Introductory Practicum (IP)

After a student’s application to the program has been accepted, the candidate must complete  the Introductory Practicum (IP) within a specified period of time dependent upon when the student applied in order to be officially enrolled in Teacher Prep. The IP is designed to provide all students entering the program with an opportunity to interact directly and substantively with a school environment by engaging in guided, focused observations of classrooms, and to become acquainted with the state and national standards for teachers and for students. Students are also introduced to the Professional Portfolio, the culminating program assessment for candidates seeking the New Jersey teaching certificate with advanced standing. The IP consists of selected readings, 18 hours of school-based observations of teachers, and two in-depth follow-up discussions. Each semester Teacher Prep arranges a day-long visit to several schools to help fulfill the 18 hours of clinical experiences requirement. If necessary, the school visits can also be individually scheduled. Students are required  to perform an additional 12 hours of observations on their own. The IP is not a regularly scheduled, credit-bearing course. 

Educational Psychology (PSY 307)

Educational Psychology focuses on the fundamental principles of psychology relevant to educational theory and practice. Subject matter is drawn from different reading sources and is considered in historical and contemporary contexts. As an essential part of the coursework, candidates complete a minimum of three classroom observations in schools with a specific focus on meeting the needs of students with disabilities and a visit to a school for autistic students for a total of 15 hours in local schools. PSY 307 may be used to fulfill the Epistemology and Cognition (EC) distribution requirement.

NOTE: If a student earns a grade of B- or lower in PSY 307, an individual consultation with the director of Teacher Prep and an evaluation of the student’s performance will be required before the student may continue in the program."Seminar on Student Learning and Methods for Teaching (TPP 301)

The Seminar on Student Learning and Methods for Teaching prepares students to step into the classroom and begin their clinical experience. Classes meet for two 80-minute sessions and one 80-minute laboratory per week. The laboratory sessions are led primarily by educators from  area schools and are focused on work in literacy, special education, linguistic and cultural diversity, and other topics directly related to the course content. Students also work with practitioners from local schools, called Content Instruction Specialists, on subject-specific methods for their area of certification. Students participate in 22 hours of school-based field experiences during which they work with a host teacher in their respective teaching fields to learn about grade level-specific curriculum and pedagogy.

Students observe in an urban charter school, a school that serves students with linguistic learning disabilities, and in a local public school. The field work includes the teaching of at least two lessons in which students must demonstrate their ability to apply the instructional and curriculum planning skills learned in the course.

The seminar is a full-credit course and when taken in preparation for the University Certificate, is typically enrolled n in the fall or spring semester prior to the first semester of student teaching (TPP 404). TPP 301 may be used to fulfill the Social Analysis (SA) distribution requirement.

NOTE: If a student earns a grade of B- or lower in TPP 301 or if a student earns below a B- on the teaching portion of the course, the Program Director will review the student’s performance with the possibility that the student may not be allowed to continue in the program.