Early Childhood Education, Interdisciplinary, Teacher Residency (MAT)

Master of Arts in Teaching in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department:  Special Education, Early Childhood and Prevention Science
Program Website
Academic Plan Code(s): IECEMAT, IECEMATO

Program Information

Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Birth to Primary Teacher Certification Program

This program can be completed 100% online.

The program emphasizes in-depth academic preparation and field experiences that allow teachers to be knowledgeable about the field of early childhood/special education and to develop critical thinking and lifelong learning skills. The program emphasizes:

• Nurturing students as active agents in their own learning
• Authentic, performance-based assessment of teaching and learning
• Meeting the needs of all students
• Responding constructively to sociocultural differences among students

The program prepares students interested in working with children from birth to age 5 in a wide variety of settings—day care centers, public and private preschools, community programs, and clinics. This program gives students authentic experiences with infants, toddlers, and preschool children in the areas of curriculum development, typical and atypical child development, programs and services for children and their families, family involvement and intervention, screening and assessment, program administration, current topics, and practicum/action research.

The goals of this program include:

• IECE Teacher Certification
• Preparation of teachers for the education of typical and atypical children in different settings
• Provide background information on Kentucky Child Learning and Assessment Standards 

Although this program has determined that it meets educational requirements for licensure in other US states and jurisdictions, this program is designed specifically to align with Kentucky certification requirements for the supervised student teaching or culminating clinical experience.  Therefore, students in this program are required to complete their student teaching or clinical experience at an approved placement location in the state of Kentucky.  Please contact the program director to discuss possible arrangements to complete culminating experiences in Southern Indiana before enrolling in the program.

Application Requirements

Candidates considering an application to the MAT program should contact the MAT pre-admissions counselor (teacher@louisville.edu) prior to applying for admission. A transcript evaluation must be completed before a candidate can be considered for admission.

• Completed UofL graduate application submitted at https://apply.graduate.louisville.edu/apply/
• Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate coursework.  To be considered official, transcripts must be sent by the issuing institution to the UofL Graduate School. Transcripts issued to the candidate, and/or uploaded by the candidate, are considered unofficial.
  • International transcripts must be evaluated per UofL Graduate School requirements: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international/evaluation
• Personal statement – Candidates should upload two essays in response to the prompts below. The essays should be included in one document. Each essay should be double-spaced (Times New Roman 12 point font) with no more than three pages per essay. 
  • Essay 1: In consideration of the characteristics of an effective teacher, the ability to collaborate, and to support student collaboration in the classroom, is essential. Please self-evaluate this important skill and indicate whether you consider this as a strength or weakness. If you consider it as a weakness, please explain how you might further develop this skill. Also, please explain how you might encourage collaboration in your future classroom.
  • Essay 2: In what ways have your life experiences shaped the way you learn, and how you interact with others with different life experiences? Additionally, explain how you would support the ideal of "respect for all learners" in your future classroom.
• Current resume
• Recommendations – Three (3) recommendations are required. Requests are automatically sent to the recommenders’ emails once the graduate application is submitted. Adequate time should be given for recommenders to respond to the request by the application deadline. Candidates may log into their admission portal to check the status of the recommendations.
  • Work with Children and/or Adolescents Recommendation - This recommendation should be completed by an individual who has observed the candidate’s work/engagement with children and/or adolescents. The recommender should address the candidate’s ability to relate to and work with children/adolescents, as well as his/her ability to organize, lead and direct activities. The faculty screening committee wants to see evidence that candidates have engaged with the age group he/she intends to teach, and that a professional (such as a teacher or school administrator, scout leader, community organization director, etc.) confirms the candidate’s potential for success in the teacher education program.
  • Professional/Community Recommendation - This recommendation should be completed by an individual who can address the candidate’s character and professional qualities (punctuality, communication, leadership, work ethic, etc.). Pastors, P-12 teachers, supervisors/employers, and community organization directors are a few examples of appropriate recommenders.
  • Faculty Recommendation - This recommendation should be completed by a faculty member at the college level. The faculty member should address the candidate’s academic skills and potential to succeed in a graduate program including: critical thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration. College graduates who have been away from higher education more than five years may have difficulty obtaining a faculty recommendation. Candidates who will not be enrolling in prerequisite courses prior to the MAT program, may choose to submit a Professional/Community Recommendation instead. Two Professional/Community Recommendations would then be required. 
• Signed documents included in the application. You will be asked to review and sign the Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines and the Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement.

International Applicants:

• International applicants must submit additional application items, and meet additional admission requirements.  Information on the international application and admission requirements can be found here: https://graduate.louisville.edu/admission/international

Admission Requirements

• Complete application (including all checklist items above and payment submitted).
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Candidates enrolled in the final semester of their bachelor’s degree can be reviewed for provisional admission - pending a final, degree transcript. 
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75. Candidates with a GPA lower than 2.75 should consult with the pre-admissions counselor to discuss state certification requirements and potential options.
• Prerequisite course requirements. Candidates must have a transcript evaluation completed by the pre-admissions counselor (teacher@louisville.edu) prior to applying for admission. The following courses are required: Written Communication and Oral Communication with a grade of “C” or higher.
• Interview with the admissions screening committee. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their qualifications for admission and should project a professional image. Candidates are encouraged to prepare for the interview by reflecting on the domains in the professional dispositions rubric

Admission is competitive. Meeting the GPA minimum and all other admission requirements does not guarantee that prospective students will be accepted into the program. 

Program admission dates: Summer or Fall semester only

(Priority) Application Deadlines:   March 1  for Summer and   June 1 for Fall

Program Requirements

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Advisor approval needed.

Midpoint Assessment: Successful completion of all required courses prior to Student Teaching; 3.0 cumulative GPA with no grade lower than “C” ineach course (C- does not count); all prerequisites met; satisfactory performance on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance on allrubrics. Electronic documentation of 200 hours of approved field experiences.

Exit Assessment: All program course work with 3.0 cumulative GPA - and no more than a total of two C’s; satisfactory dispositions assessment; satisfactory performance on all Hallmark Assessment Tasks; Target performance on all rubrics.

Certification Assessment: Certification Assessment: Successful completion of degree and certification course work and all requirements as above. Passing PRAXIS content and PLT exam scores. Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for exams, please check for current requirements at praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/Kentucky-tests.html.

The Master of Arts in Teaching in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education program prepares students to meet the requirements for certification and/or licensure.  If you plan to pursue professional licensure or certification you should first determine your state’s criteria for examination and licensure to see how/if our program meets those requirements prior to enrollment. We recommend that you also contact your state’s licensing board directly to verify that the requirements have not changed recently and to answer any questions especially those regarding additional requirements beyond the degree. 

Although this program has determined that it meets educational requirements for licensure in other US states and jurisdictions, this program is designed specifically to align with Kentucky certification requirements for the supervised student teaching or culminating clinical experience.  Therefore, students in this program are required to complete their student teaching or clinical experience at an approved placement location in the state of Kentucky.  Please contact the program director to discuss possible arrangements to complete culminating experiences in Southern Indiana before enrolling in the program.

More information about certification or licensure is available at the following website:  https://louisville.edu/about/departments/academic-planning-accountability/disclosures/professional-licensure.

For programs with an online option, more information about certification or licensure is available here: 
https://online.louisville.edu/resources/compliance/license.