The Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Elementary Education is designed for students who have completed high school and are first-time freshmen, and for transfer students from community colleges or other four-year programs. The program is based on the School of Education’s Conceptual Framework for preparing exemplary professionals and meets all of the standards of the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED), as well as the requirements of the State of New Jersey for licensure as a Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing, K-12 and for licensure as an elementary level teacher. Students will earn a bachelor’s degree in sociology (without teacher certification) at the end of their fourth year. The course of study, however, continues through the following summer and academic year and culminates with the students earning master’s degrees and two certifications, one in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and one in Elementary Education. Students will need to meet all requirements of the College and School of Education as set forth for each degree.
The five-year program integrates a knowledge base and best practices in both fields of education in addition to requiring students to have an academic major. The curriculum also requires a full semester of student teaching in each discipline.
For more information, please view the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education website.
Obtaining the Degree
Students enter the program as undergraduates, enrolling in courses in liberal learning, elementary education, deaf studies, and sociology. Upon completion of all college requirements, a Bachelor’s Degree (without teacher certification) in Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education with an Arts and Sciences Major (Sociology) will be awarded after the fourth year of study. At the undergraduate level, a full major in sociology is incorporated into the program of study. Candidates will complete the bachelor’s degree with over 125 semester hours.
During the summer following completion of the undergraduate program as well as during the fifth year of study, candidates enroll in graduate level courses and field experiences to attain the Master’s of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT). Thirty-seven semester hours are completed at the graduate level.
Upon conferment of the MAT degree and having met TCNJ and state standards, candidates are recommended to the New Jersey Office of Licensing and Credentials for initial teacher certification in both Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and Elementary Education. Candidates will have earned 162 credits upon program completion of the total program.