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Frequently Asked Questions

Child Development Course Block

Please note: the Child Development course block is subject to the EECE department’s Registration Leveling Policy. Students may have their registration changed to balance the number of students distributed across course sections. Students whose registrations are modified will be notified via email.

When should I take the Child Development course block?

The Child Development course block is meant to be taken by sophomore-level students. Accordingly, any student attempting to take the Child Development block early (i.e., freshman-level students) must obtain the approval of the EECE department chair before they will be permitted to proceed with the course.

How do I apply to take the Child Development course block?

There is no application process for taking the Child Development course block.

What courses and sections do I register for?

Early Childhood Education students should register for ECE 201 and RAL 222.
Elementary Education students should register for ELE 201 and RAL 221.

Please be advised: you must register for sections of the above courses with matching sections numbers (i.e., ELE 201-01 and RAL 221-01).

What if I have already completed ELE/ECE 201 (or equivalent)?

Students who have completed completed ECE or ELE 201 or an equivalent course (typically transfer or psychology students) should register for RAL 222-04.

MST/MTT Course Block

What are the prerequisites to take MST/MTT?

Students intending to take MST/MTT must have successfully completed at least three of the four required math and science courses (MAT 105, MAT 106, PHY 103, and BIO 104, or alternatives as required by content area major).

How do I apply to take MST/MTT?

In order to apply to take MST/MTT, you must meet with your advisor, who will help you fill out an application, review your transcript to determine if you have completed the requisite courses, and provide their signature for approval.

What is the application timeline?

Applications for MST/MTT must be received one semester prior to the semester in which you intend to take the MST/MTT block of courses a week before the undergraduate registration period begins. For instance, if you intend to take MST/MTT in Fall 2017, you must submit an application no later than the designated date prior to the start of the undergraduate registration period in Spring 2016.

How do I register for MST/MTT?

Students who submit completed, approved MST/MTT applications are pre-registered for MST/MTT.

Please be advised: once you have been registered, you should not attempt to change your MST/MTT schedule as you may forfeit your seat and not be able to get it back.

How is the registration order for MST/MTT determined?

Registration order is determined by total number of units. Priority is given to students with higher unit totals. Students who submit late applications will still be considered, but will receive lowest priority.

Can I request a specific instructor or section?

While we cannot accommodate instructor or section-specific requests, students are allowed to request a specific set of days (Monday/Thursday or Tuesday/Friday). You should come to your advising meeting prepared to decide which set of days you would like to request.

Please be advised: once the application has been submitted, requested class days should not be changed, as it may result in forfeiting your seat and you may not be able to get it back.

Where can I find an MST/MTT application?

MST/MTT applications are web-based forms to be completed by your advisor. In other words, you must meet with your advisor in order to have a form completed on your behalf. This is done intentionally.

Clinical Practice I (Advanced Core Block/ACB)

Please note: Clinical Practice I (ACB) is subject to the EECE department’s Registration Leveling Policy. Students may have their registration changed to balance the number of students distributed across the sections. Students whose registrations are modified will be notified via email.

How do I apply to take Clinical Practice I (ACB)?

In order to apply to take Clinical Practice I, you must meet with your advisor, who will help you fill out an application, review your transcript to determine if you have completed the requisite courses (or have an appropriate timeline for completion), and earned a “P” for ELE90, and provide their approval if appropriate.

What is the application timeline?

Applications for Clinical Practice I must be received two semesters (excluding winter and summer) prior to the semester in which you intend to take the Advanced Core Block of courses, typically due one week prior to the end of classes. For instance, if you intend to take Clinical Practice I in Fall 2020, you must submit an application no later than one week prior to the end of classes in Fall 2019.

What are the prerequisites for taking Clinical Practice I (ACB)?

Early Childhood Education prerequisites for taking Clinical Practice I are as follows:

1. Professional Education Courses (minimum grade of C+): ECE 201; ECE 202; RAL 222; MST 202; MTT 202

2. Liberal Learning courses (minimum grade of C): Freshman Seminar (FSP); Academic Writing (unless exempt); PHY 103; BIO 104: MAT 105; MAT 106 (or math and science courses as required by major)

3. Three courses as required by content area major

4. Minimum 3.0 GPA

5. Qualifying scores on a state-approved test of basic skills (SAT, ACT, Praxis Core), and a corresponding “P” grade for ELE90. If you do not have ELE90 on your Academic Requirements, please email Corey Drake at drakec1@tcnj.edu.

