Students will be required to complete 15 credits of approved graduate earth science courses and a research project or projects approved by the sponsoring department. 

The 15 credits of graduate earth science courses can be used to meet the minimum course requirements to student teach. 

The research projects are generally associated with the science courses required for this degree.  The student must arrange with the instructor and the MAT advisor before or at the beginning of the semester about the requirements for these projects.

The graduate academic programs at SUNY Stony Brook for earth science teachers have been designed to provide the education necessary for teaching the Earth Science Curriculum in New York State. In order to teach the curriculum it is essential that teachers have college level courses in atmospheric science, astronomy, geoscience and marine science. About 40% of the Earth Science Curriculum is geoscience, about 25% is atmospheric science, 25% is astronomy and 10% is oceanography.

It is highly recommended that  a student preparing for a career as an earth science teacher become familiar with the curriculum and the contents of the New York State Regents Exams in Earth Sciences. Examples of Regent Exam Questions as well as Earth Science Reference Tables can be found at the State Education site. Copies of Regents Exams are published by Barron's Educational Series. These may be purchased in bookstores.

Courses are selected with the approval of the earth science advisor.  The most highly recommended geology courses for students who have not taken equivalent courses in an undergraduate program:
GEO 543 Stratigraphy
GEO 546 Mineralogy and Petrology
GEO 549 Structural Geology
These courses form the core of the geology part of the earth science curriculum.

Generally continuing education  courses (CEN) are not acceptable as Graduate Science Courses. In order for a continuing education course to be acceptable an instructor approved science research project must be completed as part of the course. 

Appropriate Earth Science Courses at SUNY Stony Brook for Earth Science Teachers include: (Links are to course descriptions.)

CEN 511 Discoveries in Astronomy
(Science research project required as part of course.)

CEN 512 The Planets 
(Science research project required as part of course.)

CEN 514 Geology of Long Island 
(Science research project required as part of course.)

GEO 514 Introduction to Physical Hydrogeology

GEO 520 Glacial Geology

GEO 533 Geochemistry of the Solid Earth

GEO 535 Regional Structure and Tectonics

GEO 543 Stratigraphy 
(Science research project required as part of course.)

GEO 546 Mineralogy and Petrology 
(Science research project required as part of course.)

GEO 549 Structural Geology 
(Science research project required as part of course.)

GEO 567 Sedimentary Rocks/Crustal Evolution

GEO 585 Directed Studies

GEO 588 Geological Field Methods for Earth Science Teachers

GEO 589 Research for Earth Science Teachers

MAR 506 Geological Oceanography

MAR 527 Global Change

MAR 564 Atmospheric Structure and Analysis
(Science research project required as part of course.)

MAR 565 Global Atmospheric Change
(Science research project required as part of course.)

MAR 596 Principles of Atmospheric Chemistry