MAT - Master of Arts in Teaching (Early Childhood Unified Residency Track)
The WSU MAT-ECU program reflects what is currently known about best practices in early childhood teacher preparation. With an emphasis on urban schools, the program prepares teaching residents to meet the needs of children with and without disabilities in varied settings. The MAT-ECU teacher residency program was developed using a PDS philosophy that centers on shared responsibility for teacher preparation between universities and schools as well as a shared responsibility for student learning. It involves students working in classrooms as paraprofessionals while working on their graduate degree and initial licensure.
Admission
The program is limited to individuals who have:
- Completed at least a BA/BS degree from an accredited higher education institution prior to entry into the program.
- For full admission, a GPA of 3.000, or a GPA of 2.750 to 2.999 to be admitted on probation.
Applicants to the MAT ECU residency program must pass a criminal background check that they obtain at their own expense. Information regarding the approved background check service provider is available from Education Support Services.
Program Requirements
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) early childhood unified residency (ECU-R) track is offered for students seeking initial KSDE license in early childhood unified: birth–third grade. The graduate level initial licensure program consists of 36 credit hours. The core curriculum consists of:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select courses in child development and pedagogy | 21 | |
| Select research and reflection (within the 11 hours of research, students are required to complete either an action research portfolio or a master’s thesis) | 11 | |
| Select an internship with university supervisors provided | 4 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
MAT ECU-R Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CESP 729 | Theories of Early Childhood Development | 3 |
| CI 603 | Foundations of Early Childhood Unified | 2 |
| CI 614 | ECU Assessment and Methods: Infants, Toddlers and Families | 3 |
| CI 617 | ECU Assessment & Methods: Preschool | 3 |
| CI 704 | Assessment & Methods K-1 | 3 |
| CI 711 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| CI 733 | Assessments & Methods: Grades 2-3 | 3 |
| CI 743 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship I | 1 |
| CI 744 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship II | 1 |
| CI 748 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship III | 1 |
| CI 749 | Transition to Teaching or Residency Internship IV | 1 |
| CI 796 | Family and Professional Collaboration | 3 |
| CI 849 | Practices and Trends in Action Research | 2 |
| CLES 801 | Introduction to Educational Research | 3 |
| Capstone Courses | ||
| CI 860 | Seminar in Research Problems | 2 |
| Select one of the following combinations | 2 | |
| Evidence Based Inquiry: Capstone Project Proposal and Evidence-Based Inquiry: Capstone Project | ||
| Master’s Thesis and Master’s Thesis | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 36 | |
Applied Learning
Students are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from programs in curriculum and instruction. The requirements can be met by completing either a master’s thesis or capstone research project in which the emphasis is on applying professional practices to research and is directly linked to applied learning.