Elementary Education prerequisites for taking Clinical Practice I are as follows:

1. Professional Education Courses (minimum grade of C+): ELE 201; RAL 221; MST 202; MTT 202

2. Liberal Learning courses (minimum grade of C): Freshman Seminar (FSP); Academic Writing (unless exempt); PHY 103; BIO 104: MAT 105; MAT 106 (or math and science courses as required by major)

3. Three courses as required by content area major

4. Minimum 3.0 GPA

5. Qualifying scores on a state-approved test of basic skills (SAT, ACT, Praxis Core), and a corresponding “P” grade for ELE90. If you do not have ELE90 on your Academic Requirements, please email Corey Drake at drakec1@tcnj.edu.

What courses and sections do I register for?

Early Childhood Education students should register for ECE 301, RAL 322, and SOM 203.

Elementary Education students should register for ELE 301, RAL 321, and SOM 203.

Please be advised: you must register for sections of the above courses with matching sections numbers (i.e., ELE 301-01, RAL 321-01, SOM 203-01).

Where can I find an Clinical Practice I (ACB) application?

Clinical Practice I applications are web-based forms to be completed by your advisor. In other words, you must meet with your advisor in order to have a form completed on your behalf. This is done intentionally.

Clinical Practice II

How do I apply for Clinical Practice II?

The Clinical Practice II application is available on the STEP Office website. Applicants can log into the system using their PAWS login information.

What is the application timeline?

Applications to take part in Clinical Practice II during next academic year must be submitted prior to fall break. In other words, if you intend to take Clinical Practice II in the fall or spring of academic year 2018-2019, you must submit an application no later than fall break 2017.

Once you have completed the online application, you should print a completed copy. You should sign this copy and submit it to the department’s Student Teaching/Clinical Practice Coordinator with the following documents attached: three copies of a resume appropriate for obtaining employment in an academic setting, an unofficial transcript, documentation demonstrating that you have attempted (or have registered to attempt) the appropriate Praxis Content Knowledge exam, and (if available) a copy of your tuberculosis (TB) test results and substitute teacher certificate.

When does the Clinical Practice II application information session occur?

Clinical Practice II application information sessions occur once per academic year in the fall semester. This meeting addresses the application process and provides an overview of Clinical Practice II policies and certification information.

Students who transfer into the major or begin their program during the spring semester should contact the department’s Student Teaching coordinator or the STEP Office for more information.

What courses do I need to register for?

Students approved for Clinical Practice II should register for the following courses:

Undergraduate: Early Childhood Education majors should register for ECE 490 (Student Teaching) and ECE 498 (Capstone). Elementary Education majors should register for ELE 490 (Student Teaching) and ELE 498 (Capstone).

Please note: undergraduate students registering to take part in the Clinical Practice II experience must possess a 3.0 GPA. Students not meeting this GPA requirement may be permitted to proceed at the department’s discretion. Students not meeting this GPA requirement may also be required to take additional coursework before being allowed to participate in the Clinical Practice II experience.

Graduate: Early Childhood Education (ECED) students should register for ELEM 690 and ECED 695. Elementary Education (ELEM) students should register for ELEM 690 and ELEM 695.

Praxis Exams

Praxis Core

How do I know if I need to take the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators exam?

Students are now permitted to use super-scored results from different test types (referred to as “mix-and-match” style scoring) to satisfy the requirement. 

To demonstrate satisfaction of the mathematics portion of the requirement, students must meet one of the following scores:

  • SAT: 
    • March 2016 and forward: Math Section score 570 or higher
    • Pre-March 2016: Math Section score 540 or higher
  • ACT: Math score 23 or higher
  • Praxis Core: Math score 150 or higher

To demonstrate satisfaction of the reading/writing portion of the requirement, students must meet one of the following scores:

  • SAT:
    • March 2016 and forward: EBR Section score 610 or higher OR Reading Test score 30 or higher
    • Pre-March 2016: Reading Section score 560 or higher
  • ACT: English score 23 or higher
  • Praxis Core: Reading score 156 or higher AND Writing score 162 or higher

Note: If you cannot provide documentation demonstrating that you meet the requisite score on one or more forms of the above tests, you will need to take and pass the relevant subtest to earn qualifying scores, before you will be permitted to take Clinical Practice I. If you do not have a “P” for ELE90 in PAWS by the time you are ready to register for Clinical Practice 1 classes, you won’t be permitted to register. If you are unable to demonstrate qualifying scores for the basic skills requirement, you won’t be permitted to take Clinical Practice 1 classes. 

