For various reasons, some students may find that the SST dual major is not, for them, a workable or timely path toward initial certification.
The SST dual major has many requirements that need to be completed over a series of semesters, and many transfer students are unable to complete the degree in four years, especially if they enter Cortland as juniors and their transfer credits do not completely map onto SST degree requirements. They must complete requirements for two full majors, space out upper-division classes in the social science major (usually history),* maintain a certain GPA and thus maintain reasonable workload without overloading credits, and qualify for and complete a two-year “SST Professional Sequence” of classes that also integrates field experience in schools.
Given these requirements, some SST majors might find they need more time to complete the requirements or need time to raise their GPA. This might mean that their combined time at their previous institution and at SUNY Cortland might add up to 5 or more years. Understandably, many will find this to not be feasible.
In these cases, a student might decide to pursue a social science major only (most commonly History) and to pursue initial certification later through a MAT or MST program. Please speak to the SST Coordinator about various MAT and MST programs in New York state and their acceptance requirements. They require certain content courses and a minimum GPA to be accepted into a MAT or MST program.
Pursing initial certification through a MAT or MST program delays your certification needed to get a job in Social Studies secondary teaching, but it can have some benefits for students unable to complete the SST dual major within 4 years. NYSED requires that teachers earn a master’s degree within five years of their initial certification in order to earn professional certification. Typically, master’s programs take 1 ½ to 2 years for completion. A MAT or MST would mean a student would meet that Master’s degree requirement at the same time as initial certification.
How does extended time in the SST-[social science] dual major compare to earning a social science BA and then earning initial certification at the master’s level? Here are three common pathways for our students.
Student A:
Is able to complete our SST dual major within in 4 or 4 ½ years. They graduate with initial certification either in May when student teaching is complete or they come back to take their final content classes after student teaching and graduate in December. This student can go on the job market for secondary teaching positions once they complete all requirements of the SST dual major. Once they have a teaching job, they would work on a Master’s degree (in History or another field) during their first 5 years on the job.
Student B:
Is not able to complete our SST dual major within in 4 or 4 ½ years. They delay the Professional Sequence at SUNY Cortland in order to take time to raise their GPA and complete enough GE, History, or SST required courses to be eligible to begin the Professional Sequence. Once they meet eligibility requirements, they complete the Professional Sequence, meaning that they graduate with initial certification either in May of their 5th year when student teaching is complete or they come back to take their final content classes after student teaching and graduate in December. Combined with transfer credits from another college, this could add up to 5 ½ or 6 years time spent to complete the dual major. This student is able to go on the job market for secondary teaching positions once they complete all requirements of the SST dual major. Once they have a teaching job, they would work on a Master’s degree (in History or another field) during their first 5 years on the job.
Student C:
Is not able to complete our SST dual major within 4 or 4 ½ years. They decide to complete their social studies content major only (History, Political Science, Anthropology, or Economics). They complete their B.A. in 4 years (including courses at their previous institution), but they are not able to enter the job market in social studies teaching at that time because they do not yet have state certification. They then apply to a MAT or MST program for teacher certification. They would do their field experiences and student teaching through that MAT or MST program. After 5 1/2 to 6 years, they will have certification and a master’s degree. They can then enter the job market for social studies teaching positions. They will already have the required Master’s degree for long term continued certification.
See also information at http://www2.cortland.edu/offices/career-services/teacher-certification/ and http://eservices.nysed.gov/teach/certhelp/CertRequirementHelp.do
* To clarify the terminology: the SST major prepares one for certification to teach “adolescent social studies” and is a professional, teacher education major. It cannot be done alone, but must be part of a “dual major” with an approved social science content major, such as History (most common), Political Science, or some other options.
A student can choose to drop the SST major and graduate with a BA in the social science major. The acronym “NYSED” refers to the NY State Department of Education; information on this handout is for the pursuit of certification in NY State.
Originally by Gigi Peterson, January 5 2020
Revised by Scott Moranda, September 15, 2025