College of Education and Human Services
School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies
www.kent.edu/ehs/tlcs

About This Program

The Early Childhood Education M.A.T. program is designed for those who already hold a bachelor's degree in a field other than education and want to become licensed teachers. With a focus on early childhood education, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the classroom and make a difference in the lives of young children. Read more...

Contact Information

• Elizabeth Kenyon | ekenyon@kent.edu | 330-672-0620

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Questions in Anticipation of Licensure form
• Supplemental form
• Two letters of recommendation
• Interview
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

Applicants will be assessed holistically, considering academic credentials; standardized test scores of reading, writing and mathematics; academic or professional references; non-academic dimensions; and other specific program criteria.

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Summer Term (odd years)
  • Priority deadline: February 1

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Teacher candidates are only permitted to repeat a field experience course once. Please see Repeating Field Experience Courses in Teacher Education Programs policy for details.

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

• Additional Coursework: An analysis of additional content-area coursework required at the post-undergraduate level will be completed before entering into the program, and a plan of study will be created based on transcript analysis and current licensure requirements by the Ohio Department of Education. A minimum C grade is required in each of these courses. This coursework would be in addition to requirements for the M.A.T. degree in Early Childhood.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking Ohio licensure are required to pass specific assessments in order to apply for licensure. Students should consult their advisors for specific program requirements and refer to the Ohio Department of Education-Educator Preparation website for more information on assessments specific to licensure type.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Co-construct curriculum as a co-worker with learners and others (parents, families, colleagues and community members) to make sound decisions for learning and teaching experiences, as opposed to being passive receivers of prescribed curriculum.
2. Synthesize conceptual understandings of children, theory, content, technology and socio-cultural contexts into meaningful activities and opportunities for learning with all students from pre-kindergarten to grade five.
3. Engage in the habit of self-assessment in order to continually uncover unknown possibilities in children’s learning, classroom practice, educational theory and one’s own teaching identity in the local and global context.
4. Become committed to the children and their learning, the families and the local community while having an awareness of the global context.
5. Engage in continuous self-improvement and lifelong learning.
6. Apply skills, knowledge and dispositions to challenge "questionable" policies that limit opportunities for all children.
7. Utilize research and theory to develop varied and effective pedagogies and assessments that will positively impact all students’ learning (learning and teaching is a transdisciplinary practice).
8. Advocate as ethical leaders and moral agents striving for social justice.
9. Acknowledge and practice multiple, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiracial, multi- social and -economic and multilingual perspectives in a global society.

Full Description

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Early Childhood Education is for qualified students who possess at least a baccalaureate in a discipline other than teacher education. This program leads to Ohio licensure for teaching children in pre-kindergarten through grade five. Students have intensive, supervised field experiences in pre-school, primary and upper elementary grades, including those in urban/diverse settings.

This degree program requires 12 months of full-time study, which begins in mid-May of odd years and ends with a final student teaching experience and a May graduation the following year.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.