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Urban Early Childhood Education

Qualify for New Jersey certification in grades P–3 and Teaching English as a Second Language.

This accelerated bachelor’s and master’s program is designed for students who have a particular interest in learning about and teaching in the dynamic environment of urban schools. Focus on the youngest learners, with the specific training and broad education needed to teach the early grades. Coursework is relevant and meaningful, encompassing liberal arts and education theory and practice. Extensive fieldwork and student teaching prepare students to guide the learning of young children. First-year and transfer applicants may apply for accelerated bachelor’s to master’s degrees.

Admission into the graduate portion of the program is based on performance at the undergraduate level. Current undergraduate TCNJ students may be eligible for an accelerated program by meeting program requirements and should consult with the intended program’s coordinator for more information.

Students in the Urban Early Childhood Education program are dual majors and must select one of twelve approved content area majors:

  • School of Arts and Communications: Art, Music.
  • School of Engineering: Integrative STEM.
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences: African American Studies, English, History, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, Women’s and Gender Studies.
  • School Science: Biology, Mathematics.

Curriculum by Year

1st Year

Approved liberal learning courses.

Change of Major form.

Language Proficiency Test.

Field Placement: Intro to Urban Ed/ELE 203 (Spring only).

2nd Year

MAT 105, MAT 106*, BIO 104, PHY 103.

Field Placement: RAL 221/ELE 201, MTT 202/MST 202.

*Psychology and Sociology majors are exempt from MAT 106.

Consider taking one 5 unit semester, a summer course or J-mester.

3rd Year

Classes:

  • DO NOT REGISTER FOR ACB
  • Register for SOM through ELE/ECE office (Spring only)

Begin thinking about Praxis testing.

Field placement: SOM 203.

Consider taking one 5 unit semester, a summer course or J-mester.

4th Year

Apply for graduation.

Apply for Year 5/Graduate application – no fees, essays, or letters needed.

Classes:

  • Introduction to Teacher Research/ELE 302 (Fall only)
  • Complete elementary education requirements for student teaching application for 5th year (global, middle school)
  • Fall – ESLM 577 or ESLM 578
  • Spring – ESLM 545 or ESLM 587
  • You must reach 32 units (128 credits for your Bachelor’s degree)
  • Graduate courses count toward Graduate degree
  • Decide about summer courses in Mallorca

See advisor to plan courses for 5th year!

Global Student Teaching.

Summer

Mallorca classes are optional.

Classes:

  • Maymester course (SPED 525)
  • If no Mallorca courses, then take EDUC 614

Mallorca information.

5th Year

Classes:

  • Internship 1 – EDUC 694 (Fall only)
  • Internship 2 – EDUC 695 & ELEM 690 (Spring only)
  • ESLM 577, ESLM 578, ESLM 579 (Fall only)
  • ESLM 587, ESLM 545, ESLM 525 (Spring only)
  • Distribution requirement: choose 1 — (SPED 525 (May), ELEM 515 (Spring), EDUC 614 (all semesters)

ACTFL.

ELSM 700 Comprehensive Test.

Field Placement Tests: Internship 1 and Internship 2.

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