The Teacher Education Program is overseen by the Center of Pedagogy, a unique structure at Montclair State University.
About the Teacher Education Program
Montclair State University’s Teacher Education Program is one of the most highly-regarded teacher preparation programs in the country. It has been consistently recognized both nationally and regionally for its unique features, including its structure, partnerships and curricular emphases. The program is considered a model for other colleges and universities and has continuously been accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) since 1954, and has been recognized in a variety of ways:
- In 2007, the George Lucas Educational Foundation named Montclair State University as one of the ten leading teacher education programs in the nation.
- In 2005 and again in 2009, the program was named the recipient of the Richard W. Clark Award for Exemplary Partner School Work.
- In 2009, the College was awarded a $6.3 million five-year grant, one of the largest in University history, from the U.S. Department of Education to establish the Newark-Montclair Urban Teacher Residency Program to prepare teachers in mathematics, science or elementary special education.
- In 2010, the Teacher Education Program received the Wisniewski Award for Teacher Education from the Society for Professors of Education for making “singularly significant contributions to the theory and practice of teacher education.”
- U.S. News and World Report included Montclair State in its Top 100 in the 2020 rankings of Best Education Programs. Curriculum and Instruction was included in its specialty rankings.
- Montclair State’s online Master of Arts in Educational Leadership degree program was ranked No. 19 in the nation by the S. News & World Report 2019 Best Online Graduate Education Programs.
What makes our Teacher Education Program so special? One reason is the Center of Pedagogy, which coordinates all aspects of teacher education. Dedicated to the art and science of teaching and learning, the Center of Pedagogy enjoys the distinction of being the first such agency in the country to focus its resources on the direction and coordination of the various aspects of the renewal of teacher education both in the university and in the public schools. The Center is comprised of three groups: faculty and staff from the College of Education and Human Services, University faculty from the arts and sciences, and our partner school districts.
Our collaboration with a network of partner schools where students complete their field experiences is key to the success of the Teacher Education Program. The field experiences emphasize the simultaneous renewal of teacher education and schools and the select districts are active participants in the Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal (MSUNER). The MSUNER is a member of the National Network for Educational Renewal (NNER).
The Teacher Education Program’s professional course sequence and field experiences emphasize teaching for critical thinking and culturally responsive teaching. The undergraduate program reflects a balance of a liberal education and professional preparation by combining rigorous general education, subject matter specialization, and professional training. The professional component for both undergraduates and graduate students addresses four broad areas: 1) student development and learning, 2) the classroom and the school, 3) the curriculum, and 4) effective teaching skills.
Upon completion of the Teacher Education Program, candidates are recommended for certification to teach in New Jersey public schools and are qualified to apply for teacher certification in the other 45 member states of the Interstate Certification Compact.