General Education Studies

Who You Are

To be considered for the CGES program, you must:

• Have a desire to be a part of Montclair’s campus community and be motivated to further your education with college-level learning.
• Be 18-25 years old at the start of the Fall semester and meet the definition of a “student with an intellectual disability” as defined in the Higher Education Act (HEA) law and regulations.*
• Be unlikely to be admitted in a traditional degree program at a 2-or-4-year college or university based on the combination of your disability and academic record.
• Have reliable transportation that conforms to your course schedule to and from campus for the duration of the program.
• Be able to reliably communicate with others and be able to follow the Montclair State University Code of Conduct.

*The Higher Education Opportunity Act, in Section § 668.231, defines a student with an intellectual disability. The term “student with an intellectual disability” means a student – (A) with a cognitive impairment, characterized by significant limitations in – (i) intellectual and cognitive functioning; and (ii) adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills; and (B) who is currently, or was formerly, eligible for a free appropriate public education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.].

Admissions Process Overview

Please note: Applications for Fall 2027 are now open and due Wednesday, January 6th 2027.
 

• To apply for CGES, please complete the CGES application using this hyperlink: Fall 2027 CGES Application. 
• Complete all required fields, and upload all required documents. Once complete, click submit.
• Within 24 hours, you will receive a confirmation email with your username and PIN to finish setting up your account. 
• After you submit your application, upload your most recent Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.) to your application portal.

Once your application is submitted:

1. All applicants will schedule a required phone call with the CGES Director and a family member. 
2. Invitations for a 30-minute video conference will be scheduled with the applicant and support, as needed.
3. Select applicants will receive invitations for an in-person interview on campus with the applicant and family member(s).
4. Applicants will receive notice of acceptance or nonacceptance in their applicant portal.

Application Requirements

• Online Application: Submit application.
• High School Transcript: The applicant will need to request that their High School send an official transcript directly to Montclair State University.
• Extracurricular Activity Sheet/Resume: A list of all extracurricular activities you have been involved with and the years participated. This may include social or recreational clubs, community or faith-based organizations, sports or arts activities, service or volunteer experiences, internships or work experiences, etc.
• Personal Statement: Respond to all parts of the prompt using ONE of the following methods:
  • Essay: Written statements should be in complete sentences and no more than 500 words.
  • Visual products or presentations: May be submitted as high resolution photographs, no larger than 8.5 x 11. You may submit a web link to a shared photo or presentation web service.
  • Audio or video recordings: Should be under 10 minutes in length. Please submit by providing a web link to a shared file or published video or audio web service (e.g., Youtube, Vimeo, Google Drive shared file).
• Letters of Recommendation: There is one required recommendation letter; a second letter is optional. The names and email addresses of your references must be submitted in your application. The references will receive an email with instructions to submit their letters directly to Montclair. References should be able to discuss your strengths and support needs and should not be a friend or family member.
• Individualized Education Program (IEP): The applicant’s most recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) will need to be uploaded to their application portal after the online application is submitted. Please include every page including evaluations. If the IEP does not list ‘Intellectual Disability’, please upload an additional document that indicates this.
   

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know if CGES is right for me? We suggest reading through this program page and FAQ as a starting point. If you are still unsure, contact us and we are happy to discuss further!
• What credential will I graduate with? CGES is a non-degree program. Students will earn a Certificate in General Education Studies, this is a Montclair State University granted credential. The CGES program curriculum is recognized by the University and by the NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
• Are classes taken with other Montclair students? Yes, the CGES curriculum requirements are fulfilled by Montclair State University undergraduate courses. CGES students will register for undergraduate classes and take those classes alongside Montclair undergraduate students.
• Are classes online or on campus? CGES is considered to be an on-campus program and students should expect to be on campus regularly. However, some of Montclair’s courses which fulfill the General Education and Concentration requirements may be offered as online or hybrid courses. Students would not be restricted from enrolling in these online courses if the course aligns with the student’s personal interests and goals.
• What days and times will I be on campus? Every student’s schedule will be individualized dependent on their course schedule and extracurricular activities.  Students should plan to be on campus about 3-4 days per week. Courses are typically scheduled for about 3 hours once a week, or about 1.5 hours twice a week. There are social and recreational activities scheduled nearly every day of the week including evenings and weekends. Students' schedules will change each semester.
• What is there to do on campus other than take classes? CGES students are encouraged to take advantage of the many social and recreational opportunities on campus. Montclair has over 100 student-led organizations and student life events happening nearly every day on campus. Students can also access the George Segal art gallery, Yogi Berra museum, Ice Arena, and recreation center with basketball courts, a swimming pool, fitness classes, and more, all on Montclair’s campus.
• Can I live on campus? At this time, CGES is a commuter only program.
• What type of support is offered in the CGES program? Student support is built into the CGES curriculum each semester through the required CGES core courses. During these courses, students engage in person-centered planning to develop and monitor their goals, identify supportive resources on campus, and create learning plans for courses. Additionally, CGES students have the option to request undergraduate peer support for academic, social, and recreational engagement while on campus. CGES does not provide medical or personal care assistance, or behavioral interventions. CGES does not provide one on one supervision for navigating campus beyond an orientation period of about 2-3 weeks at the start of the semester.
• What if I need additional support beyond what CGES offers? Students who need support beyond the scope of what CGES can offer will need to provide their own support when on campus. We are happy to coordinate work with personal care assistants, life coaches, or other individuals who will be on campus with CGES students.
• Is transportation provided? CGES does not provide transportation. Students are expected to have reliable transportation to and from campus to meet their schedule needs. There are NJ Transit bus and rail lines that stop at Montclair’s campus.
• Will I get any work experience in CGES? Yes, all students are required to take CGST 275: Supervised Work Experience in their final semester. This course requires that students complete an internship, externship, or other work experience plus seminar.
• How many classes do I need to take to graduate? Students must pass a minimum of 36 credits to graduate with their Certificate in General Education Studies in 2 years. This averages about 3 classes every semester, including New Student Seminar, 3 General Education courses, 3 Concentration courses, and 15 credits of CGES core courses. The remaining credits needed to meet the graduation requirement can be taken as free electives, or any course the student chooses. An academic advisor will be assigned to each student to help plan their course schedule and ensure they will meet graduation requirements. Students can expect to take between 7 - 11 credits in their first three semesters, and between 10 - 16 credits in their final semester.
• How much does CGES cost? CGES follows the standard rates for Montclair State University undergraduate per credit costs. There is no additional program fee for the CGES program. Tuition and fees are posted on the university website once they are determined for the academic year. Please note that the cost per semester will vary depending on how many credits students register for each semester. Students and families should be aware that the cost of attending any university can be more than tuition and fees. Educational expenses can also include the cost of books, course materials, supplies, and equipment, food, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses.
• What financial support is available? If you are eligible for services through New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities or New Jersey’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, please ask your team. They may be able to help you pay for some courses. CGES is a federally designated Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) program. Students must complete the FAFSA to determine their eligibility for Federal Financial Aid including Pell Grants and Work-Study.  Please note: CTP programs are not eligible for all federal financial aid.  You may also be eligible to apply for a scholarship. Ruby’s Rainbows is dedicated to providing college scholarships for students with Down syndrome. KFM Making A Difference provides scholarships for students with Autism to pursue postsecondary education. Help us stay up to date! Please contact cges@montclair.edu if you know of additional scholarship opportunities.