MAT-Early Childhood Education

Change your career trajectory with our early childhood MAT program.

DEGREE:

Master of Arts (M.A.)

DELIVERY:

Online

LOCATION:

Online

TIME REQUIRED:

2 Years

Course Requirements

What You'll Learn in the MAT-Early Childhood program

The Early Childhood Education Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program is designed for those with a bachelor's degree. Graduates will earn a master's degree and be certified to teach P-K at public and private schools in Kentucky.

What You Can Do with a MAT-early childhood Degree

Our program will prepare you to work with young children from birth through kindergarten. It leads to teacher certification and a master's degree. Once admitted into the program, you may be employed as a fully qualified teacher in Kentucky schools.

Admission to the MAT-Early Childhood program

Program admission requirements are based on state requirements for entrance to a teacher education/alternative track program, as well as common elements for MSU teacher education programs. Applicants must meet the following admission criteria. (Students cannot be conditionally admitted to this program or admitted as unclassified.) To meet certification regulations, IECE MAT students must, depending on their employment and certification status, satisfy the practicum requirement in one of two ways:

Option 1 (for students employed as the lead teacher in a public preschool or Head Start classroom with temporary provisional certification - Option 6 under state regulations): Complete a minimum of four credit hours of EDEC 600 (enrolled for one credit each semester). Under Option 1, students will complete the program with a minimum of 43 credit hours.
Option 2 (for students NOT currently employed as a lead teacher - Traditional under state regulations): Complete six6 credit hours of EDUC 650 during the final semester. Under Option 2, students will complete the program with a minimum of 45 credit hours.

IECE program application
Students are responsible for keeping up to date with the testing requirements found on the Education Professional Standards Board website, which are subject to change.
Completion of and successful evaluation by program faculty of an admission interview demonstrating:
- Effective communication
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Ability to effectively collaborate with others
- An understanding of the professional dispositions required of teachers.
A signed statement that the applicant has read and understands the Professional Code of Ethics for Kentucky School Certified Personnel and Kentucky's fitness and character requirements for teachers.

Once a candidate is admitted to the MAT program, he/she must begin taking classes within 90-days and is immediately eligible to be employed as a highly qualified teacher with temporary provisional certification. At the time of admission to the program, candidates will be eligible to be employed with temporary provisional certification.

You must present an official transcript from an accredited institution verifying a baccalaureate degree with a GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; or a GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale on the last 30 hours of coursework taken at either the graduate or undergraduate level.