/College of Arts & Sciences
Department of History

Empowering Students to Study the Past and Shape the Future

Teacher Education Program

Teacher Education Program

Unlike traditional models, Stony Brook does not have a free-standing education school. Instead, we have developed a "distributed model" in which the individual teacher education programs are housed in the relevant academic departments. This allows students to take advantage of the strengths of these academic departments, while overall responsibility for coordinating curriculum and instruction lies with the Professional Education Program.

 

Certification Tracks

Undergraduate four-year program: Undergraduates earn a major in the content area (most often history, but also Africana Studies, anthropology, economics, political science, or sociology) while completing a course of study in pedagogy that leads to state certification.

Bachelor's/Master of Arts in Teaching program in History and Africana Studies: Although students can earn their certification at the undergraduate level, New York State requires all teachers to earn a relevant master’s degree in order to retain their certification. These combined, five-year programs allow students to earn both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree, and to qualify for teacher certification, in less time—and at less cost—than if they were to pursue these degrees sequentially. They also provide a more coherent learning experience.

Bachelor's/Master's program in history and social studies: Students admitted to this five-year program follow the same course of studies as students admitted to our MA and PhD programs, and—along with teacher certification—they earn a master’s degree in history, rather than teaching. This program prepares students for secondary school teaching, doctoral study in history, and/or other careers that build on the research, analytical, and writing skills acquired in the graduate program in history.

Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT): This program is designed for individuals who already possess a bachelor’s degree and who wish to teach social studies, but who do not have an undergraduate degree in education.

 

Accreditation

AAQEP

 

Stony Brook University is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The program has been awarded full accreditation by AAQEP through June 30, 2030. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.

NCSS

 

The Stony Brook University Teacher Education Program is affiliated with the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), as its Social Studies Teacher Education Program is nationally recognized and accredited by NCSS. This affiliation reflects the program’s alignment with national standards for excellence in social studies education and teacher preparation.