The course requirements in the area of certification are similar to those in the departmental major, although certification can be obtained in subject areas other than the student’s major. Subject area courses should be completed before taking TPP 403 and TPP 404. If students are interested in pursuing a teaching license in a state other than New Jersey, they should consult the course requirements for their subject area of certification on that state’s Department of Education website.

Students need 30 credits (the equivalent of eight courses taken at Princeton) in their area of certification. At least three of the eight courses (the equivalent of 12 semester credit hours) must be at the 300-level or higher (math candidates must take multivariable calculus and at least two other courses beyond that level). Students consult with their Teacher Prep advisor to determine and verify the content area courses required for certification. If a student earns a grade below C- in a content area course at Princeton University, that course cannot be counted toward certification unless an exception is made due to unusual or extenuating circumstances.

Students may also earn a middle school endorsement in a subject area that allows teaching in grades 6 through 8. The middle school endorsement attaches to a CEAS in another subject area, and students must complete the CEAS requirements for another subject area in order to qualify for the middle school endorsement. To earn a middle school endorsement, the candidate must have 15 credits (4 Princeton courses) in the subject area and pass the required Praxis test for the teaching area

Certification course requirements can also be satisfied through Advanced Placement (AP) credit that has been accepted by Princeton University and that appears on the University transcript. All courses taken to meet certification requirements in the teaching field must be graded; students cannot use the pass/D/fail option for these courses. Some exceptions may be made to this policy, as in the case of courses taken prior to applying to the program or if graded options are not available for a specific course.

Students may count up to two courses taken at another four-year accredited college or university provided each course carries a minimum of three credits and a grade of B or higher was awarded. This restriction of a two course maximum does not apply to graduate students in the program.

Students interested in earning certification in more than one subject area must consult with a member of the Teacher Prep staff to learn about scheduling and eligibility.

Listed below are the subjects in which a NJ CEAS license is possible through the Program in Teacher Preparation:

• Art - Eight courses are required that include  the history and appreciation of art in contemporary and past cultures, and creative visual arts using a variety of media, including significant studio coursework in drawing, painting, and sculpture/ceramics. Students applying for the area of art must also meet with a content expert to review their work in the area to determine whether they have sufficient studio skills before being allowed to progress to student teaching (TPP 404).
• English - Eight courses are required that include the study of language (linguistics), composition, and literature (English, American and World Literature).
• English as a Second Language - A course is required in each of the following areas: Historical and Cultural Backgrounds of Limited English Proficient Students, Linguistics, the Structure of American English (must be taken at another institution), and Second Language Acquisition Theory. Teacher Prep staff will provide a list of course options for each area. An Oral Proficiency Exam in English is also required.
• Mathematics - Eight courses are required including multivariable calculus and at least two additional courses beyond that level. Two of the eight courses must be in the study of probability/statistics and computer science.
• Music - Eight courses are required that include the history, appreciation, and analysis of music of diverse genres and cultures, theory, composition, conducting, and performance. Students applying for the area of music must also meet with a content expert to review  their work in the area to determine whether they have sufficient performance skills before being allowed to progress to student teaching (TPP 404).
• Biology - Eight courses are required that include study in biology, botany, anatomy and physiology, and zoology. Work in biochemistry, environmental science, neuroscience and molecular biology may be included.
• Earth Science - Students must fulfill the requirements of the environmental track in the Department of Geosciences and complete a course in astronomy.
• Chemistry - Eight courses are required that include general, physical, and experimental chemistry
• Physics - Eight courses are required that include general, advanced, and experimental physics.
• Physical Science - Students must complete an eight course sequence in physics and a minimum of four courses in chemistry, OR an eight course sequence in chemistry and a minimum of four courses in physics.
• Social Studies - Eight courses are required that include American history (2 courses, with one being a survey course), world history, economics, political science, and either sociology or anthropology. Non-history majors must take a minimum of four history courses, including at least one course in world history and two courses in United States history.
• World Languages - Certification is possible in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Eight courses are required in one language (grammar, composition, conversation, etc.) and its literature and culture. Students must also take an approved course in second language acquisition theory and related methodologies (options are available from the student’s Teacher Prep advisor). Students are required to demonstrate linguistic competence in the foreign language on a nationally recognized test of oral language proficiency for spoken language or reading/ writing proficiency for classical languages that has been approved by the New Jersey Department of Education, and the test must be taken with a passing score prior to taking TPP 404 for students who wish to earn the CEAS teaching license.
• Psychology - Students must earn a certificate in one of the areas described above in order to pursue this certificate. The psychology certificate entitles the holder to teach psychology courses at the high school level. This certificate requires completion of 30 credits (eight Princeton courses) in psychology, including at least one in each of the five following areas: developmental psychology, mental health, personality or
• social psychology, experimental psychology, and psychological measurement.