Teacher Education Progams for Undergraduates
Get certified to teach in New York State by adding a concentration to your program
Stony Brook offers 20 undergraduate programs aligned with New York State teacher certification content areas. If you’re currently enrolled in one of those programs and want to become a certified teacher, you can add the Teacher Education concentration to your degree plan.
The concentration is completed alongside your major — not instead of it. You’ll graduate with deep expertise in your subject area and the academic preparation required for New York State certification to teach at the secondary level (grades 7–12, with an option to extend to grades 5–6).
What the Concentration Includes
The Teacher Education concentration comprises coursework in three areas:
- Core Education: Theory and practice of effective teaching
- Field Experience: Supervised observation and classroom assistance with experienced teachers
- Student Teaching: A full semester of supervised classroom teaching under the guidance of a mentor teacher
Students who complete their major and concentration requirements are eligible for certification to teach in New York State.
Want to finish faster?
Consider a combined bachelor's-master's program.
If you're a high-achieving undergraduate in an eligible program, you may be able to earn your bachelor's degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching in a single accelerated sequence — completing your major, the Teacher Education concentration, and MAT requirements without starting over after graduation.
Combined programs are available in Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Sciences, and Social Studies. BA/MA pathways in English and Linguistics are also available.
Eligibility
Second-semester sophomores and first-semester juniors enrolled in one of the eligible undergraduate majors listed below, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, are eligible to apply.
To apply, submit the Teacher Prep Major Declaration Form. Applications are typically submitted in the spring of your sophomore year (or the fifth semester before your anticipated graduation date).
Certification Areas and Majors