Early Childhood Education: Initial Certification, M.A.T.

Prerequisite Degree: Bachelor’s

The Initial Certification Program of Study is designed to meet the needs of candidates who do not hold a teacher certification. Prior to Admission to Teacher Education the candidate must pass or exempt the GACE Program Admissions Assessments (PAA) and receive pre-service certification (A candidate may not complete more than 9 courses until these requirements are satisfied, including approval of transfer courses). In order to register for Internship II, M.A.T. candidates must successfully pass the appropriate Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) content tests(s).

Required early in program unless previously satisfied:

EDUC 6610	Human Growth and Development	3
	OR
PSYC 2240	Psychology of Childhood and Early Adolescence	3
EDUC 6655	Exceptional Children	3

EDUC 6655: (This is a state requirement) (may take EDUC 3355)

EDUC 6610: (may CLEP undergraduate equivalent)

Course Requirements

EDUC 5599	Graduate Orientation	1
EDUC 6151	Professional Practice (edTPA)	1
EDUC 6600	Educational Assessment	3
EDUC 6601	Instructional Media and Technology for Teachers	3
	OR
EDUC 7702	Integrating Instructional Media and Technology	3
EDUC 6628	Literature for Children: Expanding Students' Reading Abilities and Interests	3
EDUC 6631	Reading Methods	3
EDUC 6632	Language Arts	3
EDUC 6638	Advanced Assessment and Instruction in Reading	3
EDUC 6639	Exploration and Analysis of Reading Environments	3
EDUC 6642	Critical Thinking and Creativity in the Classroom	3
EDUC 6690	Classroom Management	3
EDUC 6699	Methods and Interpretation of Educational Research	3
EDUC 7703	Social, Cultural, and Ethical Perspectives of Education	3
EDEC 7788/EDUC 7788	Capstone/Exhibition	3

EDUC 5599: (1 hour Institutional Credit required first semester) This course is non-transferable and must be completed at Piedmont College

EDEC 7788: (must be taken semester prior to Internship II or semester following Internship II). This course is non-transferable; must be completed at Piedmont College.

Content and Methodology

(All selections are based on transcript analysis) Select three minimum (others may be required)

EDUC 6622	Health and Physical Education in the Classroom	3
EDUC 6624	The Fine Arts in Education	3
EDUC 6630	Mathematics Methods in Education	3
EDUC 6634	Social Studies Methods in Education	3
EDUC 6636	Science Methods in Education	3

Internship II Block — 15 weeks OR 1 year advanced internship:

EDUC 7736	Contextual Analysis of a School Environment	3
EDEC 7742	Internship II (B-5)	9
	OR
EDEC 7744	Internship (B-5)	10
EDEC 7745	Internship (B-5)	10

Optional Courses

(if needed; must be approved by Department Chair)

EDUC 6607	Fundamentals of Learning and Cognition	3
EDUC 6656	Essentials of Collaboration and Inclusion	1
SPAN 5580	Spanish for the Professions	3
EDUC 7701	Critical Analysis of Current Trends and Issues in Education	3
EDUC 7712	Group Processes and Interpersonal Skills	3
EDUC 7730	School Law	3
EDEC 7740	Internship I (B-5)	1-3

Total Minimum Number of Hours Course Work : 58

Minimum Hours of Field Experience: 120

Program Completion Requirements

• The GACE Program Admissions Assessments (PAA) passed or exemption filed during first semester;
• Admission to Teacher Education completed and attainment of preservice certificate;
• Submission for approval of an application for graduation the semester before graduation;
• Earn an overall GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses attempted;
• Successful completion of capstone; and
• Successful completion of Professional Development Portfolio