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Center of Pedagogy
Undergraduate Students
I have been accepted to Montclair State University as an undergraduate
student and want to pursue teaching certification. What do I do?
Students who are accepted to MSU are not automatically admitted
to the Teacher Education Program. There is a separate application
and admissions process for students seeking teaching certification.
Information on applying to the Teacher Education Program is available
at http://cehs.montclair.edu/academic/cop/application_for_admission.pdf.
There are important prerequisites that students must complete
in order to be eligible to apply. Students should obtain this
information early in their academic careers to ensure that they
are on the right track to apply to the Program. There are advisors
available in the Teacher Education Program to help students prepare
for application, acceptance and retention in the Program. Only
students who have applied and have been accepted to the Program
can be recommended for certification
by Montclair State University. A general description of the Program
including criteria for admission is located in the Undergraduate
Catalog which is available from the Admissions Office (973-655-4444) or by clicking here.
I am interested in becoming a pre-school or elementary classroom
teacher. What major can I choose?
Undergraduates at MSU who wish to become pre-school teachers (P-3)
should choose Family and Child Studies. Early Childhood as their
major. Please contact the Family and Child Studies Department
and the Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education Department
for specific information. Undergraduates who wish to become elementary
school teachers for grades K-5 may choose from the following majors:
Family and Child Studies: Early and Middle Childhood; Anthropology; English;
General Humanities; History; Sociology; Spanish; or Psychology.
Please contact the major department and the Early Childhood, Elementary
and Literacy Education Department for specific information. You
must also make formal application to the Teacher Education Program
in the second semester of your sophomore year or in the first
semester of your junior year after completing prerequisite courses.
What if I am interested in teaching a subject in elementary,
middle, or high school?
Undergrads who wish to teach a subject in P-12 schools should
declare an appropriate major in that subject area. Visit the teacher education site to view majors available
to teacher education students. In addition to declaring your major
you must also make formal application to the Teacher Education
Program in the second semester of your sophomore year (or in the
first semester of your junior year, if necessary) after completing prerequisite
courses.
When do I apply to the Teacher Education Program?
Students generally apply to the Teacher Education Program in the
second semester of sophomore year or first semester of junior year,
since by that time they have completed the prerequisites for admission
to the program (see below). Subject area students (everyone except
elementary and P-3) in particular are advised to apply in the
second semester of sophomore year since the professional sequence
of courses take 4 semesters to complete. The application deadline
for fall admission is the second Monday in September. The application
deadline for spring admission is the fourth Monday in January.
Here are the upcoming deadlines:
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009.
What do I need to do before I am ready to apply?
There are prerequisite courses that must be completed successfully prior to
the semester in which you apply to the Teacher Education Program.
As we have just transitioned to a new sequence of teacher education courses for subject area
candidates (all but P-3 and K-5),
you should consult with your advisor and with Teacher Education Admissions and Retention
to determine which courses you must take. Several factors are considered,
including start date at MSU, whether or not you are transferring in credits, and your certification area.
It is particularly critical during this transition time that students seek advisement and not rely
on word-of-mouth from other students regarding their course of study.
How do I apply? What does it entail?
The application is available online approximately one month before the due date. The application includes two essays,
one recommendation, an impromptu writing sample, transcripts, and an interview. Students find out approximately
5 weeks after the application due date of their status in the program.
Once I've been admitted to the Program, who is my advisor?
The teacher education coordinator in your major department is
usually also your advisor. It is strongly recommended that you
visit that individual at least once each semester to be sure you are
on the right track. For other information related to the professional
sequence, contact Teacher Education Admissions & Retention,
University Hall, Suite 1160.
To keep up-to-date on any changes that
may occur in the Program or announcements by the New Jersey
Department of Education, visit Teacher Education Admissions
& Retention, University Hall, Suite 1160.
What is the Praxis and why do I have to take it? When do I
take the Praxis II exam?
Students must pass the appropriate Praxis II exam (if
pursuing a NJDOE teaching certification that requires a Praxis
II test) prior to the student teaching semester otherwise they
will not be permitted to student teach, complete the Teacher Education
Program at MSU, and be certified by the state of NJ. Information
from the state Department of Education on which test to take,
passing scores, and test dates can be obtained by calling 609-292-2070
or visiting www.ets.org/praxis.
