Elementary Education, MAT (Online)

Program at a Glance

This 34-credit program culminates in a Master of Arts in Teaching degree and NJ certification as Elementary Education teacher. Designed for aspiring educators, the fully online coursework equips you with a broad range of instructional strategies to effectively teach diverse learners in K–6 classrooms. The program follows a cohort model with a summer start date.

Program Coordinator : Melissa Meagher, meagherm@tcnj.edu

Who Should Pursue This Program?

If you have a bachelor’s degree and are seeking standard teacher certification in New Jersey, this program is for you. The online coursework accommodates busy working professionals with synchronous video meetings one weekday evening per week to create a sense of community among students and faculty. If you are a paraprofessional working in a school district, we can collaborate with your school to arrange your student teaching experience while you continue earning a salary.

The program is pending final approval from the NJ Department of Education.Typical Course Sequence: <ul> <li aria-level="1">SPED 501: Students with Disabilities in Our Schools</li> <li aria-level="1">EPSY 523: Advanced Child & Adolescent Development</li> <li aria-level="1">RDLG 530: Exploring Children’s Literature: An Educator’s Perspective</li> <li aria-level="1">SPED 612: Curriculum and Methods for Students with Mild Disabilities</li> <li aria-level="1">RDLG 537: Language Arts & Literacy</li> <li aria-level="1">MATH 596: Concepts & Methods of Teaching Math</li> <li aria-level="1">ELEM 521 Teaching Science & Social studies</li> <li aria-level="1">RDLG 579: Content Literacy</li> <li aria-level="1">EDUC 694: Internship 1</li> <li aria-level="1">ELEM 522: Inclusive Methods for Teaching Math</li> <li aria-level="1">ELEM 695: Internship II</li> <li aria-level="1">EDUC 615: Capstone</li> <li aria-level="1">ELEM 700: Comprehensive Exam</li> </ul> Internship I Students should expect to be in the field initially for several half days/week and then, towards the end of the semester, for five full days. In conjunction with this course, a seminar meets weekly. Internship II In this full-time, full-semester experience, teacher candidates design and execute lessons for a variety of subject areas under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. For approximately one month, the teacher candidate will take over all instruction and planning for the class. Because this program culminates in certification in elementary education, Internship II must be completed in a K-6 setting with a cooperating teacher with a standard Elementary certification. Teacher candidates are required to have completed all other coursework before enrolling in Internship II. Applicants who are employed as paraprofessionals and wish to complete student teaching in the building in which they work should discuss their educational plans with their school administrator. The conversation should address whether their specific job responsibilities as a paraprofessional are aligned with the requirements of student teaching and if the school district will permit them to student teach while they are employed in a paraprofessional role.