Postbac Certification: English as a 2nd Language

For graduate students entering Fall 2025 or later, Fairleigh Dickinson University’s School of Education (SOE) offers a 30-credit Master of Arts in Teaching program that includes all coursework and clinical requirements for New Jersey teacher licensure in ESL.

Degree Plan

Coursework, Traditional or Alternate Route

• EDUC 6835 Effective Teaching, Effective Schools
• EDUC 6574 Applied Linguistics
• EDUC 6599 Methods and Curriculum for 2^nd Language Acquisition
• EDUC 6631 Assessment in the 2^nd Language Classroom
• EDUC 6654 Literacy Development for 2^nd Language Learners
• EDUC 6740 Intro to Students with Disabilities
• EDUC 6931 Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice
• Choose 1 Diversity Elective: EDUC 5510/5511/5512/5513
• EDUC 5501 Educational Technology
• Choose 1 Technology Elective: EDUC 5502/5503

Traditional Route Field/Clinical Courses

• EDUC 6824 MAT Field I
• EDUC 6828 MAT Field II
• EDUC 6583 Advanced Clinical Practice
• EDUC 6575 Apprenticeship Teaching

Alternate Route Clinical Courses

• EDUC 6571 Clinical I
• EDUC6572 Clinical II
• EDUC 6921 Clinical III
• EDUC 6923 Clinical IV

Candidates must pass the OPI and WPT exams for ESL Certification.

NOTE: Certification requirements often change. For the most up-to-date information about requirements, please visit the New Jersey Department of Education website at http://www.nj.gov/education/educators/license/

Click here to view general information about MAT, including admissions requirements. 

English as a Second Language is one of the highest needs areas in New Jersey.

Students’ Impressions of the Program

• “I went into this thinking I knew a lot about English as a second language, and so far I have learned so much more than I thought I ever would… I am thankful for the professors, who are kind, intelligent, and really bring out the best in all of us.”
• “This was a wonderful experience and I gained a wealth of knowledge.”
• “I was nervous about doing this since I have been out of school for so long. The professors made us feel comfortable and everything went smoothly. Thank you.”
• “I loved learning all about ELs, gaining more insight and understanding into what goes into being an ESL teacher. I knew next to nothing going into this class and I now feel that I can speak for my ELs and Bilingual students, advocate for their education, and use the tools that I have learned from this course in my teaching to better teach and reach my students.”