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The M.A.T. in Elementary Education, an NCATE-accredited program that focuses on the education of second through sixth-graders, is designed for those who want to teach young children and have undergraduate degrees in non-education disciplines. The program combines academic work and a variety of experiences in public elementary schools.

Successful completion of the M.A.T. program requirements leads to recommendation for teaching certification/licensure in grades 2 - 6 in South Carolina, in addition to a master’s degree. The State of South Carolina has reciprocal licensure agreements with many State Departments of Education across the United States. Teacher Education Program requirements are described in detail in a candidate information packet, which a candidate receives prior to meeting with the program director to complete a program of study.

Degree Requirements

The M.A.T. in Elementary Education is awarded to candidates who successfully complete an approved program of study consisting of a minimum of 48 graduate semester hours of credit with an overall GPA of 3.0. This program of study may include additional coursework due to deficiencies in the liberal arts as determined by a review of the undergraduate transcript. Candidates have one calendar year following program acceptance to complete these additional requirements with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Certification requirements for M.A.T. students are described in the Teacher Education Program student information packet for M.A.T. students and the Clinical Practice Handbook. As part of the certification procedure, each M.A.T. student must take the national PRAXIS tests: elementary content area and principles of learning and teaching. Advisors will provide important details about this requirement. All examinations are administered by the Educational Testing Service and application forms are available in the School of Education Office, 86 Wentworth Street.. One copy of each test score must be sent directly to the College of Charleston School of Education and another copy to the South Carolina State Department of Education.

Minimum Admission Requirements for Regular Degree Status*

• Submit a completed application form with a nonrefundable application fee of $45 ($35 online).
• Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework. An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required. Applicants are required to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale from their graduating institution. Undergraduate coursework should represent a broad liberal arts background.
• Submit two letters of recommendation. Letters should be from persons most familiar with previous academic and/or work experience and should indicate evidence of potential for graduate studies.
• Submit a biographical sketch or professional résumé.
• Submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if English is not the primary language of the candidate.
• Submit official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Students are expected to have a minimum composite GRE verbal/quantitative score of 1000 and a score of 4.0 or higher on the analytical writing sample.
• Submit a self-assessment of professional goals and dispositions.
• Submit a statement of ability to perform essential teaching duties under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Submit a cover letter to the admissions committee stating why the candidate seeks to be a part of the program and is pursuing a teaching career.

* These requirements are subject to change before the next catalog is printed.

Deadlines for applications to Master of Arts in Teaching Program:

• November 15
• April 15

Completion of a Program of Study

As soon as possible after acceptance into the program and before enrolling in courses, an appointment must be made with the program director to complete a program of study. The process for filing an acceptable program of study is not completed until all copies of the form, with required signatures, have been filed with the Graduate School Office. The program of study is not official until the student is admitted as a regular-degree student. All regular-degree students must have an approved program of study on file no later than one month following the completion of 12 semester hours of graduate credit. Failure to meet the deadline for filing an acceptable program of study may result in a delay in graduation or loss of credit for use in the program.

All academic work that has been completed, as well as that which is proposed for satisfying degree requirements, must be included in the program of study at the time of submission. Students may make changes of up to two courses in the program of study that are necessitated by enrollment problems or other circumstances by completing a request for change in approved program form. This form must be endorsed by the advisor, department chair, and the program director. More extensive changes may be accomplished by filing a new program of study marked “revised plan.”

After the program of study is completed, an advisor is assigned to work with the candidate over the course of the program for scheduling and program planning to ensure timely completion of program requirements.

NOTE: Students may not use professional development course credit.

Program of Study

Focus Area I: Development of the Learner and the Relationship to Content Learning Development (9 hours)

Prerequisites:

Undergraduate prerequisites determined by transcript evaluation

AND the following three graduate or equivalent undergraduate courses:

EDFS 652 Foundations of Education

EDFS 654 Human Growth and Development

EDFS 687 Computer Education for Teachers (or an intermediate computer course) taken within the last three years

*Prerequisites may be taken concurrently with graduate program courses but must be completed
within one calendar year of admission.

EDEE 640* Development of Language and Literacies (3 hours)

EDEE 645* Field Experience I in Elementary Education (3 hours)

*Must be taken concurrently.

Focus Area II: Pedagogy and Content Knowledge (15 hours)

EDEE 610* Integrating Assessment and Instruction (3 hours)

EDEE 614* Field Experience I in Elementary Education (3 hours)

EDEE 641 Science for the Elementary Teacher (3 hours)

EDEE 642 Social Studies and Humanities for Early Childhood and Elementary Teachers
(3 hours)

EDEE 653 Theories and Strategies for Developing Literacies (3 hours)

EDEE 665 Math: Content and Instruction (3 hours)

EDEE 664 Health and Physical Education (3 hours)

*Must be taken concurrently.

Focus Area III: Creating an Effective Climate for Learning (15 hours)

EDEE 606 Teaching Diverse Learners (3 hours)

EDEE 655 Creativity and the Fine Arts (3 hours)

EDEE 690* Creating Effective Learning Communities (3 hours)

EDEE 695* Field Experience III in Elementary Education (3 hours)*

*Must be taken concurrently.

Focus Area IV: Culminating Professional Experiences (9 hours)

EDEE 699 Clinical Practice in Early Childhood Education (9 hours)

Total program credit hours: 48 graduate hours not including prerequisite course hours.

NOTE: The School of Education Policy states that field experience and clinical practice placements are made within the tri-county area. The School of Education reserves the right to place candidates in the closest approximate placement.