/Continuing, Professional and Online Education
School of Professional Development

About Us

The School of Professional Development (SPD) is home to Stony Brook University’s professional, executive and continuing education programs.

The School oversees all teacher and leader certification programs and through its collaborations with school districts, Teacher Centers, BOCES, and other organizations, SPD serves as a leading resource for educators across the region. Beyond the K-12 level, SPD has  higher education administration programs designed to provide the academic preparation and credentials necessary for college and university professionals to enhance their expertise and advance their careers.

In addition to education programs, SPD also offers graduate degree and advanced certificates in human resource management and athletic coaching. We also have an extensive array of non-credit, career development and programs as well as outreach programs for teachers, administrators and lifelong learners.

Courses meet online, on campus in the evening, and on-site through our organizational partnerships. Fully online students may take individual courses or complete one of several degree and advanced graduate certificate programs. 

Please explore our website for more detailed information on our offerings, or contact us to speak with an academic advisor. We welcome your interest and the opportunity to discuss how our programs can help you advance to a more rewarding career.

Mission Statement

  • To provide high-quality, evidence-based and research-informed graduate programs at the master's and post-master's level that foster the application of "theory to practice" and advance career impact and success.
  • To combine best practices in teaching and learning with cutting edge educational technologies to drive innovations in academic program design that optimize asynchronous, synchronous, and blended learning outcomes.
  • To promote and celebrate excellence in teacher and leader education.
  • To broaden access to continuing, professional, executive, and online education opportunities and work with external partners to develop impactful programs that align with contemporary professional and workforce development needs.
  • To collaborate with our K-12 educational partners to extend areas of SBU academic excellence to high school students through the Accelerated College Education (ACE) and Pre-College Summer programs.