Montclair State University

Updated August 6, 2020

Montclair State University appears in our ranking of the 10 Most Affordable Doctorate in Human Services Online.

Originally known as the New Jersey State Normal School, Montclair State University opened in 1908. It was initially designed to education teachers. The original campus was only 25 acres and there were only 187 teachers enrolled the first year. By 1927, the State of New Jersey realized that only 10 percent of secondary teachers actually earned their degrees in the state. State legislators expanded teaching degree programs in the state which led to additional programs being offered at the Normal School. This led the name of the school to be changed to the Montclair State Teachers College.

A merger in 1958 with the Panzer College of Physical Education and Hygiene led to the name of the school to undergo another name change to Montclair State College. The school gained university status in 1994. Today, the school has an enrollment of 21,013 and is listed by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 200 national universities in the country. Princeton Review ranks the Feliciano School of Business in the top 300 Business Schools as well as the one of the greenest campuses in the country.

Montclair State University Accreditation Details

Montclair State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. It has held accreditation since 1937 and was the first state teacher's college to achieve accreditation status with the Commission. The school has the resources to meet its goals and objectives, offering educational programs that meet or exceed the Commission's criteria for excellence in education. Programs at Montclair State are accredited by the following industry specific organizations:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
Computing Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech Language Hearing Association
Council on Education for Public Health
National Association of Schools of Art and Design
National Association of Schools of Dance
National Association of Schools of Music
National Association of Schools of Theatre

Montclair State University Application Requirements

Students who have not earned college credit after high school graduation are considered freshmen at Montclair State University. Students must submit an application and provide official high school transcripts. A letter of recommendation from a high school counselor is required along with a personal statement or essay which explains why the student wants to attend Montclair as well as their academic strengths. The essay should include any experience that impacted the student's life in either a positive or negative way.

Students who have earned college credit after high school graduation are considered transfer students. They must complete an application and submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. An essay that explains the student's educational goals is also required. Students must have a "B" average in all undergraduate work.

In order to apply for the Ph.D. program in Family Science and Human Development, students must hold a master's degree in a related field and a strong record in previous academic work. Students must complete an application which must be received by February 1 for fall admission. Students must provide an official transcript from all colleges and universities attended. Two essays are required. One must be no more than three pages, double-spaced and addresses how prior experiences have prepared the student to enter a Ph.D. program, why they are interested in the program and how their experiences will benefit them in the program. The second must be a scholarly writing sample, such as a literature review, art honor's thesis or a published manuscript. Three letters of recommendation are required as well as a current resume and official GRE scores.

Montclair State University Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time undergraduate tuition at Montclair State University is $6,227.25 for in-state students and $10,283.40 for out-of-state students. Part-time students pay $415.15 per credit hour if they are in-state residents and $685.56 if they are out-of-state residents. On-campus graduate tuition varies by program. In-state full-time tuition is $693.37 per credit hour and for out-of-state students, tuition is $1,000.18. Doctoral programs are $635.75 per credit hour for either in- or out-of-state residents.

Financial aid is available at Montclair State University. Undergraduate students may qualify for grants and scholarships along with loans and work-study programs. Graduate students' quality for student loans, although there are some graduate assistantships and scholarships available. In order to financial aid at the undergraduate or graduate level, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Graduate students must also indicate on their application if they are interested in an assistantship.

Montclair State University Online Degree Program(s) Available

Family Science and Human Development (PhD)

Family Science and Human Development draws on a range of social science disciplines, combining sociology, social work, education, gerontology, community and developmental psychology. The program reviews family life by combining it with larger socio-cultural contexts. It also delves into how issues of power, privilege and social justice impact the configurations of family.

Students who enter the program come from a wide range of fields, including family studies, human development, education and more. The program focuses on the strengths and challenges of the family unit, examining family issues and seeking solutions to problems facing the modern family. Students must complete 48 semester hours. Courses include:

Advanced Qualitative Research in Education
Advanced Methods of Quantitative Inquiry in Education
Critical Change and Advocacy Family Studies
Critique of Family Processes
Power and the Intersectionality of Social Locations
Qualitative Methods for Educational Research
Quantitative Methods for Educational Research
Seminar in Family Policy

Students must complete a dissertation seminar, advisement and extension course. They must also provide a qualifying portfolio examination and must defend their dissertation in order to complete the program.

Montclair State University offers a doctorate degree program in Family Science and Human Development that combines many aspects of social science to determine how families are configured. Montclair State University offers flexible class formats that are designed for working adults who wish to achieve their higher education goals in order to move into a new career or advance in a current career.