Teacher of a Specific Subject (K–12) & Teacher of Students with Disabilities

This program prepares candidates to provide instruction in a single subject area in general, inclusive, and/or special education settings kindergarten through Grade 12. Most graduates become secondary school teachers of visual art, biology, business, chemistry, English, health and physical education, history, mathematics, or Spanish. Candidates must earn a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a content major to be eligible for New Jersey certification in Teacher of a Specific Subject [visual art, biology, chemistry, English, health and physical education, social studies, mathematics, or Spanish] and a Teacher of Students with Disabilities (TOSD) endorsement.

To earn this degree, students must successfully complete at least 120 credits, including General Education requirements and the major requirements below.

Requirements include:

• Completion of prerequisite courses: Child and Adolescent Development (3), and (MAT only) Educational Psychology (3);
• Completion of all BRIDGE General Education program requirements;
• Completion of a 30-credit major (biology, business, chemistry, English, exercise science, history, mathematics, Spanish, or visual art) in the area of anticipated certification, including not less than 12 credits at the 300 and 400 level. Note: Additional NJDOE requirements apply to specific majors (e.g., Social Studies requires 15 credits in history within the 30-credit major to include a minimum of 3 credits in U.S. history and 3 credits in world history; Spanish requires 3 credits in second language acquisition and methodologies. SP361 CurrentTrendsLangEd-SP is acceptable for this purpose);
• Completion of the 43-credit Professional Education Coursework in Specific Subject/Secondary;
• Passing score on the Praxis II exam in the intended area of certification¹;
• Qualifying scores on a NJ Department of Education approved test of basic skills (PRAXIS CORE, ACT, SAT or GRE, or a combination of these);
• Passing scores on the three GCU exams: Physiology and Hygiene (P&H); Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB); Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CARE);
• Satisfactory ratings in clinical practice, including recommendation for certification; and
• Maintenance of a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required to remain in the program (note: students with grade point averages between 2.75 and 2.99 may qualify to be in the Limited CEAS Pilot Program and should speak to their Advisor about this possibility).

¹

Praxis Tests Subject-Specific Teacher candidates are required to pass the applicable Praxis II test prior to part-time clinical practice: Elementary Education Multiple Subjects. For fall clinical practice, passing scores must be submitted by July 15; and for spring clinical practice, they must be submitted by December 15.

These degree maps are meant to illustrate a typical sequence of courses.  However, actual recommended sequences of non-education courses will vary based on the student's liberal arts major, so students should confer with their academic advisor when planning a course of study and before registering for courses.

Four-Year Subject Specific Ed (K-12) (No MAT)