It is perhaps the proximity to New York’s versatile TESOL graduate programs that makes New Jersey a bit sparse in its offerings. Master of Arts programs exist in related fields, from Applied Linguistics to Bilingual Education, but they require mostly on-campus classes. If all you seek is an ESL endorsement or a bilingual endorsement for a K-12 teaching credential, these tend to be the areas that New Jersey serves via distance education and hybrid course formats.
ESL Teacher Certification
The New Jersey Department of Education oversees state licensure for K-12 teachers in its public schools through its License & Credentials webpage and its TCIS system for online applications.
Candidates who hold a New Jersey Standard Instructional Certificate or an out-of-state equivalent can apply for an English as a Second Language endorsement. They must have completed a state-approved English as a Second Language teacher preparation program that culminated in student teaching.
Relevant subject endorsement areas for TESOL educators include:
- Bilingual/Bicultural Education
- World Language
- English as a Second Language
Alternative Certification Options
The New Jersey Department of Education’s Alternate Route Program allows qualified individuals to enter a Provisional Teacher Program (PTP), which provides the necessary coursework, on-the-job-training, and supervised teaching hours while students work in paid positions in New Jersey public schools. Upon completion of requirements within two years, teachers can apply for a Standard Certificate.
Master’s in TESOL Programs
Also earning a spot on the 2013 Honor Roll list created by the National Council on Teacher Quality, the teacher training and graduate education programs at Kean University offer several areas of specialization. The school offers a Master of Arts in Instruction and Curriculum, Teaching English as a Second Language Option and a Master of Arts in Instruction and Curriculum, Bilingual/Bicultural Education Option. Rutgers University is an attractive option for several reasons, among them that it makes two top rankings lists, that of the 2013 National Council on Teacher Quality (Honor Roll), as well as Washington Monthly’s 2013 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings that correlate quality of instruction with affordability of tuition and fees. It offers an Ed.M. with Certification in English as a Second Language. Students must meet general education and liberal arts requirements in order to qualify for this concurrent master’s degree and ESL teaching certification.
