The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) with a specialization in Birth-Kindergarten (B-K) is a state‑approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) designed for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and seek initial teacher licensure in North Carolina. The program is fully online and consists of 30 graduate credit hours aligned with state standards and professional expectations for early childhood educators.
The Birth-Kindergarten M.A.T. curriculum includes nine graduate‑level courses that integrate research‑based content, pedagogy, and professional practice, along with a full‑semester, supervised clinical internship. The required internship serves as a capstone clinical experience and must be completed in a North Carolina PreK or Kindergarten classroom through approved school‑based partnerships, consistent with North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and CAEP clinical practice expectations.
Through coursework and clinical practice, candidates develop the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions necessary to support the learning and development of young children from birth through kindergarten. Program completers who successfully meet all degree requirements and pass state‑mandated licensure examinations are eligible for institutional recommendation for an initial Birth-Kindergarten teaching license through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
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