Adolescent Social Studies (MA)
Welcome to the Adolescent Social Studies (MA) program home page. Use this page as a guide to the program from acceptance to graduation.
The master’s program is designed for applicants without prior New York State teacher certification in Social Studies 7-12.
Academic Plan
SOCSTAE-MA
Total Credits
40 to 46 (Including 12 to 18 credits of coursework in History and Geography)
- Social Studies Track 1 – 40-credit track for those requiring 9 credits of history (ADOSOC1)
- Social Studies Track 2 – 43-credit track for those requiring 12 credits of history (ADOSOC2)
- Social Studies Track 3 – 46-credit track for those requiring 15 credits in history (ADOSOC3)
Tracks are determined based on a transcript review at the time of admission.
Program Code for Certification
25601 – SOCIAL STUDIES 7-12
Advisors
- Debbie Sonu, Faculty Advisor
- Elidor Mëhilli, Arts & Sciences Faculty Advisor (History coursework)
- Ines Miyares, Arts & Sciences Faculty Advisor (Geography coursework)
- Bonnie M. Veronico, Certification, Graduation and Administrative Advisor
- Julissa A. Diloné, Clinical Placement Specialist
Newly Accepted Students
Getting Started and Orientation
New Student Checklist
Welcome to the School of Education! Visit the Newly Accepted Students page for a checklist to get you started at Hunter College.
New Student Support
If at any point you need support, please reach out to our New Student Liaison at newsoest@hunter.cuny.edu or make an appointment.
Orientations
Students will attend three orientations to cover all the information needed to start your program:
- General New Student Orientation
- Program Advising Session
- Clinical Experiences and Fingerprinting Orientation
See “Program Related Events” for details about upcoming sessions.
Financing Your Degree
Visit the Financing Your Degree page for information.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Program Sequences
Students complete a sequence of courses in both Education and Social Studies. The program sequence provides a suggested order of education courses for the program based on start date. It also includes when to take certification exams and apply for clinical experiences in addition to other important non-course requirements. For technical registration support and troubleshooting, please visit the Register for Classes page.
Program Sequence for Fall 2024 Admits and Beyond
Program Sequence for Admits Prior to Fall 2024
Transfer of Credits and Waivers
Transfer of Credits
A matriculated student may request a transfer of credit for a graduate-level course completed at another institution. To be eligible, the course must have been taken within the past five years and closely match the content of a required course in the student’s Hunter College program. The request will be reviewed by faculty for equivalence. Each program sets the courses for which a transfer will be considered. Graduate students are limited to 12 transfer credits.
Waivers
A waiver of a course requirement may be granted to a student who has completed an undergraduate course at another college or a graduate course taken over five years ago with the same or similar content as a Hunter College course required in your program. Not all departments approve the use of undergraduate courses for use in waivers.
A waiver requires you to take an approved elective course of at least the same number of credits at Hunter to replace the waived course.
Transfer of Credit Form
Please complete the Transfer of Credit Request Form, sign digitally, pdf and attach all required documents. Then send it to your faculty advisor for review. Once you obtain your faculty advisor’s signature upload the required form to the School of Education form uploader.
Waiver Form
Please complete the Waiver form, sign digitally, pdf and attach all required documents. Then send it to your faculty advisor for review. Once you obtain your faculty advisor’s signature upload the required form to the School of Education form uploader.
Hunter College Catalog
Use the Hunter College Course Catalog to review descriptions of specific courses and academic progress standards for the program along with exit requirements.
Clinical Experiences
Students participate in Developmental Clinical Experiences (Clinical Block 1 and Clinical Block 2) and Student Teaching or Supervised Teaching.
A Developmental Clinical Experience is a classroom experience in a New York City Public School in conjunction with a block of courses. These blocks require a minimum of 50 hours of fieldwork.
Student Teaching or Supervised Teaching is the culminating clinical experience and requires five full days per week for one semester in a school. Students are observed by Hunter College Clinical Supervisors throughout the semester.
