Description
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with an Early Childhood focus prepares candidates for initial certification in early childhood education (grades Prekindergarten-3rd). The program is designed for recent graduates in non-education bachelor’s degrees, career changers who desire to enter the teaching profession and current conditionally certified teachers who must obtain certification. The program focuses on early childhood social, emotional, and cognitive development, learning science, and effective teaching strategies for diverse learners including an emphasis on multilingual learners. Graduates are prepared to recognize, leverage, and advance the learning strengths of young learners through active, research-based teaching practices.
Stevenson's MAT program is delivered in an online cohort format that maximizes flexibility for working adults. Course content is facilitated by seasoned educational professionals through engaging online activities. Current and innovative educational technologies are embedded into course content to prepare candidates to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. Through authentic field experiences and a teaching internship, candidates gain the knowledge, skills, and disposition to engage and inspire learners.
Candidates who successfully complete the MAT program, including achieving qualifying scores on Praxis ® Core (or meeting the qualifying scores on either Praxis ® I, SAT, ACT, or GRE and Praxis ® II, and the Praxis Performance Assessment for Teachers) are eligible for teaching certification in Maryland and in states with reciprocal agreements with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in the area of early childhood education.
Outcomes
- Apply knowledge of discipline content and content-related pedagogy to design and implement effective instruction for all learners.
- Use knowledge of diverse learners to design instruction and create a culturally responsive, equitable environment to support achievement for all learners.
- Design and implement instruction that engages students, encourages student participation, promotes higher-level thinking, and supports instructional outcomes.
- Design and implement assessment that monitors student learning, provides purposeful feedback on progress, and furnishes evidence to inform instruction.
- Reflect on teaching, collaborate in a professional learning community, seek professional development opportunities, engage in inquiry, persist toward goals, and exhibit integrity and professionalism.
Prerequisite Requirements
To be admitted into the MAT program, all candidates must complete the following course work and meet MSDE requirements for initial certification as identified below:
- Complete a bachelor's degree in a science or mathematics discipline from an accredited institution with 30 credit hours in the content area.
- Provide official transcripts* of all previous undergraduate-level and graduate-level college coursework.
- Attain a cumulative GPA in undergraduate coursework of 3.0 on a four-point scale.
- Provide two letters of recommendation, either professional or academic.
- Complete an interview with the Program Coordinator of SUO Graduate Education.
To be admitted into a teaching internship (ED 710), candidates must:
- Attain a qualifying score on Praxis® II Content Knowledge assessment for the area or desired certification.
- Completed prerequisite coursework with a 3.0 GPA or better.
- Complete a criminal background check.
Policies
Prerequisite Course Policies
Prerequisite courses required for admission into the Master’s in Teaching: Early Childhood program include 12 semester hours of course work in mathematics, 12 semester hours in science, 9 semester hours in English, and 9 semester hours in social studies. Applicants must document a minimum of 3.0 GPA in their undergraduate programs.
Students previously enrolled in Master of Arts Teaching: Early Childhood programs at other institutions but without completing degrees may apply for transfer credits, but no more than six credit hours may be transferred from another degree program, which is aligned to the SUO policies. Transfer credit decisions will be made by the Program Director on a case-by-case basis, with priority given to courses taught in Maryland State Department of Education Approved programs, after review of transcripts, course catalog descriptions, and course syllabi.
Academic Performance Policies
- Minimum accepted grade for all courses in the Master of Arts Teaching: Early Childhood program is final grade of B.
- Students with grades below B in courses may repeat courses but no more than twice. Failure to earn a grade of B in a course after three attempts may lead to dismissal from the program.
- Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0. Students falling below an overall GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation for a maximum of one year. If the minimum GPA requirement of 3.0 is not accomplished after the one-year probation, students may be dismissed from the program.
Requirements
All MAT candidates must complete the following coursework and meet MDSE requirements for initial certification as identified below. ED 550 and ED 560 are only options for middle school teachers who need to take the Praxis. The middle school Praxis cannot be substituted as the content knowledge Praxis for the Maryland Approved Alternative Preparation Program (MAAPP) stamp.
The following courses are under development: ED 540, ED 571, ED 572, ED 610, ED 618, ED 622, ED 631, ED 665, ED 715, ED 725.
Required Courses
| ED 506 | Child Development for Early Childhood Educators | 3 credits |
| ED 570 | Early Childhood Curriculum Principles and Practices | 3 credits |
Residency Requirement
Stevenson's MAT program includes mandatory onsite weekend residencies twice a year. The interpersonal relationship developed as part of the cohort residencies enhance the academic learning and emotional well-being of the adult learner. The residency is an essential part of building that community. Residencies are scheduled on a Saturday at Stevenson University at the start of the fall and spring semesters. Attendance is mandatory for the full period of the residency unless with prior permission of the Program Coordinator. Students may engage in seminars, workshops, peer led discussions and presentations during residency.
MSDE requirements for initial certification:
- Successful completion of Stevenson University's Maryland Approved MAT program.
- 3.0 GPA for last completed degree or qualifying scores on Praxis® Core (basic skills) and Praxis® II content knowledge and pedagogy assessments.
- Successful completion of 100-day teaching internship in the candidate's area of certification.
- Passing scores on MSDE required Praxis tests and performance assessments.
Course Descriptions
See ED - Teaching and Learning Courses