Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in Early Childhood Education
Program Coordinator:
Dr. Teresa R. Fisher
Questions should be directed to ecemail@gsu.edu.
The Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education in the Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE) at Georgia State University is an opportunity for post baccalaureate provisionally certified practicing teachers of record to work toward a graduate degree concurrent with their studies toward elementary teaching certification (grades Pk-5). This cohort based program encourages authentic collaboration around learning, teaching, and advocacy with colleagues similarly committed to pedagogical excellence and equitable educative opportunities for all children.
This five semester program has been intentionally designed to seamlessly link theory, content and practice across all courses. The ECE M.A.T. Program of Study aims to promote relevancy, interconnectedness, and applicability for beginning teachers of record. Coursework has been carefully constructed in order to support novice teachers as they work in urban high needs schools in the metro Atlanta area, preparing teachers without previous coursework in education not only to meet the needs of the students they serve, but also to address the challenges in their urban school contexts. To support beginning teachers of record during the vulnerable induction phase of teaching, the ECE M.A.T. emphasizes a scaffolded, developmental, and responsive coaching model over two academic years. Faculty/coaches provide an instructional bridge for beginning teachers as they learn to connect course content and effective pedagogical practices to their own classrooms.
Students who successfully complete the entire program of study and program requirements (44 credit hours of graduate coursework and the successful completion of EXC 4020 or its equivalent) receive a M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education and will be recommended by GSU for a clear renewable certificate (grades PK-5). In the case that students elect to only receive the certification and not complete the Master’s Degree, all coursework and program requirements indicated for certification only on the Program of Study (35 credit hours) must be successfully completed. Due to the permeable and iterative design of the program, all courses must be taken in sequence beginning in the fall.
Admission Requirements
Admissions criteria help to ensure that candidates are prepared for the rigorous curriculum requirements of the graduate program.
Candidates must meet all admission requirements of the College of Education as stipulated on the Office of Academic Assistance and Graduate Admissions web site located at http://education.gsu.edu/oaa/4427.html.
Candidates who are considered for the ECE M.A.T. must meet the following criteria prior to program entry:
Candidates must also submit academic or professional letters of recommendation.
Program Degree Requirements
A. Professional Studies (9)
Required (9):
EPRS 7910 Action Research (3)
EPSF 7100 Critical Pedagogy (3)
EPY 7090 The Psychology of Learning and the Learner: The Young Child (3)
B. Content Courses of Teaching Certification In Early Childhood Education:
Required (23):
ECE 6361 Responsive and Student Centered Pedagogy (3)
ECE 6390 Foundations of Learning and Teaching Mathematics (2)
ECE 6576 Integrative and Iterative Curriculum Design (6)
ECE 6586 Advocating for Students through the Descriptive Review of the Child (3)
ECE 6587 Language and Literacy Development (3)
ECE 7393 Number and Operation in the Elementary Classroom (3)
ECE 7576 Teacher Inquiry for Critical Change (3)
C. Advanced Courses for Endorsement/Specialization (3)
Select three credit hours:
Courses should be selected from the list of recommended electives after consultation with advisor. Acceptable Prefixes include: CPS, ECE, EPY, EPSF, EDRD, EDLA, TSLE, EXC, EPEL, and EPRS. All courses elected must be at the 6000, 7000, or 8000 level. Courses with other prefixes may be selected with consent of advisor.
D. Internships (9)
ECE 6575 Beginning Teachers of Record as Reflective Practitioners I (2)
ECE 6585 Beginning Teachers of Record as Reflective Practitioners II (2)
ECE 7575 Induction Teachers as Change Agents I (2)
ECE 7585 Induction Teachers as Change Agents II (3)
Students must complete all Professional Studies and Content courses with a grade of "C" or higher and Internship courses (ECE 6575, ECE 6585, ECE 7575, and ECE 7585) must be completed with a “B” or higher in order to continue with the cohort. All courses in the ECE M.A.T. must be taken in sequence.
Students must complete EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (3) or its equivalent to be eligible for recommendation for certification in addition to the program of study requirements.
Program Total: minimum of 44 semester hours
Students in this program will be eligible to be recommended for Georgia initial certification after earning passing scores on the GACE Basic Skills Assessment and GACE Content Assessments for Early Childhood Education and successfully completing:
1) EXC 4020 Characteristics and Instructional Strategies for Students with Disabilities (or its equivalent) and EPY 7090
2) The content courses of teaching certification in Early Childhood Education: ECE 6361, ECE 6390, ECE 6576, ECE 6586, ECE 6587, ECE 7393, ECE 7576.
3) The internship courses: ECE 6575, ECE 6585, ECE 7575, ECE 7585.