Degrees Offered

Master of Science in Education

The Master of Science in Education degree is for teachers who wish to improve their professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Completion of a degree program may lead to professional certification in a field and level, providing the student has at least three years of full-time teaching experience and has initial certification in a teachable major.

Master of Arts in Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree is designed specifically for non-certified students who have bachelors’ degrees in an academic discipline and who wish to earn a teaching certificate at the secondary level in grades 7-12.

Master of Science in Teaching

The Master of Science in Teaching degree is designed specifically for non-certified students who have bachelors’ degrees in an academic discipline and who wish to earn a teaching certificate at the elementary level in grades B-2 or 1-6.

Master of Professional Studies

The Master of Professional Studies degree is offered in social justice educational studies. This program is designed for individuals who are involved in education in its broadest sense who are seeking to help others develop their intellectual capacities, expand their self-knowledge, enhance interpersonal skills, and foster humane working, learning, or living situations. Students currently enrolled include individuals in the helping professions and teachers with certification in special subjects such as family-consumer science, health, music, physical education, and technology.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree may serve as a complete program in a specific discipline or as the first stage of graduate study. If a student has initial certification at the secondary level in the same discipline as the MA, application for a professional certification may be made upon completion of the degree, providing the student has at least two years of full-time teaching experience in the area of certification.

Master of Science

The Master of Science degree is offered in the following areas:

Behavior Analysis & Interdisciplinary Autism Studies

The Master of Science in Behavior Analysis and Interdisciplinary Autism Studies is a 41-credit, licensure-qualifying program. It offers students education and training in the field of behavior analysis, the history of autism spectrum disorders, characteristics of autism, family systems, educational strategies, and interdisciplinary approaches to providing services and supports for individuals with autism and their families. The program meets the educational content requirements for New York State Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA) licensure as well as the coursework requirements for Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). As part of the coursework requirement, students will complete a supervised practicum to obtain the initial 150 hours of the required 1500 hours needed to qualify for the NY-LBA and the required 2000 hours needed to qualify for the BCBA. 

Communication Disorders

The Master of Science degree in Communication Disorders prepares students who have a strong undergraduate background in Communication Disorders for a wide range of career opportunities and for doctoral study. The programs are accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and are registered as licensure qualifying in New York State. Speech and Language Disabilities concentration leads to New York State teacher certification as a Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD).

Computer Science

The Master of Science degree in Computer Science is designed to help students from all backgrounds advance to new careers in technology fields. Core courses emphasize aptitudes like software application engineering, data science, and web technologies, while electives allow students to pursue cutting-edge topics like machine learning and artificial intelligence. The program offers courses in both flexible online formats and in-person at state-of-the-art facilities like our new Science Hall. The program does not require a baccalaureate degree in computer science and can be completed in less than two years.

Counseling

The Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling comprises 60-credits. It offers students the opportunity to pursue a specialized course of study.  It serves both students seeking licensure as mental health counselors and those who intend to pursue doctoral studies. Degree requirements cover a core curriculum and specialized courses. Three required fieldwork courses provide unique, varied, and intense hands-on mental health counseling training experiences under the supervision of licensed professionals.

The Master of Science degree in School Counseling comprises 60-credits and leads to certification as a school counselor. The curriculum covers school counseling practice and research, in addition to necessary coursework in human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, group work, career and lifestyle development, appraisal, research and program development, and professional orientation. Practicum and internship experiences provide unique, varied, and intense hands-on school counseling training experiences that meet state certification requirements. The degree can be completed full-time in two years, including summer classes.

Electrical Engineering

The Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering is designed to serve recent graduates and practicing engineers who need in-depth knowledge in the rapidly changing and expanding areas of electrical engineering beyond what is typically included in a bachelor's program. The program offers the following areas of specialization: Computer Engineering, Energy, Microelectronics, and Systems. Students may elect a 30 credit thesis option, which emphasizes research, or a 30 credit non-thesis option which requires the successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

Music Therapy

The Master of Science degree in Music Therapy comprises 48-credits and provides students with a baccalaureate degree in music the opportunity to study music therapy at an advanced level. In this program, students acquire musical, clinical, and research skills essential for professional practice. The program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), the New York State Department of Education, and accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. 

Students who enter the program with an undergraduate degree in music therapy, complete the required 48 credit curriculum and a minimum of 500 hours advanced internship, 30-hour advanced practicum, students are eligible to apply for licensure as a Creative Arts Therapist in the State of New York. Students who do not enter the program with a bachelor's degree will be required to complete extra coursework, 180 hours of supervised fieldwork, and an additional 520 hours of internship.

Psychological Science

The Master of Science degree in Psychological Science comprises 39-credits. This research-based program exposes students to research in a variety of fields including social, cognitive, developmental and applied psychology. In addition, students learn advanced statistical and experimental and non-experimental methodological skills. The degree may serve as preparation for entry into a doctoral program or as additional training for those who plan to enter or continue work in applied areas of psychology with an emphasis on research.

Master of Business Administration

The Master of Business Administration degree prepares career-oriented individuals for a broad range of management responsibilities by offering concentrated study in business administration or public accountancy. The MBA program will enable students to take managerial and professional leadership roles in regional, national, and international enterprises.

Master of Fine Arts

The Master of Fine Arts degree comprises 60-credits specializing in ceramics, metal, painting/drawing, printmaking, and sculpture (photography and graphic design). Candidates holding a master’s degree in Studio Art or Fine Arts may petition the department to transfer a maximum of 30 credits toward the 60-credit MFA program.

Advanced Certificate Programs

Mental Health Counseling

The 18-24-credit Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling is a bridge program that addresses the needs of two distinct cohorts, both requiring supplemental coursework and training to qualify for licensure as mental health counselors in New York State.

Trauma & Disaster Mental Health

The 15-credit Advanced Certificate in Trauma and Disaster Mental Health program is designed for mental health professionals who are pursuing, or who have already earned an MA, MS, or higher degree in counseling, social work, or related fields, and who would like to receive intensive specialized education in assisting survivors of disasters and trauma. All classes are taught entirely online with the exception of one weekend on the New Paltz campus. 

Social Justice Education

The 15-credit Advanced Certificate in Social Justice Education is designed for teachers and other educational professionals who are interested in enhancing their cultural competencies. This post-master's certificate program provides educators with the knowledge and skills needed for culturally-responsive teaching and leadership, as well as, approaches for creating socially-just educational settings. This program does not lead to a NYS teaching certificate.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

This clinically-rich Advanced Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is designed for initially and professionally NYS certified teachers who have an interest in working with multilingual learners. This convenient program allows teachers to complete fieldwork in their own classrooms, assigns a mentor teacher in their building, offers classes on Saturdays, and leads to NYS certification in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) all grades. 

Certificate of Advanced Study

The Certificate of Advanced Study program in School Leadership is a 60-credit program (30 credits from master's degree + 30 additional credits) leading to professional NYS certification as a School Building Leader and School District Leader.