COMBINED BACHELOR'S/MASTER'S PROGRAMS FOR TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Opportunity for Current Stony Brook Undergraduate Students

Stony Brook offers a number of combined undergraduate/graduate degree programs through collaborations between the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Professional Development (SPD), and the Graduate School. These programs allow current Stony Brook undergraduate students with special talent and motivation to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree in less time and at less expense than if they enrolled in two separate programs. Applicants to the combined programs are not required to submit an application fee or GRE scores.

SPD's combined BA or BS/MAT five-year programs lead to both degrees and certification in Adolescent Education in Foreign Language (with or without ESL/ENL certification), Mathematics, Science or Social Studies. The BA or BS/MAT option is available to students who are matriculated in the following undergraduate degree programs: Africana Studies,  Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, French, History, Italian, Mathematics, Physics, and Spanish.

For combined BA/MA programs in English, History, and Linguistics/TESOL, consult the departmental websites or the Graduate Catalog.

Students may enter into one of SPD-sponsored programs as early as the beginning of their junior year. While some graduate study will take place prior to the last undergraduate semester, graduate status will commence with the eighth semester, and graduation with both degrees will usually occur after ten semesters of study. The total combined degree program will include 150 credits of study and save the student a minimum of one semester’s time and graduate tuition.

Teacher preparation candidates must also complete certification workshops in child abuse, substance abuse, school violence, and harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention and intervention. In addition, they must be fingerprinted. Stony Brook offers these workshops monthly. See Certification and Licensing Workshops for details.

Application Information

To be eligible to apply to this program, students must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; a higher GPA in one’s major is preferred.

Applications are accepted online through the School of Professional Development's application system. Students will select the appropriate BA/BS MAT application and submit all the following required materials online:

• Program Information. Submit the names of your departmental academic advisor and Teacher Preparation Program director (if different).
• Personal Statement. Compose a personal statement that reflects your experiences, interests and ambitions and references a pathway from the Conceptual Framework found on the Teacher Education website. Explain in a well-written, 500 - 750 word essay how these two concepts will guide your development as an effective educator in your chosen field.
• Recommenders. Enter the names of three recommenders and provide their professional email addresses (e.g., @stonybrook.edu, not @gmail.com). Your recommenders will be sent an email notification of your request with a link for them to upload their letters directly into your application.
• Transcripts. You do not need to provide transcripts from Stony Brook University, but if you have attended another institution, you will need to include the school's information where asked as well as provide  supporting copies of the undergraduate transcripts.

Deadlines

Fall Semester

• March 15 — Math
• May 15 — Social Studies
• July 15 — Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, French, Italian, Physics and Spanish

Spring Semester

• October 15 — French, Italian, Math, Spanish and Social Studies
• December 1 — Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, and Physics

Summer Semester

• March 15 — Mathematics
• April 15 — Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, French, Italian, Physics, Social Studies and Spanish

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Professional License Disclosure

Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified.

Stony Brook's Combined BA/MAT programs for Teacher Certification are registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification for teaching in New York State.

Enrolling in Graduate Courses

Students who have applied for and been admitted into a Combined Bachelor's/Master's Degree program may enroll in up to 15 graduate credits while in their undergraduate career. To enroll, they must complete the permission form and have it signed by their program director prior to submission to SPD.