Teacher Certification Information

Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Applicants

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 and MA/LS Online serve this purpose, provided that:

• you successfully complete at least 12 credits in the content area in which you hold an initial license;
• 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 Guideline for your TEACH on-line account.

The MA/LS is a functionally relevant master's degree for professional teaching certification. When applying for professional license, MA/LS students must file for certificate progression via an "Individual Evaluation" pathway. Please remember, this is strictly a basic guide and information must be adjusted according to your history, education and experience as appropriate.

Content Areas: View our listing of professional certification content areas to see which SPD courses can be used for certification. Please note that CED 595, Project Seminar, may not to be used to meet the NYSED 12-credit content requirement for professional licensure.

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 the School of Professional Development. If you are applying for a professional teaching license, please note that SPD has separated our course listings into certification content areas for your convenience. »View all certification areas
• University Courses—This link goes to the Registrar's website. MA/LS students may be eligible to take courses offered through academic departments in other colleges and schools within the University to meet their certification requirements. Students must contact these departments for eligibility and permission to enroll.
• If it is not apparent how our courses meet your particular certification needs, contact the SPD Admissions and Advisement office for advisement.

New York State Education Department

If you are filing for an initial license with individual transcript evaluation, you should direct questions to:

Office of Teaching Initiatives
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 1)

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 Bulletin and SPD Academic Calendar.