Master of Arts in Teaching (Adolescence Education) Social Studies

at State University of New York at New Paltz USA

The nationally accredited MFA program offers varied and extensive opportunities for graduate study in a unique setting. Our location is just 90 minutes north of New York City in the historic Hudson River Valley, allowing access to cutting-edge artists, historians, critics, and curators. The campus features expansive facilities, private and semi-private secure studios, and extensive computer labs and digital fabrication technologies. Additional exhibition spaces complement the prestigious Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art.

Printmaking - Specialization
The Printmaking program views the field expansively, honoring tradition while moving the medium ever forward through the use of digital, sculptural means to create two and three-dimensional and installation-based works. The program encourages students to formulate and articulate their philosophical and personal concepts and translate them into visual works, meeting these objectives by offering a mix of intensive studio experience with critical and theoretical dialogue. The printmaking studios are state-of-the-art facilities containing a full range of new and top-of-the-line equipment and presses. In our 10,000 square foot studio spaces students have the capability of working with intaglio, lithography, silkscreen, monotype, woodcut, and hand-papermaking as well as contemporary photography, digital, and mixed media printmaking processes. Access to the Art Department’s stellar Wood Studio and Digital Fabrication labs round out the offerings within the printmaking area.

The Department of Digital Media & Journalism represents disciplines that combine methods from both the humanities and social sciences in the study of how people share and represent ideas through the mass media. Building upon a solid liberal-arts foundation, students in our programs develop theoretical and practical knowledge through challenging and engaging coursework and hands-on experiences that will support their intellectual and professional growth and prepare them for careers and graduate study.

The new Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship at SUNY New Paltz is a one-of-a-kind program in our region: Dedicated to growth, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking, on a strong foundation of management skills. Our goal is to help all our students achieve success as you define it, whether that means developing your venture idea, signing on with an established firm, expanding your side hustle, or building something brand new.

The Department of Sociology offers three program options. Students who want exposure to a wide array of sociological topics can major in the basic Sociology program, which includes a set of core course requirements as well as a broad array of elective topics of the student’s choosing. Students may also elect to concentrate in a particular area of sociological study by taking an additional set of prescribed courses in one of two concentrations: Human Services, which will prepare students to work directly with people in need of support; or Criminology, which is designed for students with a focused interest on the issue of crime.

The Art History Department is committed to providing students with a broad and varied understanding of world art traditions, and to fostering an approach to interpreting art based on sound critical thinking, analytical skills, and an awareness of historical context.

This program 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).

Behavior Analytic Coursework

• Students learn the foundational concepts and principles of the science of human behavior and learning that are the basis of the field of behavior analysis. The mission of our program is to train practitioners who make ethical, collaborative, culturally responsive, and data-based decisions in their practice in order to support and improve the lives of their students and clients.

Interdisciplinary Autism Studies

• The interdisciplinary component of the program provides candidates with a comprehensive perspective on autism spectrum disorders, by incorporating coursework from several disciplines, including special education, communication disorders, human services, music therapy, and psychology.

Environmental Geochemical Science is an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science. The program is administered by the Department of Geology and focuses on the environmental aspects of Geology and Chemistry. Through formal courses, laboratories, and research projects, students develop an awareness of the geological and chemical processes that impact society and the environment. Both a major and a minor in Environmental Geochemical Science are offered.

The Department of Digital Media & Journalism represents disciplines that combine methods from both the humanities and social sciences in the study of how people share and represent ideas through the mass media. Building upon a solid liberal-arts foundation, students in our programs develop theoretical and practical knowledge through challenging and engaging coursework and hands-on experiences that will support their intellectual and professional growth and prepare them for careers and graduate study.

Geology offers both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Through formal courses, field work, and research projects, students develop an awareness of the geological processes that shape our planet, and their impact on society and the environment. The undergraduate major in geology offers concentrations in General Geology and Environmental Geoscience and leads to either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. The BS degree in Geology is licensure qualifying: its coursework meets the education requirements for Professional Geologist licensure in New York State. 

The Speech-Language Pathology concentration comprises 61 credits and leads to New York State licensure and ASHA certification.