Teaching IECE/Initial Certificate, M.A.T.

Required Courses

Take each course:

• ED 605 - Research Methods Credits: 3
• IEC 580 - Advanced Curriculum and Methods Credits: 1.5
• IEC 581 - Advnced Curriculum and Methods II Credits: 1.5
• IEC 625 - Global Perspectives in Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
• IEC 626 - Collaboration and Communication in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Credits: 3
• IEC 628 - Instructional Strategies for Literacy, Reading, and Language Arts, Birth-Primary Credits: 3
• IEC 630 - Advanced Child Development Credits: 3
• IEC 660 - Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Assessment and Intervention Credits: 3
• IEC 685 - Integrated Technology and Curriculum Credits: 3

Elective Courses

Traditional:  take 6 hours of electives

Option 6: take 9 hours of electives

• IEC 604 - MAT Practicum I Credits: 1
• IEC 605 - MAT Practicum II Credits: 1
• IEC 606 - MAT Practicum III Credits: 1
• IEC 627 - Leadership of IECE Programs Credits: 3
• IEC 520 - Teaching Kindergarten Credits: 1.5
• IEC 521 - Teaching Kindergarten II Credits: 1.5
• SED 730 - Introduction to Autism Credits: 3
• SED 760 - Applied Behavior Analysis Credits: 3
• SED 697 - Effective Strategies for Improved Students’ Classroom Behavior Credits: 3

Traditional: Add Course:

• ED 608 - Student Teaching Credits: 6

Total Required Hours

(Option 6): 33 hours

(Traditonal route): 36 hours

Program Admissions

CAP 5 is admission to the program where candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 as documented on official transcript for a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (or 3.0 on last 30 hours). Further candidates must provide three letters of recommendation, a clear criminal background check, and self-assessment of dispositions and Pre-Professional Goals Assessment. They must also sign and commit to the KY Code of Ethics, the National Association for the Education of Young Children Code of Ethics, the Council for Exceptional Children - Division of Early Childhood Code of Ethics, and the First Steps Provider Code of Ethical Conduct, a diversity survey, and a creativity self-assessment, and sign the unit’s disposition assessment policy. Candidates must successfully complete an entrance interview at which time a presentation is made by the candidate, which is scored using a rubric that includes assessment of the 4 Cs 21st Century Skills (creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking). Lastly, upon admission, candidates must provide a Praxis II Study Plan/Statement of Understanding. CAP 5 requirements are the same for traditional and alternative certification Option 6 candidates.

CAP 6 is a mid-point check in the educator preparation program for graduate candidates and involves evaluation of cumulative GPA (3.0), disposition assessments, completion of 100 field experience hours and passing Praxis II scores in the IECE area of licensure. Further, candidates must demonstrate competency on three major critical assessments: (1) development and implementation of a professional growth plan; (2) a portfolio-quality philosophy of education; and, (3) submission of a CAP 6 Portfolio that includes a unit of study (taught in a designated field setting) with a minimum of three lesson plans and competency demonstrated on all ten IECE Kentucky Teacher Standards (minimum score of 2.0 of a 3-point rubric rubric). CAP 6 requirements are the same for traditional and alternative certification Option 6 candidates.

CAP 7 is program exit. Candidates must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, submitted an electronic portfolio, meeting all Kentucky Teacher Standards for IECE. Traditional Candidates must successfully complete 200 Field Experience hours prior to 16 weeks of Student Teaching.

Signed Field Experience Logs are submitted at the completion of each term with reflections. All required entries of field experiences are completed. The University maintains on ongoing data base of all field experiences including types, sites, and hours.