Application Process

It is strongly recommended that all students complete their application for matriculation to graduate studies prior to attending summer courses.

Graduate Admission Procedures

Graduate School Application Information

Students apply for admission online through the Office of Graduate Studies. Students who have questions should contact the Office of Graduate Studies at intlasst@tcnj.edu or by calling 609/771-2221. The graduate application outlines the procedures and materials needed in order to apply to The College of New Jersey.

When to Apply

The deadlines for submission of the graduate admissions application are October 15th and April 15th. Applicants are urged to apply early and are required to provide all appropriate documentation, together with the $70 application fee, at the time applications are submitted. Students who have previously paid an application fee to The College of New Jersey need not pay again.

Admission Categories

Graduate Program Candidates

Individuals applying for matriculation into certification or degree programs are expected to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent preparation from a foreign college or university. Students who have attended colleges or universities outside of the United States must have their transcripts officially translated and evaluated on a course by course basis. We recommend using World Education Services, Inc. WES can be contacted by phone at 212/966-6311, via mail at PO Box 745, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10011, or via e-mail at info@wes.org.

Applicants should have a 2.75 cumulative average or a 3.0 in the major at the undergraduate level, although some programs may have a higher requirement. Applicants must also submit two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can evaluate their academic performance, relevant work experience, and/or ability to pursue graduate studies. In addition, applicants must submit an essay calling for a personal evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses as prospective graduate students.

Candidates applying master's-level degree programs also are required to take a standardized test, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Information on the GRE, contact ETS at 609/921-9000 outside the U.S. and at 800/473-2255 within the U.S., or at www.ets.org. The standardized test is waived if the candidate holds a U.S. master's degree, or equivalent, or a higher-level degree. The GRE is waived for students who have completed a TCNJ teacher certification program with a GPA of 3.67 or higher.

Graduate program candidates are approved for admission by the program admissions committee and the coordinator of the global program.

Visiting Students/Non-Matriculants

Global students may register prior to matriculation for their first summer of course work. As visiting students they may take a maximum of three (3) courses. This will allow time to complete the formal admissions process. Students may not take further courses until they are formally admitted into TCNJ.

Prerequisites for Certification

Candidates for teacher certification must have sufficient undergraduate coursework in their certification area.  For elementary education, students need 60 hours of credits in arts & science areas (e.g. Psychology, Sociology, Chemistry, Biology, Modern Language, Economics, Statistics, etc.).  Within the 60 credit hours, students need 2 classes in mathematics, 2 in a hard science, 2 in Engligh language or literature, and 1 in U.S. history.  Students who are missing any of these prerequisites may be admitted to the program but may not complete it or be certified until the prerequisites are met.

For secondary subject areas, students need 30 hours of study in their field, including 12 at the 300 or 400 level.  For Mathematics, 12 credits of engineering coursework may be accepted, but courses in accounting and finance are not recognized as math classes.  For English, journalism, communication, and theater classes may count toward the 30 hours, but students need at least 12 hours of literature coursework.  For Social Studies, students need 15 hours of history, including at least 1 world and 1 U.S. history class, and must also have taken classes covering the areas of geography, economics, political science, and sociology/anthropology.  The Sciences are straightforward, but students should note that they need 30 hours in a single science discipline, i.e. there is no "generic" science certification.

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