Liberal Studies Home

Admissions

Philosophy

Post-degree Employment

Faculty

Program Requirements

FAQs

Recent Newsletters

Teacher Certification
SUNY Brockport: Expect the Extraordinary!
Academics


Masters of Liberal Studies and Teacher Certification

After February 2004--Students with initial certification have five years to obtain professional certification. The three options for master's programs to work with teacher certification are restricted to the following:

  1. Teacher Education Programs Leading to Another Certificate
    The master's degree may be based upon completing a teacher certification program leading to a certificate in a title other than that of the Initial certificate. The master's degree may be completed toward a classroom teaching, pupil personnel or supervisory/administrative certificate.

    The MALS program is not a program registered to lead to any certification area.
  1. Master's Degree in the Initial Certificate Content or Related Areas
    The master's degree may also be in the same content area of the Initial certificate or in a closely related subject area.

    If the State has said that any liberal arts master's degree is related to the teaching certificate-Early Childhood, Childhood, and Special Education-then the MALS program meets this option.
  1. Required Coursework for Those with Unrelated Master's
    If the master's degree is in neither of the two above categories, the applicant for Professional certification must complete twelve graduate credits of graduate study in the content or related area of the Initial certificate.

    The MALS generally falls into this category. Note the three exceptions in #2. Refer to the Advisement Guide for course work that must be taken at SUNY College at Brockport to satisfy the twelve graduate credits. Also, note the certification areas where SUNY College at Brockport has no courses that satisfy the twelve-credit requirement: Business and Marketing and Family and Consumer Science. In most cases, students in the MALS program will be able to take those twelve credits as part of the program. However, because the MALS program only accepts nine credits of electives from any one discipline, for some students, one additional course must be taken to meet the requirements for their certification area.

Note--Prior to 2004--Students with provisional certification have five years to meet criteria for permanent certification. Master's programs that work with Teacher Certification are any programs that are functionally relevant. The MALS program is not registered with New York State, but the State does accept it to meet the requirements for permanent certification.

The Liberal Studies application fee is $50 and does not include the certification fee of $30 which covers the services of the Office of Certification for programs registered to lead to a certificate. Students wishing to complete the requirements for permanent or professional teacher certification through the MALS program apply directly to the State for their certificate or see their local BOCES representative. Applications may be downloaded at www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/.

Further questions or requests for information regarding Teacher Certification may be referred to the Coordinator of Certification, Karen McCarthy, (585) 395-2344, Room 254 Albert W. Brown Building.

Teacher Certification applications are available online at: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/. Click here for information to assist in completing the online application for NYS Certification.

Further information regarding Teachers Certification can also be obtained at the following links:

Privacy Policy
Contact Us Home

© 2003-2008 State University of New York College at Brockport
The College at Brockport * 350 New Campus Drive * Brockport, NY 14420