Early Childhood Education, Master of Arts in Teaching
The Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Early Childhood Education offers courses and a path to Louisiana teacher certification that will equip teacher candidates with necessary credentials, research skills, and instructional practices to successfully support all learners. To earn this degree, students are required to complete 36 hours of coursework in Early Childhood Education. Applied learning is also an integral part of the graduate degree. By the time the final residency experience begins, students will have spent many hours in diverse public and private school classrooms. Upon successful completion of the coursework and field experiences, teacher candidates are eligible for certification through the Louisiana Department of Education.
The M.A.T. requires a minimum of 36 credit hours and a cumulative grade point average of 3.000. Program requirements can be found in the table below.
Curriculum Requirements
The Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education consists of twelve three credit courses, including the required year-long residency course.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDUC 6000 | Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDUC 6810 | The Craft of Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 6060 | Methods of Educational Research | 3 |
| EDUC 6820 | Foundations of Emergent Literacy | 3 |
| EDUC 6870 | Childhood Development | 3 |
| AND | ||
| EDUC 6830 | Early Childhood Reading Methods | 3 |
| EDUC 6834 | Early Childhood Reading Instruction for All Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 6840 | Teaching Social Studies in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| EDUC 6850 | Teaching Science in Early Childhood Classroom | 3 |
| EDUC 6860 | Teaching Mathematics in Early Childhood Education | 3 |
| AND | ||
| Residency or Practitioner Coursework | 6 | |
| Residency Option | ||
| Residency I - Student Early Childhood Education | ||
| Residency II - Student Early Childhood Education | ||
| Practitioner Option | ||
| Residency I - Practitioner Early Childhood Education | ||
| Residency II - Practitioner Early Childhood Education | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Additional Requirements for Certification
Students in the MAT in Early Childhood Education must maintain a 3.0 GPA in education courses. To enroll in and progress through the Residency program for certification, students must:
- Successfully complete and meet program requirements and competencies
- Successfully pass the Gateway to Residency
- Complete the Praxis II (Content Area) prior to residency
- Complete the Praxis II (Principles of Learning and Teaching) prior to or during residency
- Successfully pass the Gateway to Teaching
Program String and Field of Study: PAMAT_GR, MECE
For more information, contact the School of Professional Advancement.