Graduate Students
I already have my undergraduate degree, but want to receive
teaching certification. Where can I find information about Montclair
State's teacher certification programs?
General information about our
MAT and post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs
is available under Graduate
Programs. Applications and admissions requirements are available
on the Graduate School
website.
Are there application deadlines?
Montclair State University has rolling admissions for candidates who wish to enter the MAT program or the Post-Baccalaureate
Teacher Certification Program for an initial teaching certificate.
When is the appropriate time to take the Praxis II exams?
For certain Master of Arts in Teaching or Initial Instructional
Teaching Certification programs candidates are required to take the appropriate Praxis
II Subject Assessment Tests prior to being admitted into the Program.
Students must pass the required Praxis II Subject Assessments test
in order to be recommended for certification by MSU to the state
of New Jersey. Information from the state department of Education on which
test to take, passing scores, and test dates can be obtained
by calling 609-292-2070 or visiting www.ets.org/praxis.
Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Where can I go if I have questions regarding Fieldwork/Clinical
I and Student Teaching?
The Fieldwork Department, located in University Hall Suite 1180,
provides placements in school districts for those students who
have been accepted to initial certification programs leading to
student teaching and who have filed a timely fieldwork application.
Students who plan to register for Fieldwork/Clinical I must file
the fieldwork application by March 1 for the fall semester, or
by October 1 for the spring semester. If you have filed this application
and you have further questions, call the Fieldwork Department
at 973-655-4262.
Are there forms that I have to complete in order to graduate
on time and be recommended to the State of New Jersey for teaching
certification?
Yes! You must file for final audit and apply for your
teaching certificate in the Office of the Registrar according
to deadlines shown below:
Date of Graduation/
Program Completion |
Deadline for Applying
For Final Audit |
Dates for Applying
For Certificate |
| MAY |
OCT. 1 |
MARCH 15-APRIL 15 |
| AUGUST |
MARCH 1 |
JULY 1-AUGUST 1 |
| JANUARY |
JUNE 1 |
OCT. 15-NOV. 15 |
These deadlines also apply to graduate students, including M.A.T. students who are completing their certification programs before the degree.
There is a fee for each certificate. Certificates are mailed by the NJ Department of Education approximately 12 weeks following the completion of your program.
My friend just completed final audit and was told that s/he had to take a course in biology or health to satisfy a state physiology/hygiene requirement for certification. Is there such a requirement?
Yes, the New Jersey Department of Education requires that you take a course in biology or health (personal, community, school or family health; nutrition; health counseling; or health administration). An alternative is to take an exam administered by the State Department of Education. Information about the test can be obtained from your county superintendent's office. A list of MSU courses which satisfy the requirement can be
obtained in the Teacher Education Admissions & Retention office, University Hall, Suite 1160.
What type of certificate will I receive when I graduate?
Graduates of colleges and universities in New Jersey who successfully
complete an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate teacher certification
program, pass the Praxis test(s) and apply for an instructional
certificate, receive a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced
Standing (CEAS) from the state. The CEAS enables the beginning teacher
to apply for his or her first position. The "advanced standing"
designation indicates that no additional coursework is required
in order to qualify for a standard certificate.
Upon employment, the beginning teacher is issued a provisional
certificate by the state and assigned a "support team" during
the first (induction) year. The team provides guidance and support
for the new teacher. The school administrator will additionally
be responsible for formally evaluating the work of that teacher
during the year. Near the end of the first year, he or she will
recommend (a) that the novice teacher be given a standard
or lifetime certificate to teach in New Jersey, (b) that the novice
teacher's provisional certificate be extended a second year, or
(c) that the novice teacher not be considered for a standard certificate.
(All decisions may be appealed to the State Board of Examiners.)
A fee will be paid by all first-year teachers to fund the services
of the Support Team, although a school district could decide to
incur that expense in its budget.
Candidates planning to teach in another state should not be concerned about this state policy. The Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing issued to you serves like any other credential for purposes of certification-related reciprocity and job placement in other states. It has no expiration date.
Are there scholarships available for Teacher Education students?
Several awards ranging from $100 to $1,000 are available to students in the
Teacher Education Program, based on financial need and/or outstanding performance
in the Program. Contact the Teacher Education Advocacy Center early in the Spring semester to learn
about the awards and obtain an application. The awards deadline is usually in early March.
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