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Early Childhood Education (P–3) Endorsement (Online)
Degree
Early Childhood Education (P–3) Endorsement
Department
At a Glance
The Early Childhood Endorsement program provides the necessary coursework for certified elementary school teachers (K–6) to obtain the New Jersey endorsement to teach preschool through Grade 3. All courses are offered online, with synchronous Zoom meetings held in the evenings.
Program Coordinator: Melissa Meagher, meagherm@tcnj.edu
Duration
- part time: less than 12 months
Availability
- online*
Endorsement
- Early Childhood Education P–3
3
- courses*
9
- credits*
$714
- per credit
Who Should Pursue This Program?
If you currently hold a Standard Certificate or a Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing (CEAS) in K–6 education and wish to pursue a New Jersey endorsement to teach at the preschool level, this fully accredited program is for you. Please note: This is not an initial certification program.
Careers
With New Jersey’s Preschool Expansion Program, there is high demand statewide for certified early childhood educators. TCNJ graduates are highly sought after and respected for their preparation and commitment to excellence in education.
Application Requirements
For your application to be considered complete, you must submit the online application as well as all supplemental documents.
Curriculum
Prerequisites
This program requires the candidate to hold a teaching certificate or CEAS in elementary K-6 education that includes the following coursework:
6 credits in teaching mathematics to elementary or preschool students
- MAT 105 Math Structures & Algorithms for Education 1
- MTT 202 Teaching Math in the Early Childhood and Elementary Classroom
9 Credits in teaching reading and literacy
- RAL 220 Methods of Teaching Literacy I
- RAL 320 Methods of Teaching Literacy II
- ELE 102 Multicultural Children’s Literature
6 Credits in special education
- SPE 214 Creating and Sustaining Inclusive Classroom Communities
- SPE 322 Inclusive Practices
2 credits in teaching science and social studies to elementary students
- ELE 221 Methods of Teaching Science & Social Studies
Program completion requires the following:
- Satisfactory completion of the 3 required courses listed below
- A cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of all departmental requirements/prerequisites
Required Courses (9 credits)
To complete the endorsement, candidates must finish the following three core courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher:
- ECEDO 504: Teaching Young Children (3 credits)
- ECEDO 560: Curriculum Experiences for Young Children (3 credits)
- ECEDO 620: Multicultural and Social Foundations of Early Childhood (3 credits)
Elective Courses
These courses are available for candidates who need to satisfy specific prerequisite gaps in their initial K–6 certification:
- ELEMO 521: Teaching Science & Social Studies (2 credits)
- ELEMO 522: Methods of Teaching Mathematics in Early Childhood and Elementary Classrooms (3 credits)
- MATHO 596: Concepts and Methods of Teaching Math (3 credits)
- RDLGO 530: Teaching Children’s Literature (3 credits)
- RDLGO 537: Language Arts & Literacy (3 credits)
- RDLGO 579: Content Area Literacy (3 credits)
- SPEDO 501: Students with Disabilities in Our Schools (3 credits)
- SPEDO 612: Curriculum and Methods for Students with Disabilities (3 credits)
Accreditation
The College of New Jersey School of Education is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
