements for your license, search for certification requirements on the TEACH website.