Degree Program

The degree program consists of 44 credits, distributed among the areas listed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is three credits. All degree requirements must be completed within five (5) years from the semester date of admission as a matriculated student.

GRADUATE SCIENCE COURSES 
15 credits; courses are selected with the approval of a departmental advisor. Following are SAMPLE programs.

Biology(HEGIS 0401)
Core courses (select 3 of the following):
CEB 546 Current Topics in Biotechnology
CEB 547 Current Topics in Molecular Genetics
CEB 553 Biology of Human Behavior
CEB 554 Current Topics in Immunology
CEB 556 Ecology

Plus two of the following*:
CEB 505 History of the Long Island Environment
CEB 557 Forensic Science
CEB 548 Current Topics in Microbiology
CEB 549 Laboratory Science Curriculum Development
CEN 508/CHE 593 Demonstrations in Chemistry

*With prior approval of the MAT Biology program director, you may choose a content course from one of the masters or PhD programs in Marine Science, Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology and Ecology & Evolution to satisfy requirements in this area.

Earth Science (HEGIS 1917)
Each student’s content curriculum within the Earth Science MAT will be predicated on background preparation. For further information visit the Department of Geosciences.

Chemistry (HEGIS 1905)
CHE 501 Instrumental Methods in Chemistry
CHE 504 Structure and Reactivity in Organic Chemistry
CHE 507 Biomolecular Structure and Reactivity
CHE 511 Structural Inorganic Chemistry
CHE 590 Master's Term Paper

Physics (HEGIS 1902)
PHY 570 Introductory Physics Revisited for Teachers
PHY 571 Electromagnetic Theory for Teachers
PHY 573 Mechanics for Teachers
PHY 576 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics for Teachers
PHY 578  Quantum Physics for Teachers

PROFESSIONAL STUDIES IN EDUCATION - 23 credits

CEE 505 Education: Theory and Practice
CEF 547 Principles and Practices of Special Education
CEE 565 Human Development (formerly PSY 595)
CEE 594 Language Acquisition and Literacy Development (formerly LIN 544)
SCI 510 Introduction to Science Teaching (co-requisite SCI 549)
SCI 520 Science Teaching Methods (prerequisite SCI 510; co-requisite SCI 550)
SCI 549 Clinical Experience I (one-credit; co-requisite SCI 510)
SCI 550 Clinical Experience II (one-credit; prerequisite SCI 549; co-requisite SCI 520)
SCI 554 Student Teaching Seminar (prerequisites SCI 510, 520, 549, 550, CEE 505, CEE 565, CEE 594, and CEF 547, and all content courses required for completion of the degree; interview with and permission of Science Education Committee ; and matriculation in degree [MAT/BIO, CHE, ESS, or PHY] program. Co-requisites SCI 551 and SCI 552.)

SUPERVISED STUDENT TEACHING- 6 credits

SCI 551 Supervised Student Teaching High School Grades 10-12: Science (prerequisites SCI 510, 520, 549 and 550; co-requisite sSCI 552 & SCI 554)
SCI 552 Supervised Student Teaching Middle School Grades 7-9: Science (prerequisites SCI 510, 520, 549 and 550; co-requisites SCI 551 & SCI 554)

WRITTEN PROJECT

Students will be required to complete a teaching project approved by the sponsoring department.

Teacher Certification

Stony Brook University requires that students must have completed an undergraduate degree and have at least 36 credits in the content field for admission to the MAT program. This course of study should be substantially the equivalent to that of a Stony Brook undergraduate degree program.

The Master of Arts in Teaching is a New York State registered and approved program that qualifies students for license upon successful degree completion. Students must complete all courses required for the MAT and must receive a grade of B or better in all pedagogy and foundation courses as well as an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all course work attempted while matriculated in a graduate teacher preparation program.

Workshops

Teacher preparation candidates must be fingerprinted and must also complete certification workshops in:

• Child Abuse
• Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) 
• School Violence (Project Save)
• Identification and Referral of Substance Abuse 

See Certification and Licensing Workshopsfor details and schedules.

Tests

All students will have to complete the Educating All Students Test and the revised CST (Content Specialty Test) in the area of the Certificate. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor the TEACH website at http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/ to ensure that they are taking the appropriate examinations. 

Note: As of April 27, 2022, the NYS Education Department eliminated the edTPA as a certification requirement.  Effective September 1, 2023, in lieu of the edTPA, all students in teacher preparation programs will be required to complete a teacher performance assessment.  This assessment will be developed, administered, and evaluated by Stony Brook University instructors.

Tuition and Financial Information

Cost of Attendance
Tuition and fee information can be found on the Bursar's website.

Payment Plan
Stony Brook recognizes the need for helping students manage the expenses of higher education. To this end, the University offers a Time Option Payment Plan(TOPP), a program that allows students to make equal and consecutive payments throughout the year.

Financial Aid
For information on financial aid options, contact the Stony Brook Office of Financial Aid at (631) 632-6840, or visit the Financial Aid website.

Application Information

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY*

• An academic major or a minimum of 36 credits in the content field (e.g., Biology, Earth Science, etc.)
• A minimum GPA of 2.75 in your overall bachelor's degree program
• A minimum GPA of 3.00 in science courses
• One year of college-level study of a foreign language with a grade of “C” or better (this may include American Sign Language)

*As of Spring 2022, Graduate Record Exam scores are no longer required for admission.

Electronic transcripts should be sent to spd_transcripts@stonybrook.edu. Paper transcripts and supporting materials should be sent to:

Debra Szostak, Administrator
Institute for STEM Education
092 Life Sciences Building
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY  11794-5233

Application Deadlines and Link 

Contact Information

Science Education

Keith Sheppard, EdD
Director, Institute for STEM Education
(631) 632-2989
keith.sheppard@stonybrook.edu

Linda Padwa, PhD
Associate Director for Science Education
(631) 632-7075
linda.padwa@stonybrook.edu 

Program Advisors

Biology

Edward Bossong
Undergraduate Advisor
Edward.Bossong@stonybrook.edu

Rachel Pilero
Undergraduate Advisor
(631) 632-8571
Rachel.Pilero@stonybrook.edu

Zuzana Zachar, PhD
Graduate Advisor, Biology
(631) 632-8970
zuzana.zachar@stonybrook.edu

Chemistry

Susan Oatis, PhD
Undergraduate and Graduate Advisor, Chemistry
(631) 632-1571
Susan.Oatis@stonybrook.edu

Earth and Space Sciences

Hanna Nekvasil, PhD
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Hanna.Nekvasil@stonybrook.edu

Gregory Henkes, PhD
Graduate Program Advisor
(631) 632-2905
Gregory.Henkes@stonybrook.edu

Physics

Angela M. Kelly, PhD
Undergraduate and Graduate Advisor
(631) 632-9750
Angela.Kelly@stonybrook.edu