Art Teacher Certification

  • Teacher Certification
A set of paint and color swatches.

If you already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to teach art without pursuing a master’s degree, Montclair State University’s Post-Baccalaureate P-12 Art Teacher Certification allows you to pursue certification only. This program is designed for future educators who want to inspire creativity in P–12 students and gain the credentials needed to teach art in New Jersey public schools and beyond.

Through coursework in art education, pedagogy, and state-required teaching field standards, you’ll build both the creative and professional skills necessary to succeed as an art teacher. You’ll also complete the Graduate Professional Sequence, including clinical practice and student teaching, to ensure you’re classroom ready.

Hands drawing on a sketchpad.

Program Highlights

  • Designed for students with a bachelor’s degree who seek art teacher certification only
     
  • Prepares you for the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) in New Jersey
     
  • CEAS certification is valid for life and transferable to most other states
     
  • Combines rigorous coursework with extensive clinical experiences, including student teaching in partner schools
     
  • No master’s degree required

Graduates are recommended to the New Jersey Department of Education for initial certification, putting you on the path to a rewarding career as an art educator.

Is a Post Baccalaureate Certification Right for You?

All you need is a bachelor’s degree in the certification field, and a passion for education. You’ll need to meet additional requirements to become a certified teacher, which are listed in the adjacent section.

All you need is a bachelor's degree in the certification field, and a passion for education. You'll need to meet additional requirements to become a certified teacher, which are listed in the adjacent section. 

Students with a baccalaureate degree and interest in teaching may pursue the post-baccalaureate program for certification only. 

Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be recommended to the New Jersey Department of Education for a teaching certificate. Students interested in teaching elsewhere should seek information from the appropriate state authorities; requirements are generally similar. 

As a condition of New Jersey’s Beginning Teacher Induction Program, candidates who have completed undergraduate or post-baccalaureate teacher certification programs must successfully complete one provisional year of teaching under a provisional certificate to be eligible for a permanent, standard New Jersey teaching certificate. Candidates who already possess a New Jersey standard certificate and who are seeking an additional teaching endorsement are exempt. Persons recommended by the University for certification will receive a Certificate of Eligibility With Advanced Standing which authorizes the holder to seek and accept offers of employment in New Jersey schools and in other states. The certificate is valid for the lifetime of its holder. 

Please refer to our teacher education and certification page for information on other options in teacher education. 

For certification as a P-12 teacher in New Jersey, current regulations require that applicants complete a minimum of 30 credits in a coherent sequence in the subject field, and a coherent sequence requires that at least 12 credits are completed at the advanced level of study (junior, senior or graduate level). If you require such subject area coursework for your certification program, please discuss this with an advisor during the admissions process.

Admission Requirements

  • Equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees: Please visit the international applicants page to review U.S. degree equivalency information.
  • *F1/J1 visa seeking students are not eligible for this program.

Application Checklist

  • Application Deadline: July 1 for Fall admission; December 1 for Spring admission.
  • Online Application: Submit application and $60 non-refundable fee (or waiver if applicable).
  • Transcript: One from each college attended.
  • Resume: Required
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two.
  • Essays/Personal Statement: A major goal of Montclair State University’s teacher education program is to educate teachers who understand how to prepare their students for democratic citizenship. Democratic citizenship includes the ability to think critically and to play an active role in improving our society. Please review the Portrait of a Teacher. You will note that several of the standards in the Portrait focus on this important goal. For the Statement of Objectives, please write an essay of three to four double-spaced, typed pages and incorporate items 5 and 6  from the Portrait of a Teacher to address the following questions:
    • In your life as a citizen, student, and future teacher of this society, what experiences are reflective of this standard? Additionally, what experiences in your life have conflicted with this standard?
    • Envision yourself as a teacher. How would you foster a classroom climate that would promote this standard in your discipline?
    • You might begin by reflecting on some of your own classroom experiences as a student. Which things would you do differently and which would you emulate in creating such a classroom climate?
  • Standardized Test Scores: See information on the Center for Student Success and Educator Excellence.

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