Where can I find information about the Praxis Core exam?

Information about the Praxis Core exam is available through the ETS website or the TCNJ Certification Office.

Praxis Content Knowledge (not the same as the Praxis Core)

When should I take the Praxis Content Knowledge exam?

Students are required to attempt the Praxis Content Knowledge exam prior to the start of their capstone Clinical Practice II experience. Documentation demonstrating that you have attempted the Praxis Content Knowledge exam should be submitted in hard copy to the department.

What Praxis Content Knowledge exam should I take?

Elementary Education students should take 5001 Elementary Education: Multiple Subjects, which contains four sub-tests (5002, 5003, 5004, 5005).

Early Childhood students should take 5025 Early Childhood Education: Content Knowledge.

More information can be found here at the ETS information page for NJ Certifications.

Advising, Registration, & Graduation

General Advising

What is the purpose of advising meetings?

The purpose of advising meetings is to ensure that students understand and are completing their programs’ requirements, meeting their personal goals, and have a developed, well-thought-out plan for proceeding through their academic career.

How should I prepare for my advising meeting?

You are expected to come to advising meetings prepared with knowledge and understanding of the following: your current academic standing, courses required in your programs, courses you have completed, your incomplete course requirements, and a selection of courses you intend to register for and take in the upcoming semester.

Who are my advisors?

As all students in the EECE department are dual majors, students are assigned two advisors: one for education, one for the student’s chosen content area. Your advisors are listed on your PAWS Student Center in the menu on the right side of the page. If you cannot find this information or have not been assigned an advisor, please contact the department for assistance.

When am I expected to meet with my advisors?

Students in EECE programs are expected to meet with both their education and content area advisors at least once per semester prior to registration. Advisors typically send a notice out to their advisees offering advising hours a few weeks in advance of the semester’s registration window.

What is an advising hold?

An advising hold is a restriction or sanction placed on students’ PAWS accounts when a student has yet to complete their mandatory academic advising requirement. Account holds prevent students from registering for courses during the registration window, and may have other effects on your campus service capabilities. The department uses advising holds to ensure that you are meeting the advising requirement each semester prior to registration.

Course Overload

What is a course overload?

A course overload is a pre-approval for a student to register to take more course units than the typically permitted course load. Students who intend to take more than 4.5 course units must apply for a course overload. Course overload approval is only good for the semester it has been applied to.

What is the process for applying for a course overload?

Students intending to take more than 4 course units must complete a course overload form with their advisor, will be reviewed by the department chair, and (if approved) submitted to assistant dean of the School of Education.

Note: first semester students cannot apply for course overload. Only in extremely rare and extenuating circumstances, students in Clinical Practice 1 (CP1/ACB) and Clinical Practice 2 (CP2/Student Teaching) semesters may be considered for course overload, but these requests are generally not approved.

Once I am approved for a course overload, what happens?

Students approved for course overload will be notified of the increase in the unit total. Students will then be able to register themselves into the overloaded course. In some cases, where students cannot enroll themselves, the Dean’s Office will enroll them. Students will be notified of this, if that is the case.

Independent Study

What is an independent study?

An independent study is an opportunity for students to pursue a special topic under the guidance of a faculty member. Independent studies can be of varying unit load depending on the responsibilities associated with the independent study.

What is the process for applying for an independent study?

Students interested in applying for an independent study should contact their advisor or a faculty mentor to discuss this opportunity.

Who can apply for an independent study?

Any student who has a faculty mentor agree to oversee independent study may apply for consideration.

Where can I find an independent study form?

Independent study forms can be found here.

Registration Issues

My registration window has opened, but PAWS won’t allow me to register for courses. What’s wrong?

In most cases, students who have trouble with registration have holds (i.e., restrictions or sanctions) on their account which prevent them from completing the registration process. There many types of holds which are utilized by the College, but the most common hold types and common causes are:

Advising: have not met with your assigned advisor; make an advising appointment
Health: missing required documentation; contact Health Services for more information
Financial: often due to unpaid balance; contact Student Accounts for more information

The course I need is at capacity/ has been filled/ has been closed. How do I get into the course?

