Teacher Education & Advanced Studies in Education

Teacher Education

If you want to be a teacher, there's no better place to be.

SUNY Potsdam offers undergraduate and graduate pathways to New York State initial teacher certification, combining academic coursework with extensive hands-on experience. Through pre-student teaching field experiences and student teaching opportunities in partner schools across New York State and Canada, students develop the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to become inspiring and effective Pre-K–12 educators.

Our dedicated faculty work closely with students throughout their educational journey, providing personalized guidance and support from their first education courses through student teaching and certification.

Programs

B.A./M.S.T. in Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science or Physics)

Note: The MST portion of this program is fully online.

Teacher Education Faculty

Advanced Studies in Education

Advance your career. Expand your opportunities.

Whether you're a teacher seeking professional certification, an educator looking to add a new certification, or a professional exploring new career opportunities, the Department of Advanced Studies in Education offers graduate programs designed to help you achieve your goals.

Our master's degree and advanced certificate programs offer opportunities for professional growth in special education, literacy, educational technology, curriculum, educational leadership, learning design and related fields. With flexible online and hybrid options, students work closely with experienced faculty to connect theory with practice and apply their learning in professional settings.

Programs

Advanced Studies in Education Faculty

A Proud Tradition of Excellence in Education

Deeply Rooted, Future Focused.

Founded in 1816, SUNY Potsdam is the oldest institution in the SUNY system and one of America's first 50 colleges. For more than two centuries, we have built a proud tradition of excellence in teaching and learning, evolving from our roots in teacher preparation to offer a diverse range of educational and professional opportunities.

Today, we carry that legacy forward through innovative undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare future teachers, support practicing educators, and create opportunities for professional growth in education and beyond. Our commitment to academic excellence, personalized learning, and student success continues to shape the next generation of educators and professionals. As a SUNY Potsdam graduate, you'll join generations of alumni who have shaped their professions, strengthened their communities and continued our tradition of excellence.

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“I am beyond proud to tell people I went to SUNY Potsdam for both my undergraduate and graduate schooling! Their education department is phenomenal, and I wouldn’t have wanted another college experience! I have met the absolute best friends who I still see, despite living across the state from them!”
Allison Dubbioso '23 & ’24

Reversing the Burden of Dyslexia

Diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, Kelly Smith ’20 turned her greatest challenge into a lifelong mission to help others succeed. Now, the SUNY Potsdam M.S. in Literacy graduate is leading innovative professional development opportunities focused on dyslexia and the Science of Reading, empowering educators and strengthening literacy instruction across the North Country.

The Creative Arc of Thembi Duncan

A podcast born in class. A career transformed. Thembi Duncan '24 earned her degree from SUNY Potsdam's fully online Instructional Design and Educational Technology program without leaving Buffalo—and she's been rewriting the script on learning ever since.

The Evolution of Literacy

It starts with a single word—but it’s part of a larger transformation in literacy education. Through the Reading Ready program, SUNY Potsdam students are working one-on-one with local children to build foundational reading skills and confidence.

Classroom Calling

Through immersive field experiences—from the Bears Literacy Program to full-time student teaching—Emily Jordan ’26 is gaining the skills, confidence and compassion to help young learners grow, one lesson at a time, as she prepares for a career in early childhood education.

Becoming an Educator

Building on teaching experiences in her father’s kindergarten classroom throughout her youth, Hannah McArthur ’25 pursued a degree in early childhood/childhood education, and gained valuable real-world experience through numerous elementary school classroom placements around New York state.

"A School Year Can Change Your Life"

Laura Smith ’23 harnessed the impact and convenience of SUNY Potsdam’s fully online MST in Childhood Education by completing her coursework from Canada with the goal of building classroom communities that function in positive, inclusive, and energizing ways. A mother of three, the online program was the perfect option for Smith, who was then able to complete her student teaching placements right in Ottawa.

Sailing into the Classroom

Much like the character in her children’s book, Katie Yang ’23 has been on her own adventure—teaching English in China, volunteering as an ESL teacher at Fort Drum, and getting her master’s degree in childhood education at SUNY Potsdam. Her book, “Sailor Sam and the Crab Invasion,” which was written during her Literacy I class with Carolyn Stone, is now on sale at Barnes & Noble.

A Personal Connection

As a parent of a son with autism, Autumn Frazee Brown ’23 has always valued the importance of great educators. A longtime advocate for her son, she has seen the positive impact teachers have had on his life—ultimately influencing her own decision to pursue a master’s degree in education at SUNY Potsdam.

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The American Dream

In just four years, Miryam Veliz Calderon ’20 & ’21 graduated from SUNY Potsdam with an undergraduate degree in math and Spanish, followed by a master’s degree in secondary math education. With a unique combination of language, math, and teaching skills, Veliz Calderon quickly landed a job back home on Long Island after commencement, working as a bilingual math teacher for immigrants who recently arrived in the U.S.

Mentor for the Next Generation

Encouraged by his mother to pursue a career in teaching, Noah White ’22 transferred to SUNY Potsdam to combine his passion for chemistry and education through the College’s BA / MST program in secondary science education.

Teacher Education & Advanced Studies in Education