Dare To Inspire
Become certified to teach in your subject area
Stony Brook’s Teacher Education concentration enables you to graduate with both your major and a New York State teaching credential, opening doors to a career that is meaningful, stable, and in high demand.
ABOUT THE TEACHER EDUCATION Concentration
Stony Brook offers 20 undergraduate programs that align with New York State teacher certification content areas. Students in these programs who wish to become certified teachers may add a Teacher Education concentration to their degree plan to complete the academic preparation necessary for certification. The concentration comprises coursework in the following areas:
- Core Education: Understand the theory and practices behind effective teaching.
- Field Experience: Gain real-world insights by observing and assisting experienced teachers.
- Supervised Student Teaching: Put your knowledge into practice in a classroom setting under the guidance of a mentor teacher.
Students who successfully complete their major and concentration requirements are eligible for certification to teach in New York State. See the individual program descriptions linked below for details.
ELIGIBILITYSecond-semester sophomores and first-semester juniors who are in one of the undergraduate majors listed below and have a 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply for the concentration. |
Why you should consider teaching
Teaching is more than a profession—it's an opportunity to inspire and shape the next generation.
As a certified teacher in New YorkN State, you'll step into a stable, well-respected career where you can make a difference every day.
A teaching career offers excellent benefits, financial support, and growth opportunities that reward your commitment to education and community.
Teaching in New YorK state
New York is a great place to teach! The state invests in its schools and its teachers, providing the highest amount of funding per-student in the country and offering its teachers all of the advantages listed below. For these reasons, NY has the lowest teacher turnover rate in the country. Source: WalletHub (September 2024)
Competitive Salary
New York teachers rank second in the nation for average pay and first when adjusted
for the cost of living, with a rate that is 33% higher than the national average. Sources: National Education Association and WalletHub.
Excellent Benefits
New York teachers enjoy comprehensive benefits packages, including:
- Health insurance
- Retirement plans (e.g., NYS Teachers' Retirement System)
- Paid time off (vacation, sick leave, holidays and personal days)
- Professional development opportunities
Job Security
Teachers are urgently needed across New York State. School districts are facing significant
teacher shortages, especially in core subjects such as mathematics, science, and foreign
languages, making it an opportune time to enter the field.
Loan Forgiveness
As a certified teacher, you may qualify for special loan forgiveness programs that
can help significantly reduce your student loan debt. Programs include Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF) Program, Perkins Loan cancellation for teachers and State-sponsored student loan forgiveness programs.
Career Growth
The field of education offers opportunities beyond classroom teaching. You can advance
into leadership roles such as curriculum development, administration, instructional
coaching, and teacher training.
Work-Life Balance
New York teachers typically work a standard 180-day school year, with holidays, summers
and weekends off. You’ll have time for travel, family, and personal or professional
interests.
Job Portability
New York offers a variety of teaching positions in diverse settings, including urban,
suburban, and rural schools. If you want or need to relocate, New York State certified
teachers also have interstate reciprocity with more than 30 other states and jurisdictions
for classroom teaching certificates. States Offering With Reciprocity With New York
