– Special $10,000+ Educator Excellence Incentive Announced –
St. Thomas Aquinas College is proud to announce the expansion of its Master of Science in Teaching (MST) program to include a new certification pathway in Physical Education (All Grades). This new program will launch in Fall 2026 and join the College’s “ADVANCE: Lifelong Learners” portfolio — a dynamic initiative designed to support individuals throughout their academic and career journey.
Designed for individuals seeking initial certification — especially those whose undergraduate degrees were not in education — the MST in Physical Education offers a comprehensive, research-informed curriculum. Students will learn to teach Physical Education across K–12 settings; design curriculum aligned with New York State standards; promote lifelong physical activity and wellness; and apply evidence-based instructional and assessment practices that support student growth and achievement.
The addition of the Physical Education pathway reflects both the growing regional and national need for qualified educators and the College’s longstanding commitment to preparing highly effective teachers. National projections highlight sustained demand across all school levels, with the College Board reporting steady growth in Physical Education positions and the field expected to expand by more than 6% over the next five years.
“Since our founding as a teacher’s college in 1952, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to preparing educators who foster transformative growth in their students,” said Ken Daly, President of St. Thomas Aquinas College. “The addition of a Physical Education pathway to our MST program strengthens this proud legacy and ensures our graduates are exceptionally well prepared to meet the evolving needs of today’s classrooms.”
This new pathway provided a clear transition from the College’s B.S. in Educational Studies into the MST in Physical Education, offering students a cohesive and academically rigorous route to certification. It also opens doors for individuals entering the teaching profession from other careers who possess a strong foundation in core areas such as physiology, biology, exercise science, or kinesiology. Together, these pathways strengthen academic continuity and expand access to a high-demand teaching field.
In recognition of the College’s longstanding commitment to educational excellence and the critical need for well-prepared educators, St. Thomas Aquinas College will offer an Educator Excellence Incentive for eligible students who apply to the MST program for the Fall 2026 cohort. This incentive, which includes a $10,000+ financial award for all eligible students who apply by March 1, 2026, reflects the mission of the ADVANCE initiative to expand accessible, high-impact pathways for future teachers.
“Our new MST Physical Education (All Grades) not only broadens what we offer in the School of Education, but creates an exciting new pathway for candidates looking to get certified,” said Dr. Nydia Prishker, Dean of the School of Education. “Graduates will be ready to step into the field as flexible, well-prepared educators who can support diverse learners and strengthen today’s K–12 schools.”
The School of Education offers a broad range of graduate programs that prepare knowledgeable, compassionate educators for today’s classrooms. In addition to the new MST in Physical Education, the School provides MST pathways leading to initial certification in Childhood, Secondary, Special Education, Art, and Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL). Certified teachers can further advance through MSEd and Post-Master’s Certificate programs in Literacy, Special Education, Autism, and TESOL. Accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), the School fosters a mission-driven community and supports accessibility to help teachers grow in their careers.
For more information, contact Dana Caponong, Assistant Director of Admissions for Graduate Students at 845-398-4220 or dcaponon@stac.edu.
About St. Thomas Aquinas College
St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 76 acres in Rockland County, NY, providing education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s diverse student body of approximately 2,000 full and part-time students can choose from over 100 majors, minors, and specializations across four Schools: Arts & Social Sciences, Business, Education, and STEM. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, and by Colleges of Distinction in its New York edition for Business, Education, and Career Development. The College is also recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Program institution. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), and its School of Business is accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu.