Social Studies 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 Distributed Teacher and Leader Education program.
We have several different 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.
• BA/MAT programs 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.
• BA/MA 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.
Those persons who already have social studies certification, but who are seeking a
master’s program for professional certification, should apply to the history master's program (professional track).
Most of our student teachers are placed in cooperating school districts in Suffolk
and Nassau counties, while the SUNY Urban Teacher Education Center provides interested students with the opportunity to complete their clinical internship
in the New York City schools.
For further information or to set up an appointment, please email the interim program
director, Charles Backfish.
Contact Information
Charles G. Backfish, Director
S-653 Social and Behavioral Sciences
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY 11794-4348
Tel.: 631-632-1093
Email: Charles.Backfish@stonybrook.edu
