Montclair State University

Apply Now

Student Toolbox
Department Home  •   About  •   Academic Programs  •   Faculty & Staff  •   Student Advisement  •   Special Projects  •   P3 Alternate Modified Route  •   Department News  •   Links  •   FAQs

Early Childhood, Elementary and Literacy Education

Academic Programs: Graduate
M.A.T. - Elementary Education (K- 5) and Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TSD)

*Please note that applicants interested in Special Education in content or subject areas should review the programs in the department of Curriculum and Teaching.

The Master of Arts in Teaching Program in Elementary Education and Teacher of Students with Disabilities is a 48 credit program designed to provide graduate students with a master's degree as well as dual certification: initial certification to teach Kindergarten through fifth grade (K-5) and certification to teach students with disabilities (TSD) in K-5 settings. Students who apply to this program must hold a bachelor's degree in a liberal arts field, 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, including children with special needs. Applicants must also submit scores on the Praxis II test for Elementary Education: Content Knowledge, or an entrance Ticket.

Required Courses (27 Semester Hours)
Number Name Hours
ECEL 501 Perspectives on EC and EL Education in a Diverse Society (10 hrs field experience) 3
ECSE 508 Partnerships with Families: EC Special Education 3
READ 500 The Nature of Reading 3
SPED 566 Language Based Learning Strategies for Inclusive Settings 3
ELRS 503 Methods of Research 3
SPED 579 Special Education for Students with Disabilities 3
SPED 584 Assessment and Evaluation in the Inclusive Classroom 3
SPED 588 Promoting Pro-social Behaviors in Inclusive Settings 3
SPED 567 Instructional Planning for Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Settings I 3
SPED 585 Technology for Inclusive Classrooms 3
Content/Methods Courses (9 Semester Hours)
ECEL 517 Integrating Science and Technology in EC and EL Classrooms 3
ECEL 516 Social Studies and the Arts: Understanding Democracy in Elementary Classrooms 3
MATH 577 Math Education in Elementary Schools 3
Professional Sequence Courses (12-13 Semester Hours)
ECEL 522 Curriculum Development and Assessment in Diverse EL Classrooms 3
ECEL 510 Clinical Experience I in Inclusive EC and EL Settings 2
ECEL 502 Seminar I: Inclusive EC and EL Classrooms 1
ECEL 511 Clinical Experience II: Inclusive EC and EL Settings 2
or
ECEL 514 In-service Supervised Graduate Student Teaching
(Replaces Clinical Experience II for those in full time teaching positions)		 5
ECEL 504 Seminar II: Inclusive EC and EL Classrooms 1

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.
  • Any student who has not completed the equivalent of one semester of child development as an undergraduate must take the course at the graduate level.
  • All MAT students must register to take the Comprehensive Exam during the Clinical I semester. The exam is administered once in the spring and fall semesters. Registration for the fall exam is due October 1st and February 1st for the spring exam. Registration forms and information on the Comprehensive Exam may be found on the department website.
  • 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 1st for May graduation, March 1st for August graduation, and June 1st for January graduation.
  • Applications for Certification are required to be submitted to the Registrar's Office during the following period: October 15th to November 15th for January graduation, March 15th to April 15th for May graduation, and July 1st to August 1st for August graduation.
  • Any variation from this work program must be approved by the Office of Graduate Admissions & Support Services through the proper filing of a substitution form.

Back to Top