Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum and Instruction

Chair: Jason Fitzgerald, Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Programs are designed to provide a strong liberal arts or sciences background, a subject area major, a behavioral/social science sequence, and significant professional preparation for an elementary teacher (K–6), an elementary teacher with subject matter specialization (K-8), and a subject area (K–12) teacher.

Students with aspirations to earn certification as an elementary teacher are required to simultaneously complete the requirements of both the BA program in Education and one of the BA programs in Anthropology, Art, English, English/Creative Writing, Spanish, History, History/Political Science, Interdisciplinary Studies for Elementary Educators, or Political Science; or to simultaneously complete the requirements of both the BS program in Education and the BS program in Mathematics. Students in these programs will have two academic advisors—one in each department. Students can also choose to pursue a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies for Elementary Educators. Students in this program will have one academic advisor from the School of Education.

Students with career objectives to earn certification in a subject area, K–12, are required to simultaneously complete the requirements of both the BA program in Education and one of the BA programs in Art, English, English/Creative Writing, Spanish, History, History/Political Science, Music, or Political Science; or to simultaneously complete requirements of both the BS program in Education and one of the BS programs in Biology, Chemistry, Chemistry (physical science), Health/Physical Education, or Mathematics. Students will have two academic advisors—one in each department.

Students wishing to enhance their academic program and expand their education may choose an undergraduate endorsement:

  • English as a Second Language (ESL);
  • Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TSD);
  • Middle School (5-8) Endorsement (available to Elementary K-6 majors in English, Math, Science, or Social Studies); or
  • Early Childhood - P-3 (available to Elementary K-6 only).

One or more of these endorsements may be combined with a student’s academic program.

Internal Progression Requirements

Students must meet New Jersey State mandated progression requirements beginning an education program at Monmouth University. This will require students to have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA), achieve a passing score on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) (or achieve a score as regulated by the State of New Jersey that is "approximately equal to the top third percentile score for all test takers in the year the respective test was taken") and send a completed assessment of written and oral communication skills to the School of Education. Students must also complete the professional education components at Monmouth University and meet current standards of the Monmouth University School of Education and the New Jersey Department of Education. The program includes field experiences beginning in the sophomore year, increasing in intensity during the junior and senior years, and culminating in full-time clinical practice (i.e., student teaching) in the second semester of their senior year. Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA. Undergraduate students in the School of Education must receive a minimum grade of "C" in all required Education courses. If a grade below "C" is earned, that course must be retaken and will follow the rules set forth in this catalog referencing "Repeating a Course".

Transfer students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 and will have one semester of provisional status pending their attainment of a 3.0 GPA. Transfer students will be permitted to take one or two education courses as appropriate in the first semester. Transfer students may transfer a maximum of six (6) professional education credits from a two-year institution. Please refer to the Internal Progression Requirements in the paragraph above for additional State-mandated progression requirements.

Applications for clinical practice (student teaching) must be submitted to the Office of Certification, Field Placements, and School Partnerships for fall and spring placements. At this time, students are screened to ensure that they have met the academic and professional standards required for State certification. Students must pass the appropriate Praxis II examinations prior to student teaching and receive passing scores as a requirement for State certification. Candidates seeking Spanish or Chinese certification must also earn a passing score on the appropriate official Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) prior to clinical practice. English as a Second Language (ESL) candidates must earn a passing score on the official English OPI and English Writing Proficiency Test (WPT) for certification.