QUEST BA/BS, Teaching MAT: combined degree

QUEST Teacher Preparation Program – An Accelerated, Combined Degree (BA/BS-MAT) 

The QUEST Program has received widespread recognition for its five-year combined (BA/BS-MAT) degree design. This unique program provides students the opportunity to pursue professional studies for teacher preparation leading to state teacher licensure while earning a bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts or science major and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree.

The program is open to students who wish to be certified to teach at the early childhood, elementary, or secondary school level, or in English as a Second Language. Secondary certification generally matches the candidate’s content major.  All tracks result in the B.A. or B.S. degree in a liberal arts/science major with graduate-level advanced coursework toward a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree.

Candidates may also earn a second certification in special education through the QUEST dual certification program.  The Dual Certification Program must be started no later than the sophomore (2nd) year of the QUEST Program.

As future teachers who will be responsible for preparing future generations to live and work in a global society and economy, QUEST students explore diversity through their formal studies, projects, and field-based (clinical) experiences in a wide range of schools and communities settings. Throughout the curriculum, they are exposed to and examine issues related to diversity in language, culture, race and ethnicity, lifestyles, and other mitigating factors which contribute to student learning and success. Candidates explore their own values, attitudes, and behaviors, and consider the implications for their role as teachers.

Program Claims

The QUEST Program produces teaching candidates who are:

• Qualified to teach subject matter
• Competent in pedagogy
• Caring professionals
• Technologically proficient
• Culturally responsive to the needs of diverse learners
• Reflective practitioners who embrace the concept of lifelong learning
• Prepared to move from undergraduate courses in education into the MAT graduate level courses in education
• Prepared to obtain their instructional certification from the New Jersey Department of Education

Admission to QUEST for Fall

As a Freshman

• 3.0 high school GPA
• 1080 or better on SATs (Verbal and Math)
  • Our goal is if you took the SATs after 3/1/16 Reading 610, Math 570 will exempt you from the Praxis Core Battery
  • ACT of 23 will exempt you from the Praxis Core Battery
• Enrollment in WRIT 1002 (Composition I)

As a Sophomore

• 3.0 university GPA
• Completion of WRIT 1002 (Composition I)
• 3.0 cumulative GPA required for certification

For those who have not taken the SAT or ACT

• 3.0 high school GPA
• You will be required to take the CORE Battery before you reach 45 credits.
• You must pass all 3 subtests by the time you reach 60 credits
• You may begin to take the CORE exams at any time after your junior year in high school.

• If you wish to take all three computer-delivered Core Academic Skills for Educators exams (5713, 5723, 5733) at the same time, select Core Academic Skills for Educators Combined Test (5752) when registering. Scores will be reported by individual tests (5713, 5723, 5733).
• Core Battery information can be found at: https://www.ets.org/praxis

Degree Plan

• General Education Requirements – as per University Requirements
• Major Requirements – as per requirements for specific major
• QUEST (EDUC) Requirements – common/foundation courses are listed below.  Specific track requirements listed on program page.

Year 1

• EDUC1108   Seminar in Professional Practice I
• EDUC2401    Field Experience I

Year 2

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

Tracks

• Early Childhood (P-3) Education
• Elementary (K-6) Education
• Secondary (subject specific) Education
• English as a Second Language (ESL)
• Dual Certification (P-3, Elementary, Secondary with Special Education)

NOTE: Both campuses currently offer the Dual Certification (Elementary and Special Education) program for all Elementary majors. The Dual Certification program requires 6 more total credits than the Elementary Certification program. For details on this program, the students should meet with the Director of the QUEST Program.

Career Outcomes

National projections show a need for more than 2 million teachers in the next decade in all grades and subject areas — particularly in the northern and mid-Atlantic regions. The greatest need will be for those teachers with certification in high-demand areas (i.e. special education, world languages, science and mathematics) and those with dual certification (elementary or secondary education certification with a second certificate in areas such as special education, world languages, early childhood, English as a Second Language and bilingual education.

Candidates in the QUEST Program will prepare for careers as classroom teachers with the potential to specialize further as guidance counselors, subject area supervisors, school or district administrators, subject area specialists, or child study team members

Recognition and Honors

• The QUEST Program is accredited by CAEP, the national accrediting body for education provider programs that meet high standards of quality and rigor.
• Our students have won the New Jersey Distinguished Student Teacher Award.
• Our graduates are teaching in public, private, charter, and parochial schools in more than 22 states. Our graduates also teach in military schools overseas.
• Each year we send a cohort of students to FDU’s Wroxton, England campus to complete an international field experience in local English partner schools.
• Many of our QUEST students are outstanding student-athletes participating in bowling, basketball, soccer, and baseball who maintain a 3.0 GPA and higher.
• Our QUEST students have an active student chapter of the NJEA and hold NJ State officer positions. They are actively involved in community service and tutoring.