Flexibility in Sequencing
- It is strongly recommended that courses printed in bold be taken in the year/semester shown.
- Prior to DHH 423, students must have completed the following courses: ASL 101, 102, 103; DHH 303, 350, MST/MTT 202, RAL 220 and RAL 320.
- Students have flexibility in when they complete liberal learning courses in: math, science, art/music, children’s literature, and history. These courses should be used to help students complete their Civic Responsibilities in gender and global perspectives. Please note that upon completion of the undergraduate portion of the Deaf Education Program, students have fulfilled the College requirement for “Race and Ethnicity”. Students must still take individual courses to fulfill the Civic Responsibilities of “Gender” and “Global”.
- Content majors may or may not have a specified sequence of courses. We will work with each content major to try and implement an integrated program. Spanish majors should note that MDL 390 is only offered in the spring semesters. It is recommended that students take the course in the Junior year.
- Spanish majors are advised by the Spanish department to study abroad for a semester. Students in other majors may also wish to take a semester abroad. This requires careful planning and advisement. Please speak with your advisors early in your studies to enable you to take advantage of this opportunity. It is best to study abroad in the junior year.
College Procedures and Policies
- According to college policy, undergraduate students who want or need to take 5 courses in a semester must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher and permission from the Dean of Education.
- Undergraduate students who have earned 90 sh hours or more and who have a GPA of 3.0 or higher may take up to 3 graduate classes. These classes do not count toward the bachelor’s degree but are credited toward the graduate portion of the program.
- In order for the college to transition you from undergraduate (DHHA) to graduate status (DHHT), you must complete the graduate application during your last semester of undergraduate study. This form should be filed by:March 1st for Summer or Fall admission to the graduate portion of the course of study
October 15th for January admission to the graduate portion of the course of study. Students do not need to do the following parts of the application process: letters of recommendation, fees, transcripts, GRE exam or essay. To be eligible for the graduate program students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Graduate Program Planners are on the web. It is a student’s responsibility to apply for admission to the graduate portion of the program. - A graduate student may register for a maximum of 12 credits during any given Fall or Spring semester. Students may take no more than 9 credits (3 graduate courses) in the summer term. Students should be aware that graduate classes are typically 3 sh each; a few classes are 1 or 2 sh. Graduate students should also know that TCNJ only accepts graduate transfer credits for a course in which the student earned a grade of “B” or higher.
Important Certification Information
- State and federal regulations require that all teachers with direct instructional responsibilities be “highly qualified” for the subject matter and grade level assigned. Passing the Praxis II exam in Elementary Education signifies that the D/HH teacher candidate is a “highly qualified elementary generalist” who is authorized to teach D/HH students:
a) all subjects in a self contained setting K-6 (Kindergarten through grade 6), and
b) D/HH high school students whose IEP expressly states that they will be assessed by the APA. - Students who choose a second major in English, biology, history or math are also “highly qualified” to teach in the area of their respective second major. In addition, candidates with a second majors in one of these disciplines may apply for K-12 or middle grades teaching certificate(s) in their subject area after passing the appropriate content area Praxis II and applying to the New Jersey Department of Education for an additional certification.
- Students with a second major in psychology or in sociology are not considered “highly qualified” to teach in a departmentalized subject-specific setting above grade 6 but can serve as “elementary generalists”.
- Teacher candidates who select a second major in art, music or iSTEM programs will be recommended by the college for certifications in deaf education and in elementary education. Students may apply for content certifications on their own.
- Teacher candidates who do not take a college-level course in biology, nutrition, general health/wellness, SCI 104 or military basic training will need to pass an examination in physiology, hygiene and substance abuse issues. This test is given by the College’s certification office.
- The State of New Jersey requires that ALL teacher candidates complete study in US History and in Fine/Performing Arts. Students will meet these requirements through the Liberal Learning portion of study. Students therefore take:
- Arts & Humanities: one course in Fine or Performing Arts (art, music or theater) and one of the following classes–ECE 102, RAL 225 or WGS 225.
- Social Science & History: one course in US History and SPE 203.
- Natural Sciences & Quantitative Reasoning: one course in math (MAT 105 or 106) and one lab science.
Students should check the list of courses which meet the Fine or Performing Arts requirement and the US History requirement. These courses should be used to help students complete the College’s requirements in Civic Responsibilities–gender and global perspectives.
Certification FAQ
For more information on certification check the FAQs page.
Global Student Teaching
Information about Global Student Teaching Opportunities