Fingerprint Clearance Requirements
All students in teacher preparation programs as well as programs in school counseling need to be fingerprinted so that they are cleared to work with children in various settings including New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) public schools, charter networks, and other organizations. Visit the Fingerprinting page for requirements and procedures.
Applying for Registration Permission and Placement
Students must apply for Clinical Block 1 (SEDC 708, SEDC 71500, EDUC 71500), Clinical Block 2 (SEDC 709, SEDC 72500, SPED 70800) and Student Teaching or Supervised Teaching through the Office of Clinical Experiences for registration permission as well as to be placed at a Hunter College School of Education partner site in New York City. Registration permission and placement information will be sent to students’ myhunter.cuny.edu email address at least one week before registration opens.
Students working full time as assistant, associate or head teachers may be eligible to complete their clinical experiences in their current job if it is aligned to their pending certification/area of study. Site must be pre-approved by faculty and/or the Office of Clinical Experiences and students must submit documentation from their worksite/school leadership program director.
Applications for Developmental Clinical Experiences
- Clinical Block 1 (SEDC 708, SEDC 71500, EDUC 71500) Application
- Clinical Block 2 (SEDC 709, SEDC 72500, SPED 70800) Application
Applications for Student or Supervised Teaching
- SEDC 75500 – Student Teaching in Social Studies, Grades 7–12 (KC) Application for those students requiring placement in a Hunter College School of Education Partner site in New York City.
- SEDC 77550 – Supervised Teaching in Social Studies, Grades 7-12 (KC) Application for those students working full time as assistant, associate or head teachers in which your current job is aligned to their pending certification/area of study.
- SEDC 77550 – Supervised Teaching in Social Studies, Grades 7-12 (KC) Site Approval Form
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: April 1st
- Spring Semester: November 1st
Required Exams
Students must pass the following New York State exams before registration permission is granted for Student Teaching or Supervised Teaching:
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students who have completed Educating All Students (EAS) for a prior certification, do not need to take the exam again.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Social Studies
Exam Registration and Test Preparation
Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website. Need help preparing? Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If students get a Social Security Number, they must update their information on their TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. Students must also update the information on their New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. The social security number will replace their TEACH Access Number (TAN).
Fieldwork Hours Time Record Form
Internship Certificate
The Internship Certificate allows a teacher or educational leadership candidate to serve as a teacher or leader of record while completing the master’s degree program. The Internship Certificate is reserved for graduate teacher or leader education students who meet certain New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Hunter College School of Education requirements. Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.
Graduation
Graduation is the official completion of your program and conferral of an academic degree. In order to graduate, students must apply for graduation using CUNYFirst the semester before the semester of their planned graduation and complete any outstanding requirements by the stated deadlines. Visit the Graduation and Commencement page for complete information.
Certification and Licensure
The Adolescent Social Studies (MA) program leads to New York State certification to teach Social Studies in grades 7-12. Students must wait to apply for certification until they receive an email from the School of Education indicating their recommendation has been entered. This usually occurs six to eight week’s after the conferral of your degree.
Types of Certification
Students are recommended for both initial and professional certification:
- The Initial Certificate is the entry-level teaching certificate and is valid for five years. Students who graduate from a Hunter master’s degree certification program without prior certification will be recommended for initial certification.
- The Professional Certificate is an advanced certificate. Once teachers have completed three years of full-time, paid teaching experience including one year of mentored teaching, they can apply for professional certification.
Application Checklist
Review Your Fingerprint Status
All students in programs leading to New York State certification need to have their fingerprints cleared by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Visit the Fingerprinting for Hunter College School of Education Students to learn how to obtain fingerprint clearance. You can check your state clearance status on your TEACH account.
Take Required Certification Exams and Workshops
Exams
All students must fulfill the following exam requirements over the course of their program:
- Educating All Students (EAS)
- Students who have completed Educating All Students (EAS) for a prior certification, do not need to take the exam again.
- Content Specialty Test (CST) – Social Studies
Exam Registration and Test Preparation
Register for an exam at the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations website. Need help preparing? Learn about upcoming Test Preparation Workshops.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If students get a Social Security Number, they must update their information on their TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. Students must also update the information on their New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. The social security number will replace their TEACH Access Number (TAN).
