SUNY New Paltz Can Help You Find Your Path
With affordable tuition and decades of experience in teacher preparation, New Paltz is the smart choice to help you gain the skills and meet the requirements to become an educator.
We know the process of navigating different degree and certification requirements can be a lot. This page is designed to simplify the process and help you plan your next steps.
Still not finding the information you need? We would be happy to begin a conversation! Get started by filling out the Request for Information form, or get in touch at gradadmissions@newpaltz.edu or (845) 257-3285.
First things first: Do you have a bachelor’s degree?
Our Graduate Programs
It’s never too late to become an educator. The Master of Science in Teaching degree is designed for career changers who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field and who would like to earn certification at the elementary or early childhood level.
The Master of Arts in Teaching can help you capitalize on your undergraduate degree in a variety of subject areas – including math, English, science, history and language – to earn teaching certification at the adolescence level (grades 7-12).
If you are already a New York State-certified educator and are looking for ways to deepen your practice and increase your earning potential, SUNY New Paltz offers a wide range of master’s degree programs focused on providing specialized skills and certification in high-demand areas, including:
If you are an education professional and already have your master’s degree, the School of Education at SUNY New Paltz can help you take your career to the next level with an Advanced Certificate. For example, our Certificates of Advanced Study in Educational Administration can put you on track to becoming a principal or superintendent in your district. The program can be completed in just 15 months and leads to New York State certification in school leadership for both building and district levels, as well as School District Business Leader.
Why Enter the Teaching Profession?
Teachers are in-demand in New York! Our state is projected to have jobs available for 180,000 new and certified teachers in the next 10 years.
And New York State ranks #2 in the Nation in average teacher salary (est. $92,000), with most public school teachers receiving a generous benefits package that includes:
- Public Health insurance with coverage for medical, dental, and vision
- Vacation time, breaks, and holidays
- Access to federal and state loan forgiveness programs
- Membership to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System
- Union membership
Other Rewarding Options
The School of Education does more than teacher preparation – we also help skilled practitioners become paraprofessionals in related, high-demand fields.
Our Master of Science in Behavior Analysis & Autism Studies can provide you with the experience you need to become certified and licensed in an in-demand field where you can help improve the lives of individuals with and without disabilities.
The Master of Professional Studies in Social Justice Education is a unique program that prepares professionals across education, advocacy and human services fields to be leaders in their workplaces and their communities.
Why Choose SUNY New Paltz?
SUNY New Paltz’s roots in teacher preparation date back to our founding in the 1800s. Today, our School of Education represents a bridge between the past, present and future of the University, with a well-earned reputation for preparing tens of thousands of caring, critical, and reflective professionals who will be advocates for maximizing the potential of their students.
As an educator, you will become one of the most important influencers in a child’s life. Educators provide the scaffolds for developing intellectual talents in literary, creative, and scientific fields that maximize student potential. The knowledge, strategies, perspectives, and values that you impart have the power to create a just and equitable society. We will give you the tools to understand and address the challenges in the education system. Your students will be introduced to ways of knowing and thinking that will help them achieve their personal goals as well as make the world a better place.
Let our nationally accredited programs and our outstanding faculty help you realize your goals. Join us in the movement to transform our local and global society through the best that education has to offer.