Unfortunately, capacities on courses within the EECE majors are not flexible, as many require field placements and supervision. Overburdening the faculty members assigned to these courses would likely lead to decline in the quality of students’ experiences.

Applying for Graduation

Please see the Records & Registration website for more details on how to apply for graduation.

Departmental Policies

Becoming an Elementary or Early Childhood Education Major

How do I transfer into an EECE major from a major outside of EECE?

Students interested in becoming an Elementary or Early Childhood Education major should email the program’s coordinator (a list of the coordinators can be found at the bottom of this page) and complete a change of major form (available here). The full text EECE change of major policy can be found here.

All students in the EECE department are required to also complete the program requirements for an approved content area (dual major). Students transferring into EECE programs may also need to meet their intended content area’s change of major requirements and comply with the respective change of major processes (e.g., Psychology and English). A list of the approved content areas can be found here.

Students who enter into EECE department programs having completed at least eight course units and possessing a GPA of 2.75 or below will be subject to the Student Retention Policy upon acceptance into the EECE program.

What if I want to change my content area major?

Change of content area major is not handled by the EECE department. Students interested in changing their content area major should contact the department chair of the intended content area major to see what their change of major application process is and to learn about any extra requirements the department may need fulfilled.

Student Retention Policy

What is the Student Retention Policy?

The Student Retention Policy is a departmental policy which governs the GPA requirements of students in EECE programs. A complete statement of the EECE Retention Policy can be found here: Student Retention Policy | Elementary and Early Childhood Education (EECE)

What happens if I am placed on departmental probation?

Students placed on departmental probation must consult with their education advisor to develop a plan of action to raise your cumulative GPA to the required 3.0 and submit this plan of action to the Department Chair for approval.

If the student’s cumulative GPA does not rise above the 3.0 threshold by the end of two subsequent semesters (excluding winter and summer) following a student’s placement upon departmental probation, the department reserves the right to dismiss the student from their EECE program.

Where can I read the full Student Retention Policy?

The Student Retention Policy can be found here.

Registration Leveling Policy

What is the Registration Leveling Policy?

The Registration Leveling Policy is a departmental policy instituted to address imbalances and inequitable distribution of students across required education courses with multiple sections. Under this policy, students in course sections with higher registration numbers are moved to sections with lower registration numbers until all sections have approximately the same total number of students.

How do I know if my registration has been affected by this policy?

Students whose registrations are changed due to the Registration Leveling Policy will be notified via email of the change.

Student Travel Policy

What is the Student Travel Policy?

The EECE departmental Student Travel Policy is a document which governs the processes of applying for and obtaining financial assistance from the department in support of students’ travel for conference presentations and attendance, and other professional development. The full text policy can be found here.

What forms do I need to fill out to apply for financial assistance?

Students interested in applying for financial assistance for travel related to conference presentations and professional development should fill out the departmental and college-wide student travel applications. Students should consult with their faculty sponsor (the faculty member who has collaborated with or supervised the student in their research) while completing the forms. Completed forms should be submitted to the EECE departmental secretary.

When do I need to submit my applications by?

Students applying for funding for travel during the period of July 1st to November 1st should submit their applications no later than 3:00pm on September 15th. Students applying for funding for travel during the period of November 2nd to March 2nd should submit their applications no later than 3:00pm on December 1st. Students applying for funding for travel during the period of March 3rd to June 30th should submit their applications no later than 3:00pm on April 3rd.

While these deadlines do exist, students are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to ensure maximum time for processing and other administrative tasks.

How much funding may I apply for?

The maximum funding that an individual may apply for is $400; this figure is an upper limit of possible funding, not a guarantee of provided resources. As many travel requests will exceed this figure, it is incumbent upon the student to seek funding from outside sources, such as the Student Government Association, professional organization- or conference host-sponsored scholarships/stipends, or through other funding sources.

What does funding approval mean?

Being approved for funding means that you have been pre-approved for reimbursement up to a certain figure after the completion of your travel.

How do I get reimbursed?

After you have completed your travel, you will need to submit a copy of all associated receipts to the appropriate staff member in the School of Education Dean’s Office, where your approved application has been filed. The staff member will process your reimbursement through the Office of Finance & Business Services.

Note: any payment without a receipt cannot be reimbursed, so be sure to keep your receipts.

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