Workshops
All students must fulfill the following workshop requirements over the course of their program:
- School Violence Prevention and Intervention
- This workshop is included in coursework.
- Prevention and Child Abuse Identification and Reporting
- This workshop is included in coursework.
- Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) workshop
- This workshop is included in coursework.
- Educating All Students (EAS)
Apply for Graduation
In order to be recommended for certification, all students in all programs including advanced certificate programs, must complete their program and apply for graduation. For more information on the graduation process, please visit the School of Education Graduation and Commencement page.
Apply for Certification
Certification candidates must wait to apply for certification until receiving an email from the School of Education indicating their recommendation has been entered. This will occur six to eight weeks after the Hunter College conferral dates of June 1 for spring grads, September 1 for summer grads and January 1 for fall grads. Candidates will be recommended for Initial and Professional certification. There are 4 steps in the application process.
1. Create/Log in to your TEACH Account
Students must create/log in to their New York State Education Department (NYSED) TEACH Account. From your Teach Online Services Home page, select Apply for Certificate which is found under “Online Application.” This will start a new application.
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number to apply for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
2. Verify/Update Profile
The Verify/Update Profile section will ask for education and employment history.
For educational history, provide information from bachelor’s degree to present. For the drop down next to Degree and Major, select the option that corresponds to the degree and major earned.
For employment history enter all full-time, paid teaching experiences in both public, private and charter schools.
3. Select Certificate(s)
Enter the following information for the certificates section depending on whether you are applying for initial or professional certification.
Initial Certification
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Social Studies
- Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
- Select the Title: Social Studies 7-12
- Select your Certificate Type: Initial
On the next page you will be prompted to enter the program code:
- 25601 – SOCIAL STUDIES 7-12
Professional Certification
- Select your Area of Interest: Classroom Teacher
- Select your Subject Area: Social Studies
- Select the Grade Level: Grades 7-12
- Select the Title: Social Studies 7-12
- Select your Certificate Type: Professional
On the next page you will be prompted to enter the program code:
- 25601 – SOCIAL STUDIES 7-12
4. Complete application (sign affidavit, sign application, make payment)
Read and sign the required affidavit and confirm and sign the application. Finally, make payment.
Additional Resources
Expiring Certifications
If you will not graduate from the Advanced Certificate program prior to the expiration of your initial certificate, you may be eligible for an extension through NYSED’s TEACH Online Services. Create/Log in to your TEACH account and select “Apply for a Time Extension.”
Out of State Certification or Licensure
Students applying for certification or licensure in states other than New York must complete the Out of State Certification and Licensure Form and upload the required completed form for the state they are applying to.
For students applying in states that have a web based form (ex. New Jersey), please send the access information to Melissa Boronkas, Certification Officer at mb74@hunter.cuny.edu.
For more information on certification or licensure requirements in other states, please review the interstate agreement information on the National Associate of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification site.
Hunter International Students (F1 Visa Holder) Certification or Licensure
Hunter International Students who hold F1 Visas but do not have a Social Security number must email soeoasa@hunter.cuny.edu to request a TEACH Access Number (TAN). The TEACH Access Number (TAN) must be used in lieu of a Social Security Number for all processes involving certification such as fingerprinting, creating your TEACH Account, registering for New York State Teacher Certification exams, and applying for New York State (NYS) certification.
If you get a Social Security Number, you must update your information on your TEACH Account by requesting a Social Security Number change via the New York State Education Department. You must also update the information on your New York State (NYS) Teacher Certification Exam account. Your social security number will replace your TEACH Access Number (TAN).
Letter Requests
Please use the School of Education Letter Request Form to request a letter from the School of Education to verify your education experience.
Internship Certification for Graduate Teacher Education Students
The Internship Certificate allows a teacher or educational leadership candidate to serve as a teacher or leader of record while completing the master’s degree program. The Internship Certificate is reserved for graduate teacher or leader education students who meet certain New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Hunter College School of Education requirements. Visit the Internship Certificate page for eligibility requirements and application processes and procedures.