Teaching (MAT) with Certification in Early Childhood Education (P-3)
Students with a baccalaureate degree and interest in teaching may pursue the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) which simultaneously leads to certification AND master’s degree. This program is open to students who wish to teach students in preschool through grade three (p-3) and become a certified Early Childhood teacher.
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.
For certification as an early childhood teacher wishing to teach students in preschool through grade three (p-3) in New Jersey, current regulation requires the completion of a major in the liberal arts, sciences, or a minimum of 60 liberal arts credits. A “Liberal arts major” means any college major such as philosophy, history, literature, sociology, science, mathematics, or world language that is intended primarily to provide general knowledge and to develop an individual’s general intellectual capacities to reason and evaluate, as opposed to professional or vocational skills. However, beginning in Fall 2025, candidates shall complete a liberal arts, science, dual-content, or interdisciplinary academic major, or a minimum of 60 credits in liberal arts and/or science, and 30 credits must be in core-content subject areas, including English, mathematics, social studies/history, and science. Please discuss this specific requirement with an advisor during the admissions process to ensure that all certification requirements are met.
Please refer to our teacher education and certification page for information on other options in teacher education as well as our programs of study page for a comprehensive list of all of the graduate programs offered within the university.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree in order to be eligible to apply for a graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the international applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: July 1st for Fall admission and December 1st for Spring admission for Initial Certification applications
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Teaching (MAT) with Certification in Early Childhood Education (P-3) program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- A major goal of Montclair State University’s teacher education program is to educate teachers who understand how to prepare their students for democratic citizenship. Democratic citizenship includes the ability to think critically and to play an active role in improving our society. Please review the Portrait of a Teacher. You will note that several of the standards in the Portrait focus on this important goal. For the Statement of Objectives, please write an essay of three to four double-spaced, typed pages and incorporate items 5 and 6 from the Portrait of a Teacher to address the following questions:
- In your life as a citizen, student, and future teacher of this society, what experiences are reflective of this standard? Additionally, what experiences in your life have conflicted with this standard?
- Envision yourself as a teacher. How would you foster a classroom climate that would promote this standard in your discipline?
- You might begin by reflecting on some of your own classroom experiences as a student. Which things would you do differently and which would you emulate in creating such a classroom climate?
- Letters of Recommendation: Two.
- Standardized Test Scores: See information on the Center of Pedagogy’s website
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
For curriculum information, please visit the program listing in the course catalog.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Teaching (MAT) with Certification in Early Childhood Education (P-3) Program Coordinator:
Program Coordinator: Minsun Shin
Office: University Hall 3163
Email: shinm@montclair.edu
Phone: 973-655-6961