Teaching

  • MAT
  • Master's Degree
  • Teacher Certification
A teacher helps a student with a class assignment.

If you’re ready to turn your passion for learning into a teaching career, Montclair’s Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) will give you the preparation and credentials to lead a classroom with confidence.

This program is designed for individuals who already hold a bachelor’s degree in the desired content area and want to earn initial teacher certification in New Jersey while completing a graduate degree. You’ll study curriculum design, instructional strategies and classroom management while exploring how to create equitable and engaging learning environments for all students. This program also includes a required clinical experience during your last two semesters in the program. You will be placed into a district to complete this requirement.

The MAT combines rigorous coursework with extensive clinical experiences, including student teaching in partner schools. This hands-on approach ensures you graduate with both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills to thrive from your first day as a teacher.

With guidance from expert faculty and access to Montclair’s strong network of school partners, you’ll be supported throughout your journey. The program offers pathways in multiple content areas and grade levels so you can tailor your studies to your career goals.

If you’re ready to make an impact in the lives of students and launch a rewarding career in education, Montclair’s MAT program is your next step.

Teacher Certification Requirements

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.

For certification as a P-3 or K-6 teacher in New Jersey, current regulations require that applicants complete a minimum of 60 liberal arts credits. If you require this for your certification program, please discuss this with an advisor during the admissions process.

Choose Your Journey

In our MAT program, you can choose the path that’s best for you and your career goals.

Teaching young children brings a unique set of challenges, and this program is designed to give you the skills you need to meet them. Early education specialists not only teach children in all subject areas, they lay the foundation for essential life skills - emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and cognitive development. You can be the key that unlocks a child’s door to life-long learning. 

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Elementary teachers must be versatile, covering a wide range of subjects, while applying fundamental skills to develop emotional intelligence, child development, and cognition. This program provides a comprehensive overview of the core disciplines you'll be responsible for teaching daily in an inclusive setting to engage all learners. 

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By specializing in a specific subject area, you will be able to teach that subject in schools all the way from preschool through grade 12. When enrolling in this program, you will need to select one of the following subject areas to specialize in: 

Art, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Science, English, English as a Second Language, French, Health and Physical Education, Italian, Latin, Mathematics, Music, Physical Science, Physics, Social Studies, or Spanish 

See the curriculum.

Endless Possibilities

For additional credits, you can leave Montclair with an additional teaching certification.

For 12-credits, the Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TSD) certification qualifies educators to teach and support students with diverse learning needs across preschool through grade 12. It typically requires completing specialized coursework in inclusive education, individualized instruction, and behavior support strategies, often as an endorsement to an existing teaching license. 

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This 12-credit program prepares teachers to work with P-12 English Language Learners and their families using strategies that support bilingualism, biliteracy and the learning of grade-level content across the curriculum. 

The Bilingual Bicultural Education Endorsement program is available online and, in select circumstances, at off-site locations in the surrounding region. Courses for our traditional program are offered fully online; courses for off-site program cohorts are offered in a combined online and in-person hybrid format. All courses are held during late afternoon and evening hours to meet the needs of working students and individuals may complete the program in just one year. 

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Today’s classrooms are more diverse than ever - nearly 1 in 5 students in New Jersey’s public schools comes from a home where a language other than English is spoken. A secondary certification in English as a Second Language will give you the highly-desirable skills and tools necessary to provide support for your multi-lingual students and to ensure they have the opportunity to realize their potential. 

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Combined Degree Options

You can also ladder up to this graduate degree by combining a bachelor’s degree at Montclair with the MAT – giving you a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, subject area teacher certification and Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification in just five years.

Bachelor's Programs That Can Be Combined with a Master's in Teaching

  • Visual Arts (Art Certification)
  • Biology (Biological Sciences Certification)
  • Chemistry (Chemistry Certification)
  • Early Childhood Education (Early Childhood P-3 Certification)
  • Earth and Environmental Science (Earth Science Certification)
  • Elementary Education (Elementary K-6 Certification)
  • English (English Certification)
  • Linguistics (English as a Second Language Certification)
  • Physical Education (Health & Physical Education Certification)
  • French (French Certification)
  • Mathematics (Mathematics Certification)
  • Music Education (Music Certification)
  • Physics (Physical Science certification)
  • Spanish (Spanish Certification) (3.25 Required Major and Overall GPA )

Begin Your Journey Today

Application Checklist

In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps needed to apply, as well as all of the corresponding supplemental materials for your specific program of interest. Applicants with a GPA under 2.75 will not be considered.

  • Application Deadline: July 1st for Fall admission and December 1st for Spring admission for Initial Certification applications
  • Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.

The following is a list of the supplemental materials that are required to accompany your application for the graduate teaching (MAT and Post-Bacc) programs:

  • Transcript: One official copy from each college attended. Transcripts indicating the required coursework in the specific subject area.
  • Written 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?
  • Resume
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two.
  • Standardized Test Scores: Not required for admission for any of the MAT or Post-Baccalaureate teaching programs.
  • Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.*F1/J1 visa seeking students are not eligible for this program.

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Questions? We're Here to Help.

For questions about this program or information about how to enroll, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Graduate Admissions Office

Get guidance on every step of the application process, from admission requirements and deadlines to transcripts, test scores and next steps toward enrollment. The Office of Graduate Admissions provides the information and resources needed to put forward a strong application.

Graduate Program Administrator: Samita Mezger

Get detailed information about the program itself—from curriculum and faculty expertise to research, internships and career outcomes. The Program Administrator can explain how the program connects to your academic and professional goals.