In the State of NJ, all teachers are required to complete a BA or BS in a content area.

Education is not considered to be a major. At Fairleigh Dickinson, it is considered to be a “concentration”.

Candidates in the QUEST program may major in a variety of different areas including:

  • Art
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Creative Writing
  • English Language and Literature
  • History
  • Humanities
  • International Studies
  • Mathematics (BA or BS)
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Science (BS – Metro only)
  • Theater (Florham only)

For those interested in our Dual Certification Program, Special Education is a “second certificate” in the State of NJ.  Teachers must first (or concurrently) earn their elementary certificate.

Program Outline

Students must complete 120 credits (FOR STUDENTS ENTERING FALL 2015)  for a BA or BS in a liberal arts or science major appropriate for the area of teacher certification. This includes at least 30 credits in education courses required for elementary or secondary certification — of which a maximum of 15 credits may be applied as dual undergraduate and graduate credit to both the BA/BS and MAT. degrees  — plus 15 credits in graduate-level educational methodology courses.

Candidates who complete the required 120 credits for the BA/BS and the required education courses and pass the PRAXIS in their area of certification become eligible to take their 2-semester student teaching (Advanced Clinical Practice and  Apprenticeship Teaching). After completing their apprenticeships, candidates become eligible for their NJ State Teaching Certificate. The candidate becomes eligible for the MAT degree upon completion of the required 36 graduate credits.

  • Candidates in the QUEST program must major in a liberal arts/science discipline. Candidates in the QUEST program must satisfy all general education requirements, and specific departmental requirements for their liberal arts/science major in order to be eligible for a BA or BS degree in their area of specialization. They must also complete the requirements for the School of Education.  No more than 15 credits in education courses, taken at the graduate level in the junior and senior years, may be applied as dual undergraduate and graduate credit.
  • At the end of four years, students who have met all requirements will be eligible for a BA or BS degree and will have up to 15 credits toward their Master of Arts in Teaching degree (which requires a total of 36 graduate credits). Student Teaching occurs in the fifth year.  
  • The State of NJ requires two (2) semesters of student teaching:  The first semester is part-time and is called Advanced Clinical Practice; the second semester is full time and is called Apprenticeship Teaching. Upon completion of the Apprenticeship Teaching, students will have met eligibility requirements for teacher certification. Completion of the master’s degree is not required for certification in New Jersey.
  • New Jersey teacher certification requires that 6 credits be taken in behavioral sciences (sociology, anthropology or psychology); and 3 credits be taken in biology, physiology or health. The courses also may be taken to satisfy college core requirements (foundations and disciplinary perspectives) or the liberal arts /science required courses or electives.
  • Eligibility for entrance to the QUEST program requires a 3.00 cumulative grade point ratio (CGPR).  The 3.0 GPA must be maintained throughout the program. Additionally, all candidates must pass the Core Academic Skills for Educators exams by the time they complete 60 credits in their program.
  • In order to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching program in five years, students may need to take courses in summer and winter sessions in years three through five, depending upon their particular liberal arts/science program requirements.

Admission Requirements

For up-to-date information about admission requirements for teacher education programs, please contact Dr. Melissa Smith at m.smith1@fdu.edu

Freshmen entering the QUEST Program are required to have a high school GPA of 3.0 or greater and a minimum of 1080 on the SAT (combined verbal and math). Sophomores and juniors requesting admission to the QUEST Program must have a college/university CGPA of 3.0 or greater.

Students entering the QUEST program are not formally matriculated into QUEST until they have 60 credits and met the following requirements:

  • 60 earned credits
  • CGPA 3.0 or greater

Praxis II Requirement (for licensure) – OPI/WPT

At this time, there is no Praxis II required for ESL certification.  However, ESL teachers must take and pass the Oral Proficiency Inventory (OPI) and the Written Proficiency Test (WPT) in English.  Your QUEST/ELS advisor will give you further information on these exams.

Degree Plan

General Education Requirements – as per University Requirements

Major Requirements – as per requirements for specific major

QUEST (EDUC) Requirements 

Year 1

Year 2

  • EDUC2209  Seminar in Professional Practice II
  • EDUC2402  Field Experience II
  • EDUC3309  Seminar in Professional Practice III

Year 3

  • EDUC3403   Field Experience III
  • EDUC6654 Literacy Development for Second-Language Learners 
  • EDUC6599 Methodology and Curriculum of Second Language Acquisition (course given credit for both undergraduate and graduate degrees)

Year 4

  • EDUC3404   Field Experience IV
  • EDUC6931     Diversity, Equity, and Justice in Schools and Society (course given credit for both undergraduate and graduate degrees)
  • EDUC6574   Applied Linguistics for Language Teachers 
  • EDUC6631   Assessment in the Second Language Classroom

Year 5

Contact Information

For more information about this program, contact QUEST/Post-Bac Director, Dr. Melissa Smith m.smith1@fdu.edu

Admission
School of Education
More Information
Apply Now