Early Childhood Education, M.A.T.

Kelley Mayer White, Program Director
843.953.7372
whitekm@cofc.edu

http://teachered.cofc.edu/grad-progs/edec.php

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Arts in Teaching Early Childhood Education Program is to develop reflective professional educators who collaborate with communities and families to enhance the quality of education for early childhood students. We are committed to fostering proficient practitioner by: (a) modeling professional dispositions, (b) proving professional knowledge aligned with applicable national, state, and institutional standards, (c) researching effective principles of teaching and learning, and (d) collaborating with educators in the preparation and on-going professional development of master teachers.

Program Description

The M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education, an NCATE accredited program that focuses on the education of children in pre-Kindergarten through third grade, is nationally recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It is designed for those who want to teach young children and have undergraduate degrees in non-education disciplines. Successful completion of the M.A.T. program requirements leads to recommendation for teaching certification/licensure in grades pre-Kindergarten through third in South Carolina, in addition to a master’s degree. The State of South Carolina has reciprocal licensure agreements with many State Departments of Education across the United States.

Admissions Requirements

Submit all application materials to The Graduate School.

Institutional Requirements

• A completed application form with a nonrefundable application fee of $50.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required.

Program Requirements

• Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or better. GPA requirement may be waived by the program director with consent of the program admission committee.
• Official Praxis Core Score that reflects a passing grade
• A statement of purpose describing why the candidate seeks to pursue the M.A.T. program and a career in teaching.
• Professional résumé.
• Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with academic and/or work experience. Letters should indicate evidence of potential for graduate studies and working with children. Preferably, one of the letters should be from someone who has observed the candidate working with children.  
• Statement of ability to perform essential teaching duties under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if applicant’s primary language is not English.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: March 1, Priority; July 1, Final
• Spring: November 1
• Summer: March 1

Transfer Credit Policy

An applicant to the M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education program may seek approval from the program director to accept up to six transfer credit hours. These courses must have a grade of B or higher, and can count toward any core course in the Early Childhood Education program.

Students may take a course at another CEC/NAEYC accredited institution after being accepted to a master’s program and that course can count towards the student’s degree requirements, but the student must make the request one semester in advance and meet with his/her faculty advisor for approval. Once the advisor approves, the request will be forwarded to the program director for final approval. Grades of B and higher will be accepted. No pass/satisfactory grades or field hours will be accepted.

Program Requirements

• Early Childhood Education, M.A.T.   

Student Learning Outcomes

• Early Childhood Education M.A.T. (PDF)