Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University has been recognized for the seventh time in nine years by the American Physical Society (APS) and the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) as a member of the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) 5+ Club. This accolade acknowledges Stony Brook's achievement in graduating nine physics teachers during the 2022-2023 academic year.

The accomplishment was made possible through the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, which operates under the College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Physics and Astronomy. The program is administered by the Institute for STEM Education and the School of Professional Development.

Chang Kee Jung, distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, stated, “In this science and technology driven modern society, early physics education is increasingly important. In recent years, the Department of Physics and Astronomy has been a national leader in producing well-qualified high school teachers through its MAT program, now directed by Professor Angela Kelly.” He added, “We have received the 5+ Club recognition seven out of the past nine years, and in Academic Year 2022-23, we graduated nine new physics teachers, which is a historic record for our MAT program. As the chair of the Department I challenge the program to become a member of the 10+ Club, which is yet to be established. We are very close to the Chair’s challenge goal and I am very proud of our MAT program.”

Angela Kelly, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and director of the MAT Program, remarked on their future goals: “The SBU Department of Physics has a long history of excellence in physics teacher preparation, which grew under the stewardship of Dr. Robert McCarthy for many years,” she said. “We plan on redoubling our recruitment efforts to reach the Chair’s goal of 10 physics teachers per year to serve secondary students on Long Island and beyond.”

According to APS and AAPT data, graduating more than five physics teachers annually places Stony Brook University in the 99th percentile among U.S. colleges and universities. Amidst a nationwide shortage of qualified physics teachers, Stony Brook's MAT program aims to address this gap effectively. Previously identified as an exemplary physics teacher education program in a 2018 PhysTEC study, Stony Brook continues to contribute significantly to this critical field.