Frequently Asked Questions

The Department of Urban Education provides two Bachelor’s Degree programs, academic minors, and other post-baccalaureate and graduate offerings to prepare students for teacher certification in the state of New Jersey.  We are also open to matriculating Rutgers-Newark and NJIT students. In order to apply to the programs, students must first meet the entry requirements outlined in the program requirements and guidelines. 

We want to assist and support you in every step of your journey to becoming an exemplary urban educator. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Urban Education.

The teacher certification program prepares candidates for middle and secondary school subject matter teacher certifications (with a certification that covers K-12):

• English
• Mathematics
• Social Studies
• Foreign Languages (e.g. Spanish and Portuguese)
• Science (e.g. General Science, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics)
• Technology Education (only for NJIT students)
• Bilingual/English as a Second Language

Visit our Areas of Certification page. 

First, work on the entry requirements and the Praxis CORE exam. Then take either Social Foundations of Urban Education (21:300:292/26:300:500), Adolescent Psychology and the Urban Experience (21:300:295 / 26:300:501), or 21st Century Urban Educator (21:300:297, 298, 299 / 26:300:502) depending on which one is offered that semester. Then reach out to urbaned@newark.rutgers.edu about your interest and to set up an appointment for more information.

Yes. In order to be recommended for certification from the Rutgers-Newark Department of Urban Education all 30 credits in the undergraduate teacher certification must be completed with a B or better.

Your initial foundation coursework will require work in schools and community organizations, and many of your urban education courses will require you to go out into the field and observe different classrooms – anticipate at least 20 hours per course.  The bulk of your field experience will take place during the final steps of the program during Clinical I and Clinical II.

All of the program’s clinical placements are done in within our partnership districts (e.g. Newark Public Schools, Elizabeth Public Schools, Orange Public Schools, etc.)

To obtain a special permission number for the clinical courses (Clinical I: Practicum &/or Clinical II: Student Teaching), you will need to contact the department at urbaned@newark.rutgers.edu.

We recommend that you begin preparing for the Praxis II during your Cluster III courses and that you take the test the summer before Clinical I: Practicum. YOU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO CLUSTER IV COURSES UNTIL YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED THE PRAXIS II. See the ETS web site for a listing of which Praxis II exam(s) is required for which licenses in New Jersey. Please contact the the department for all questions or concerns regarding the Praxis exam.

If the question is about a grade or grading policy, review the Rutgers–Newark Current Catalog for Academic Policies & Procedures regarding Student Grades.   

Then contact the instructor for the specific course.  If the matter is unresolved with the instructor, contact the department chair, Dr. Lynnette Mawhinney.

• See the professor
• See the Chair of the Department of Urban Education, Dr. Lynnette Mawhinney
• If appropriate, file a student grievance report with the teacher education office, 110 Warren St. - Room 151, and follow the outlined procedures.

Your certification is valid in any district throughout New Jersey.

https://sites.rutgers.edu/ue-teacher-certification/

The teacher education program offers assistance in obtaining a teaching job, upon completing the program. We are able to help in several ways. The student teaching seminar is in part used as an opportunity to prepare for job searching and interviewing, including two meetings with the head of the university’s career counseling office. Because we are committed to the city of Newark and its schools, we have a direct contact at the Newark Board of Education who will review our graduates’ resumes. We notify you of local career fairs in teaching through social media. All members of the department's teaching faculty are available to write job reference letters.

https://sites.rutgers.edu/ue-teacher-certification/

When you become alumnae/i of our program, the Rutgers–Newark Department of Urban Education still wants to be part of your professional growth as a teacher. You will hear from us by email or social media with interesting education-related news, and we will invite you into our classes to mentor upcoming new teachers. We will send you potential job opportunities by email as they become available so it is very important that we have the most up-to-date contact information for you. We hope that you will continue to see us as partners in imagining and working toward improved urban educational experiences in the state of New Jersey.

In collaboration with the Federated History Department of Rutgers University–Newark and New Jersey Institute of Technology, the Department of Urban Education offers an MAT in History. This graduate program affords you an opportunity to take graduate history courses and obtain your teacher certification at the same time.

For more information, visit the Rutgers Graduate School-Newark website.  For specific information on the MAT program, contact Ms. Christina Strasburger, the Department Administrator.

• Email a copy of the Program Verification form with a copy of your official Rutgers Newark transcripts to the department at urbaned@newark.rutgers.edu.
• Be sure to include your contact information so that we may contact you with any questions or concerns. We also need to know where to send the form back to you. 
• You may request official copies of your Rutgers–Newark transcripts through the Student Online Services link of the Registrar's web site.