Special Education General Curriculum: (P-12) Initial Certification, M.A.T.
Special Education General Curriculum (P-12)
Piedmont College’s Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degree programs, with a major in Special Education General Curriculum for grades P-12, allow for multiple paths to both advanced (M.A.) and initial certification (M.A.T.). The M.A.T programs are designed to meet the needs of candidates with a bachelor’s degree other than education seeking initial certification and lead to recommendation for a Georgia level 5 certificate. The M.A. in Special Education General Curriculum: Instructional and Behavioral Support Specialist is designed to meet the needs of candidates with a degree in education leading to recommendation for a Georgia level 5 certificate.
To meet students’ professional goals, the M.A. and M.A.T. programs are designed to link theory and practice through a combination of course work, research, and applied field experiences. The candidate’s program is based on transcript review, previous work experience, and the requirements of Piedmont College, and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
Prerequisite Degree: Bachelor’s in any field
Program Requirements
All requirements for admission to teacher education, as described in the catalog, must be met. In addition to the graduate admissions requirements listed, all candidates must submit three letters of recommendation that address potential for teaching students with disabilities. A passing score on the appropriate GACE Content Assessments is required for certification.
Required Early in Program Unless Previously Satisfied:
These courses should be satisfied as soon as possible if not previously met and may be taken at either the undergraduate or graduate level in a GaTAPP program.
Program Requirements (Cluster A)
| EDUC 5599 | Graduate Orientation | 1 |
| EDUC 6600 | Educational Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 6601 | Instructional Media and Technology for Teachers | 3 |
| SPED 6602 | Learning Characteristics of Children with Disabilities | 3 |
| SPED 6606 | Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers | 3 |
| SPED 6607 | Single Case Research for Special Educators | 3 |
| SPED 6633 | Curriculum and Differentiated Instruction | 3 |
| EDUC 6656 | Essentials of Collaboration and Inclusion | 1 |
| SPED 6684 | Advanced Strategies for Behavior Change | 3 |
| EDUC 7703 | Social, Cultural, and Ethical Perspectives of Education | 3 |
| SPED 7705 | Policies and Legal Issues in Special Education | 3 |
Cluster B (to be at the end of the program of study)
SPED 7780: This course is non-transferable and must be completed at Piedmont College
Hours 43 Minimum
After all requirements for cluster A and B, and appropriate assessment requirements are met, candidates may be recommended for the Special Education General Curriculum Certificate, which prepares them to work in a consultative setting with a content teacher of record.
Program Completion Requirements:
- Admission to Teacher Education, and pre-service certificate;
- Submit and have approved an application for graduation the semester before graduation;
- Earn an overall GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses attempted; and
- Approval of Capstone (SPED 7780) with a passing score
Note: In order to register for Student Teaching or take the capstone course in any program (whichever occurs last), M.A.T. candidates must successfully pass the appropriate Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) tests(s).