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The Master
of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Early Childhood
Education is designed to prepare individuals who
are seeking initial certification in grades,
PreK-3. This program admits students only one
time a year, August
7. All students must follow
the sequence in a cohort manner. It is a
full-time, 4 term program beginning each spring
term (January). MAT in Early Childhood Education
students graduate the following spring (May). It
should be noted that because the MAT in Early
Childhood Education is
a cohort model, courses are strictly sequenced
and offered only one term a year.
Conceptual Framework
The conceptual framework for the
initial graduate certification program consists
of six related concepts. The six concepts are 1)
Instruction, 2) Subject Area Content, 3)
Learners, 4) Society, 5) Curriculum and 6)
Scholarship.
The conceptual framework of
Teacher as Educational Leader moves those
preparing for educational careers through a
program committed to self-discovery and
pedagogical study. The commitment requires the
candidate to search for a deeper understanding
of self and others while examining the moral,
social and political implications of teaching
and learning in a democracy. This search is
conducted through collaboration among the
candidates, the faculty from the Department of
Curriculum and Instruction and the Center for
Pedagogy, and school professionals.
To ensure knowledge of content,
the Early Childhood Education teacher candidate is required to
achieve the South Carolina passing score on the
Praxis II Specialty Area Examination prior to
internship semester. In addition, successful
graduates must obtain a satisfactory score on
the Praxis II Principles of Learning and
Teaching before earning teacher certification.
MAT teacher candidates must
demonstrate dispositions that reflect the
highest standards of the profession as they
relate to students, their families, and their
communities. The Richard W. Riley College of
Education has established appropriate criteria
for professional dispositions in the following
areas: professional commitment; communication
skills; interpersonal skills; classroom
personality; emotional make-up; and academic
integrity. Further information about the
criteria is distributed to teacher candidates in
a dispositions booklet.
The MAT curriculum covers a
variety of subjects from professional core
courses to courses specific to early childhood
education. Acquired competencies emphasized in
this program will enable graduates to assume
leadership roles in their classrooms,
departments and schools. |
209
Tillman Hall, Rock Hill, SC 29733 • 803/323-2204 •
800/411-7041 •803/323-2292 (Fax) 
