Pathways

Do you want to become a certified school teacher? Do you have a bachelors degree with at least a 2.75 GPA? Then we have the program for you - The New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey offers the opportunity to get your teaching certification via an alternate route.

Program Overview

The NPTNJ Program was established as a statewide consortium among New Jersey City University, collaborating NJ community colleges and affiliated school districts in New Jersey. The program is designed to provide alternate route education certification programs to qualified candidates as part of their collective response to statewide and local needs for certified teachers.

Sussex County Community College, in partnership with New Jersey City University, is offering the New Pathways to Teaching in New Jersey. The program runs in two stages. Stage I is a 60-hour pre-service program with guided classroom observations. Stage II is a 160-hour program and includes content specific courses and a one-weekend capstone summer institute.

Students/candidates can opt to take the program for graduate credit or certification only. Those who elect graduate credit and successfully complete the NPTNJ program will be offered 15 NJCU graduate credits which in turn can be applied to the first 15 credits of the NJCU’s Master of Arts in Teaching degree program. Those who elect certification only and successfully complete the program will be awarded a Certificate of Completion by the Community College. All students who successfully complete the program and related New Jersey Department of Education (NJ DOE) requirements will be eligible for alternate route certification through NJCU as agent for NJ DOE.

Program Highlights:

• Convenient location at Sussex County Community College
  
• 12-month graduate-level certification program
  
• Stage I – Next Stage I classes begin: January 11, April 19, July 7, 2010*
  
  • Intensive preparation for full-time teaching.
• Stage II- Fall -Spring (September 2010 – May 2011) **
  
  • Continued preparation for full-time teaching
• Guided in-classroom observations
  
• Permanent NJ certification upon completion of program and applicable NJ DOE requirements
  
• Courses transfer to a Master of Arts in Teaching degree at New Jersey City University
  
• Two options: 15-Graduate credit/certification program cost $8160 or Certification-only program cost $3550 PLUS text books (not included in tuition). Please note that the course requirements and workload are identical for both options. Both equally fulfill the DOE requirements for alternate route certification.
  

Listed below are Graduate Level Courses during Stage 1 and Stage 2:

Stage I
EDU 500   Classroom Management (1 Credit)
EDU 645   Curriculum and Methods (3 Credits)

Stage II
EDU 628   Learning and Motivation (3 Credits)
EDU 693   Educational Assessment  (3 Credits)
EDU 652   Student Teaching (2 Credits)
LTED 641  Reading and the School Curriculum (3 Credits)

To continue on to Stage II, all students must have a contract with a school district as a provisional teacher in the classroom in the same CE subject area. With a part-time or temporary teaching position, you can enroll in Stage II with a provisional teaching position in your certified area. Your school must be willing to register you in the Provisional Teaching program with DOE and the job must be for at least four months.

IMPORTANT:
Starting October 31, 2009 all those individuals who wish to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) to become alternate route teachers must take the new Introduction to Teaching 24-hour Pre-service Program ( SCCC Course PDV220) required by the New Jersey Department of Education before they can apply for the CE. The primary goal of the program is to provide the prospective teacher with a snapshot of teaching.  The program includes four hours of classroom observation in the student’s intended area of endorsement. This course, PDV220 is offered on 11/11/2009, 2/2/2010, and 4/6/2010 at SCCC. Please see below for a description of this course.

Additional Program Information:

Eligibility Flowchart (PDF)

Info Session Brochure (PDF)

Program Overview (PDF)

Admission Requirements

Introduction to Teaching Profession 24 hour program (PDF)

Applying for your Certificate of Eligibility (CE)

FAQs

Changes in Special Education Certification

Alternative Loan Information

Download Center - Applications, student handbook, curriculum & observation packet.

For more information, please contact:

S. Anbarasan
Dean, Continuing Education
Building E (upper campus), Room #106
Ph: 973-300-2141
sanbarasan@sussex.edu