The request to create Master of Arts in Teaching in Child and Family Studies: Early Childhood Education (Birth-Kindergarten)
Date: November 21, 2012
To: College of Education
From: Office of Academic Affairs
Approved On: October 26, 2012
Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Spring 2013
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
RSCH 6101 Research Methods (3) Identification of logical, conceptual, and empirical research problems; application of methods and procedures, including conducting library research, interpreting research findings, and preparing reviews of related literature.(Fall, Spring, Summer)
CHFD 6300 Evidence-Based Practices in Child and Family Studies (3) Investigates evidence-based practice guidelines, methods, and outcomes in assessment, intervention, instruction, and evaluation outcomes and/or policies that support child development in the context of families and communities. Course culminates in a final project in which students identify a practice-relevant topic and conduct a literature review of the evidence pertaining to that topic. (Pre-requisite: Admission to the M.A.T. in Child and Family Studies: Early Childhood Education (B-K); RSCH 6101; co-requisite: CHFD 6330). (Fall)
CHFD 6330 Action Research (3) Introduces students to action research in the context of self-reflective inquiry in students’ own practice with strategies to improve practice. Fundamentals of the action research process including theoretical context, methods of collecting, analyzing, and describing data to prepare students to conduct action research independently. Graded Pass/No Credit only. (Co-requisite or pre-requisite: CHFD 6300). (Fall)
CHFD 7600. Seminar: Leadership in Education of Children and Families. (3) Prerequisite: completion of at least 24 hours of graduate program. A synthesizing course of study focusing on review, compilation, analysis, and evaluation of the literature, research, and experiences relevant to the student’s specialty area. Students will demonstrate leadership by conducting a program evaluation, creating innovative solutions to challenges, and initiating and creating collaboration among persons and across agencies. (Spring)
Master of Arts in Teaching in Child and Family Studies: Early Childhood Education (Birth-Kindergarten)
Description of Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program is designed for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree but who do not hold a professional teaching license in Birth-Kindergarten. The M.A.T. program is a 39-hour program composed of two phases, the Graduate Certificate phase (Phase I) and the Master’s degree completion phase (Phase II). Completion of Phase I of the M.A.T. leads to the initial Standard Professional I teaching license in Birth-Kindergarten. Phase I requires 27 semester hours of coursework, including the graduate student teaching experience. Upon completion of Phase I, qualified candidates may apply for Phase II to work towards the Master’s degree and qualify for the advanced Standard Professional II teaching license. For more information on the M.A.T., please visit the Pathway to Teaching site.
All courses for both phases of the M.A.T. must be completed within six years. Coursework within Phase I/Graduate Certificate must be completed within four years.
General Requirements for Admission to the Graduate School
Please refer to general information provided in The Graduate School section of the Graduate Catalog.
Admission Requirements for M.A.T. Programs
- Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Teaching
- A minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching
- One recommendation from a full-time faculty member who has taught you in the Graduate Certificate in Teaching program
- A statement of purpose
- Apply online at graduateschool.uncc.edu
The admission process includes timely completion of the Admission to Candidacy form and the Application for Graduation from the Graduate Certificate program.
Students with a GPA below 3.5 in the Graduate Certificate phase may be considered for admission to the M.A.T. program with scores above the 30th percentile on either the Graduate Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test.
Degree Requirements:
Phase I/ Graduate Certificate Required Courses (27 hours)
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Phase II/ Completion of the M.A.T. Required Courses (12 hours)
- RSCH 6101: Research Methods (3)
- CHFD 6300: Evidence-Based Practices in Child and Family Development (3)
- CHFD 6330: Action Research (3)
- CHFD 7600: Seminar: Leadership in Education of Children and Families (3)
Committees
Students should consult with their academic program advisor in the selection of the committee. The committee chair should be selected for content knowledge of the subject area that is selected for the culminating experience. This person should hold a graduate faculty appointment in the CHFD program. Two additional committee members should be selected for knowledge and expertise in your subject area. One of the additional members may be external to your department.
Admission to Candidacy
The Candidacy form supplied by the Graduate School must be received no later than the eighth instructional day of the semester in which completion of all degree requirements is expected.
Application for Degree
The Application for Degree/Graduation form supplied by the Graduate School must be received early in the last semester of the student’s program.
Student Teaching
The graduate-level student teaching semester is the culminating experience in Phase I of the M.A.T, offering students the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the initial Standard Professional I teaching license. Students are assigned to an appropriate classroom for a full-time, semester-long experience under the supervision of the classroom teacher and university faculty. Lateral entry teachers and teacher assistants must contact the Office of Field Experiences to determine the appropriateness of their classroom for the student teaching experience and licensure requirements. This contact should take place at least one semester before student teaching.
Capstone Experiences
The capstone experience for the M.A.T. will be fulfilled by completing the CHFD 7600 (Seminar: Leadership in Education of Children and Families) action research project.
Advising
Upon acceptance into the program, all students are assigned an advisor. Students are expected to meet with their advisor each semester to discuss their coursework.
Assistantships
The Program sometimes has a limited number of graduate assistantships with salaries starting at $8,000/academic year. Students may apply for a Graduate Assistantship by using the form available online. Students should return the completed form to the Department of Special Education and Child Development.
Licensure
Upon successful completion of the Phase I/Graduate Certificate, students will be recommended for the North Carolina initial Standard Professional I teaching license. For this initial license, students are required to complete an electronic licensure portfolio that is created during coursework and the internship. Upon successful completion of Phase II, students will be recommended for the North Carolina advanced Standard Professional II teaching license. For the advanced license, students are required to complete an advanced electronic licensure portfolio during coursework.
Tuition Waivers
A person may qualify for in-state tuition if he/she is paid on the teacher salary schedule, has established legal residence in North Carolina, and is employed full-time by a North Carolina public school, but only for “courses relevant to teacher certification or to professional development as a teacher.” For more information on the Teacher Tuition Benefit Application, please visit resdetermination.uncc.edu.
Financial Aid/Financial Assistance
Information is available from the Office of Teacher Education, Advising, Licensure, and Recruitment, located in Room 119, College of Education. Additional information is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid.