The School of Education is the home to 1,500 graduate students in over 30 different Master's, C.A.S. and Doctoral degree programs.

To learn more about our graduate degree programs, please select any of the information available on the left side menu bar of the page. Below are some of the most common questions asked by prospective students.

How do I become a teacher?

Teaching is a regulated profession just like medicine, law and accounting. In order to teach in a New York State public school you first need to get a license, or certificate - the more common term for a teaching license. Teachers get certified to work with specific age groups and to teach individual academic subjects. To qualify for a teaching certificate, you have to satisfy the educational, experiential, and testing requirements specific to each certificate.

Your first task in becoming a teacher is to think about what age group you want to work with and if there is a particular subject you want to teach. That way you will know what type of certificate to pursue. For more information about teaching as a profession, please consult Resources For Teachers

Then, look for a New York State-approved degree program that will prepare you for the teaching certificate you want. The School of Education offers many New York State-approved graduate degree programs that lead to the following teaching certificates. We do not offer any undergraduate certification programs. For more information about our state-approved programs, click on the certificate titles below.

Childhood Education, Grades 1-6
Biology, Grades 7-12
Chemistry, Grades 7-12
Earth Science, Grades 7-12
English, Grades 7-12
French, Grades 7-12
Mathematics, Grades 7-12
Physics, Grades 7-12
Social Studies, Grades 7-12
Spanish, Grades 7-12
Literacy, Birth-6
Literacy, 5-12
Literacy, Birth-12
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, All Grades
Teaching Students with Disabilities, 1-6
Teaching Students with Disabilities, 5-9

I want to teach elementary school. I have a bachelor’s degree, but I haven’t taken any education classes. What should I do?

Teaching is a regulated profession just like medicine, law and accounting. In order to teach in a New York State public elementary school you first need to get a license, or certificate - the more common term for a teaching license. Elementary teachers get a Childhood Education certificate to work in grades 1 through 6. To qualify for a Childhood Education certificate, you have to satisfy the educational, experiential, and testing requirements specific to that certificate. A New York State approved degree program in Childhood Education will prepare you for the teaching certificate and the career you want.

Although the School of Education does not offer a specific Childhood Education certification program, we do offer a combined certification program in Special Education and Literacy that will prepare you for three different teaching certificates including Childhood Education 1-6. The M.S. program in Special Education and Literacy does not require applicants to have any previous education coursework or prior certification. It is a full-time, 67-credit program that takes two years to complete. At the end of those two years, you will be prepared to teach Childhood Education 1-6, Special Education 1-6 and Literacy Birth-Grade 6. Our combined program might take longer to complete than a stand-alone Childhood Education program, but we think it is worth the extra time to earn the two additional teaching certificates that complement and support Childhood Education.

I have my initial certificate. How do I get a professional certificate?

One of the many requirements for earning your professional certificate is getting a master’s degree. The School of Education offers many graduate degree programs that are New York State-approved for professional certification. For more information about our state-approved professional certification programs, see our list of certification programs.

The School of Education offers many other master’s degree programs that may satisfy the content core of your initial certificate and be acceptable for professional certification. To determine if a degree program is appropriate for your professional certification, please check with the NYSED Office of Teaching or the certification representative at your local BOCES offices.

I have my provisional certificate. How do I get a permanent certificate?

To make your provisional certificate permanent, you need two years of full-time professional teaching experience, passing scores of your permanent New York State Teacher Certification Exams (NYSTCE), and a master’s degree in a functionally related field. The School of Education offers many graduate degree programs that are New York State-approved for permanent certification. For more information about our state-approved permanent certification programs, click on the certificate titles below.

Biology, Grades 7-12
Chemistry, Grades 7-12
Earth Science
English, Grades 7-12
Foreign Languages, Grades 7-12
Mathematics, Grades 7-12
Physics, Grades 7-12
Social Studies, Grades 7-12

The School of Education offers many other master’s degree programs that may be functionally related to your provisional certificate and acceptable for permanent certification. To determine if a degree program is functionally related to your provisional certificate, please check with the NYSED Office of Teaching or the certification representative at your local BOCES offices.

Is there someone I could contact with my questions about UAlbany certification degrees?

Yes, You can contact Jennifer Hogan, Assistant to the Dean in the School of Education, PIECenter@uamail.albany.edu or
518-442-4828.

What's the difference between School Psychology and School Counseling?

School Psychologists provide comprehensive psychoeducational and mental health services to children and youth, most typically in schools. They engage in academic and social/emotional assessment, consultation, in-service training, counseling, and other services. School psychologists emphasize the use of data-based problem solving, including the use of assessment linked to intervention and evidence-based treatments for academic and behavioral problems.

School Counselors are development specialists who address the personal, social, and vocational needs of school-aged children and young adults. They provide individual counseling, academic counseling, and group counseling to target personal and social adjustment as well as academic and career readiness. School Counselors may also coordinate and provide resources needed for school-wide programming.

Both School Psychology and School Counseling are regulated public school professions. In order to become a School Counselor or Psychologist you must satisfy a set of educational and experiential requirements specific to each field. The School of Education offers New York State-approved programs that lead to certification in both School Psychology and School Counseling

Do I have to be a teacher before I become a principal?

You do not necessarily have to be a teacher but you do need three years of paid, full-time work experience as a teacher or school support professional before you can become a principal.

All K-12 school administrators are certified. If you want to be a principal you need the School Administrator and Supervisor (SAS) certificate. There are educational and experiential requirements for the SAS. The most common way to satisfy the work experience requirement of the SAS certificate is by teaching, but three years experience as a school counselor, school media library specialist, school psychologist, school social worker or even a school business administrator will satisfy that requirement.

Our Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies recommends their Certificate of Advanced Study program for school professionals seeking SAS certification.

Should I get a PhD in Counseling Psychology or Clinical Psychology?

It really depends on what type of work you want to do in the field of psychology. Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral abnormalities and pathologies. These range from short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from adolescent rebellion, to severe, chronic conditions such as schizophrenia.

Counseling psychologists specialize in the facilitation of human growth and development. While recognition of abnormality and pathology is an essential skill, Counseling Psychology emphasizes patterns of normal development as well as the theory and methods related to prevention and remediation of intra-personal and inter-personal human concerns. Counseling Psychologists frequently provide vocational and career assessment and guidance

The Counseling Division of our Educational & Counseling Psychology Department offers an APA accredited Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology.

What does the school have for undergraduate degree programs?

We do not actually offer any undergraduate degree programs, but we do have 1,500 undergraduate students taking classes in our four academic departments. To learn more about our minors and opportunities available for undergraduates, please visit our Undergraduate Opportunities page.