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Academic Programs: Post-baccalaureate: Early Childhood Education (P-3) Initial Certification
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Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education

Academic Programs: Graduate
Post-baccalaureate: Early Childhood Education (P-3)
Initial Certification

Coordinator: Nancy Lauter
Office: University Hall, Room 3163
Phone: (973) 655-5407
Email: lautern@mail.montclair.edu

The Initial Certification Post-baccalaureate in Early Childhood Education (P-3) is a 24 credit program designed to provide graduate students with initial certification to teach Preschool through third grade (P-3). Students who apply to this program must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, including a minimum of 60 liberal arts credits, complete The Graduate Admissions & Support Services Application, and meet the Office of Graduate Admissions & Support Services requirements. In addition, applicants must provide evidence of substantial and meaningful experience with groups of children and be permitted admission to the Teacher Education Program. It is expected that students in the program will be able to demonstrate proficiency in the use of the English language.

Course Requirements:

Required Courses
Number Name Hours
ECEL 501 Perspectives on Early Childhood and Elementary Education in a Diverse Society 3
ECEL 518 Families, Communities, and Schools: Diversity, Culture and Democracy 3
READ 500 The Nature of Reading 3
 
Content/Methods Courses (select one)
Number Name Hours
ECEL 516 Social Studies and the Arts: Understanding Democracy in Elementary Classrooms 3
ECEL 517 Integrating Science and Technology in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms 3
MATH 577 Mathematics Education in the Elementary School 3
 
Professional Sequence Courses
Number Name Hours
CURR 514 Inservice Supervised Graduate Student Teaching 4
OR
ECEL 504 Seminar II: Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms 1
OR
ECEL 511 Clinical Experience II in Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Settings 5
 
CURR 515 Inservice Supervised Graduate Student Teaching II 4
ECEL 502 Seminar I: Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms 1
ECEL 510 Clinical Experience I in Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Settings 2
ECEL 528 Early Childhood Curriculum in Inclusive Settings 3
 
*CURR 514 & 515 replaces ECEL 514 & 515 for those in full-time teaching positions
 
PROGRAM TOTAL: 24 credits

Additional Student Responsibilities:
  • Students are responsible for seeking advisement from their academic advisor for registration and completion of degree requirements.
  • Students are responsible for completing the Physiology and Hygiene requirement and Speech requirement for state certification.
  • Early Childhood Certification requires passing PRAXIS Exam 0022. Information on the PRAXIS test is available in the Center of Pedagogy office in University Hall.
  • Any student who has not completed the equivalent of one semester of general psychology, and two semesters of child development as an undergraduate must take the courses at the graduate level.
  • It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with all policies designated in the Graduate Catalog and the current Center of Pedagogy Teacher Education Handbook.
  • Students are required to apply to the Center of Pedagogy for Clinical I placement the semester before placement begins.
  • In order to complete the program, students must file the proper audit forms in the Registrar's Office October 1 for May graduation, March 1 for August graduation, and June 1 for January graduation.
  • Applications for Certification are required to be submitted to the Registrar's Office during the following period: October 15 to November 15 for January graduation, March 15 to April 15 for May graduation, and July 1 to August 1 for August graduation.
  • Any variation from this work program must be approved by the Graduate School through the proper filing of a substitution form.