Teaching Early Childhood Education (P-3) at Montclair State University

Teaching (MAT) with Certification in Early Childhood Education (P-3)

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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.