Teacher Certification Options

Which teacher certification programs am I eligible for?

Undergraduate majors in Inclusive Childhood and Inclusive Adolescent Education meet the academic requirements for both Students With Disabilities (All Grades) and a specific grade level certification.

Many of our master’s degrees and CAS programs that lead to New York State certification are open to students with no previous study in education, while some require previous certification. Many of these programs require liberal arts distribution courses as prerequisites; whether or not these need to be taken before admission varies by program. See the Admissions page under each program for more on liberal arts distribution courses, liberal arts concentrations, and other specific admissions requirements.

For more information contact:

Heather Macknik, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment
hmmackni@syr.edu|315.443.4269
Heather Macknik headshot
Breana Nieves Vergara, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions and Recruitment
bknieves@syr.edu|315.443.2505
Breana Nieves Vergara headshot
Lauren Gill, Career and Certification Counselor
lcschmid@syr.edu|315.443.2956
Lauren Gill headshot

Undergraduate Majors/Degree Programs
Undergraduate Program Graduates meet academic requirements for
Inclusive Childhood Education Initial certification Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Students with Disabilities (All Grades).
Inclusive Adolescent Education Initial certification Grades 7-12 Content Area (English, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies) and Students with Disabilities (All Grades).
Music Education Initial certification in Music (All Grades)

Master’s Degree Programs

All of our master’s programs that lead to initial/professional or just professional certification can also be used to meet the master’s degree requirement for professional certification in any other existing initial certification areas.

* Teachers/school counselors with initial certification may apply to New York State to be evaluated for professional certification after three years of teaching experience.
Master’s Program Required Undergraduate or Content Area Background Required Existing New York State Certification Graduates meet academic requirements for New York State:
Adolescent Education: Biology Biology major OR 30 undergraduate credits in biological science content. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in Biology (Grades 7-12). *
Adolescent Education: Chemistry Chemistry major OR 30 undergraduate credits in chemistry content. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in Chemistry (Grades 7-12). *
Adolescent Education: Earth Science Earth science major OR 30 undergraduate credits in earth science content. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in Earth Science (Grades 7-12). *
Adolescent Education: English English major OR 30 undergraduate credits in composition, English literature, poetry, playwriting, grammar, and English linguistics. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in English (Grades 7-12). *
Adolescent Education: Mathematics Mathematics major OR 30 undergraduate credits in mathematics content. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in Mathematics (Grades 7-12). *
Adolescent Education: Physics Physics major OR 30 undergraduate credits in physics content. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in Physics (Grades 7-12). *
Adolescent Education: Social Studies History major OR 30 undergraduate credits in the social sciences that includes 3 credits each in economics, US government, human/cultural geography, and an additional social science course; and 6 credits each in US history, European history, and non-Western history. Not required. Must have NO existing subject area certification. Initial certification in Social Studies Education (Grades 7-12). *
Childhood Education Liberal arts major/concentration that includes: 3 credits each in English writing, English literature, history, and other social science; and 6 credits each in mathematics, natural sciences, and additional liberal arts. Not required. Must have NO existing Childhood Education (grades 1-6) certification. Initial certification in Childhood Education (grades 1-6). *
Inclusive Special Education (Initial) Liberal arts major/concentration that includes: 3 credits each in English writing, English literature, history, and other social science; and 6 credits each in mathematics, natural sciences, and additional liberal arts. Not required. Must have NO existing Students with Disabilities certification. Initial certification in Students with Disabilities (All Grades). *
Inclusive Special Education (Professional) Presumed completed for initial certification. Initial certification in Students with Disabilities All Grades (K-12). Professional certification in Students with (Disabilities All Grades).
Literacy Education (Birth-Grade 12) Presumed completed for initial certification. Initial certification in any teaching area. Initial Certification in Literacy (Birth-Grade 6 and Grades 5-12). *
Music Education: Preparation (PreK-Grade 12) Degree with an accredited major in music. Not required. Must have NO existing music certification. Initial certification in Music (all grades). *
Music Education: Professional (PreK-Grade 12) Presumed completed for initial certification. Initial certification in Music (all grades). Professional certification in Music (all grades).
School Counseling (P-12) Relevant work experience. Not required. Initial certification as a School Counselor. *

CAS Programs
CAS Program Content Area Background Existing NYS Certification Graduates meet academic requirements for
Educational Leadership Master’s degree. Not required. Initial and professional certification as a School Building Leader; Professional certification as a School District Leader.
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