Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education, Alternative Certification (MAT)

Master of Arts in Teaching in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
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 in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.

The field of early childhood education includes a vast number of professionals who begin working in early childhood settings when they turn 18 years of age. Since this group of professionals is working in child care settings full-time, a traditional program is not possible for them to continue on a pathway to a degree or certification. This program is designed to meet the needs of the working early childhood professional who will benefit from a completely online program and the opportunity to learn in their own classrooms while they teach and continue to improve their practice through ongoing professional learning opportunities.

This program is designed for candidates who are not certified teachers. The purpose of this program is to provide candidates currently holding a Bachelor’s (or graduate degree), a pathway to teacher certification while they are employed as a teacher of record in an approved early childhood classroom. Candidates must be concurrently enrolled and employed in order to maintain the temporary provisional certificate. If a candidate is not enrolled or employed as the teacher of record, the Division of Educator Preparation and Certification must be immediately notified.

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 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

Admission Requirements

Candidates who meet the following criteria may be eligible to apply to the Master of Arts in Teaching program:

1. Application to Graduate School. This should be completed three to four weeks prior to the application deadline.
2. Minimum test scores as required by EPSB. Please note: when submitting test scores through ETS, use the general University of Louisville code, 1838.
3. Bachelor's degree with minimum undergraduate degree GPA of 2.75 (official transcripts required)
4. C or higher in ENGL 102 (or equivalent) and oral communication courses
5. TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo
6. Professional Statement
7. Signed Professional Code of Ethics/Technology User Agreement/Statement of Understanding of Admissions Guidelines
8. Three Letters of Recommendation
9. Interview

Candidates considering applying to the MAT program should contact the Education Advising and Student Services office (teacher@louisville.edu) prior to applying for admission.

Admission is competitive. Candidates who meet minimum academic requirements are not guaranteed admission to the program. 

Program Requirements

¹

Requires two semesters.

Midpoint Assessment: Successful completion of all courses listed above with 3.0 cumulative GPA and no lower than 2.0 in each course; Positive recommendation from Program Committee including assessment of dispositions. 

Degree Assessment: All program course work with 3.0 cumulative GPA (and no more than a total of two “C’s” (six (6) credit hours) in degree courses).

Degree Candidacy: Students not enrolled during the semester in which they intend to graduate must register for degree candidacy as outlined in Academic Policies, Procedures, and Requirements.

Certification Assessment: Eligible for degree; Passing scores on required PRAXIS exams; assessment of dispositions and standards in courses completed after mid-point; positive recommendation from Educator Certification Committee.

Praxis Disclaimer: Teacher certification requirements are subject to change. Before registering for certification test(s), please refer to the Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) website at epsb.ky.gov/ or ets.org/praxis/ky  for current requirements.