Teaching (MAT) with Dual Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities
The Master of Arts in Teaching Program with dual certification as a Teacher of Students with Disabilities is designed to provide graduate students with a master’s degree as well as dual certification: initial certification to teach in a subject area (P-12) and certification to teach students with disabilities in those settings.
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.
The Teacher Education Program’s professional course sequence and field experiences emphasize teaching for critical thinking and culturally responsive teaching. The professional component for both 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.
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.
For certification as a P-12 teacher in New Jersey, current regulations require that applicants complete a minimum of 30 credits in a coherent sequence in the subject field, and a coherent sequence requires that at least 12 credits are completed at the advanced level of study (junior, senior or graduate level). If you require such subject area coursework for your certification program, please discuss this with an advisor during the admissions process.
*F1/J1 visa seeking students are not eligible for this program.
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 Dual Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities 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.
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 Dual Certification in Art and Teacher of Students with Disabilities Program Coordinator:
Program Coordinator: Dr. Dorothy Heard
Office: Calcia Hall
Email: heardd@montclair.edu
Phone: 973-655-4210
