Teacher Preparation

The Program in Teacher Preparation  (link is external)is an interdepartmental course of study for undergraduates and is composed of a unique mix of coursework, seminars, laboratory experience, fieldwork, and practice teaching. Graduate students and alumni may also complete the program. The program, approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, allows students to explore teaching as a career option and to become fully prepared and certified to teach successfully at the middle and secondary levels within the regular framework of a Princeton A.B. or B.S.E.

Upon successful completion of the program's content course requirements and four of the program's professional courses (PSY 307, TPP 301, TPP 403, and TPP 404), students receive a certificate in teacher preparation from the University. It is possible to earn the University certificate without being recommended to the State for licensure. To be eligible for New Jersey's initial state license for teaching in public schools, the Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing, students must return after graduation to complete a semester of full-time student teaching (TPP 405 and TPP 406) and meet the performance levels and additional requirements described below. Participants can earn New Jersey teaching certification in art, biology, chemistry, Earth science, English, English as a second language, mathematics, music, physics, social studies, and world languages. The New Jersey teaching license is transferable to other states through reciprocity agreements. Independent schools, as a rule, do not require certification in order to secure a teaching position. However, independent school directors have become increasingly interested in teacher candidates who are fully prepared and certified within a liberal arts curriculum.

In accordance with Title II federal regulations for reporting pass rates on teacher licensing examinations, the Program in Teacher Preparation historically reports a 100 percent pass rate on all required licensure tests. 

1. Transcript. An official transcript must be sent by a school counselor or school official.

2. School Report (SR). The SR form is available from the Common Application website. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit the SR form. 
    
3. Counselor Recommendation. If you are using the Common Application online, please note that the SR and the Counselor Recommendation are separate items. Be sure to “invite” your school counselor or academic adviser to complete both items.
    
4. Two (2) Teacher Recommendations. Please ask two of your teachers who have taught you in higher level courses (e.g., AP, IB Higher/Standard Level, A-Levels, etc.) in different academic areas of study to complete and send the teacher recommendation forms, available on the Common Application website. The subjects should be in core academic areas, such as English, language, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or math.
    
5. Midyear School Report. Please ask your school counselor or other school official to complete and submit this form when your midyear grades are available. 

1. A Completed Application. You must submit your application online through the Common Application. Princeton's CEEB Code: 2672

2. Princeton's Supplement. In addition to the application provided by the Common Application, all applicants must submit the Princeton Supplement. You should submit the Princeton Supplement online through the Common Application website. 

3. Application Fee or Fee Waiver. You may submit a fee waiver one of two ways: 1) Select the fee waiver option on the Common Application. Your school counselor must approve your fee waiver request online or submit your fee waiver form by mail or fax. 2) Select one of the following fee waiver options on the Princeton Supplement: Princeton-specific, ACT, College Board or NACAC. All low-income students are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. In addition, all applicants who are serving or have served in the U.S. military are eligible for the Princeton-specific fee waiver. If you use the Princeton-specific fee waiver, you do not need to get approval from your college counselor or academic adviser.

4. Graded Written Paper. A graded written paper is required, preferably in the subjects of English or history.