Published on: Friday, 13 July 2012

CIT, in partnership with Cork College of Commerce, is offering a new BA (Honours) in Montessori Education from September 2012. CIT is the first Irish third-level college outside of Dublin to offer students an opportunity to study for an honours degree in Montessori Education. 

The new course has been jointly developed by staff in CIT’s School of Humanities and staff in the Childcare Department in the Cork College of Commerce.  Speaking at the launch of the new Degree, Cork College of Commerce Principal Ms Helen Ryan said, “The Cork College of Commerce is committed to protecting and preserving the integrity of Montessori qualifications available to students in the Munster area by forging links with Cork Institute of Technology which can facilitate this.”

CIT Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Barry O'Connor; Head of School of Humanities Dr Margaret Linehan; CEO of Cork VEC, Ted Owens ; CIT President, Dr Brendan Murphy; Prinicpal of Cork College of Commerce, Helen Ryan; and Education Officer at Cork VEC, John Fitzgibbons; pictured at the launch of the new BA (Honours) in Montessori Education. Photo: Pascal Ungerer

Also speaking at the launch, Dr Margaret Linehan, Head, School of Humanities, CIT, said, “We are delighted to offer students an opportunity to study for an honours degree in Montessori Education.  Up to now, students from the greater Munster area wishing to pursue an honours degree in Montessori Education would have to undertake studies in Dublin or England.  This new degree will combine key Montessori methodologies together with research and practical skills to provide graduates with appropriate knowledge, skills, and competences to work in Montessori settings and special needs schools.  We are very pleased to work with staff from the Cork College of Commerce to provide career-focused education for all our students.”

Applications for the BA (Honours) in Montessori Education are invited from merit-profile students who have successfully completed two years in Montessori Education at Cork College of Commerce.  Applications are also welcome from mature students through the recognition of prior learning process.  Recognition of prior learning can be gained formally from previously certified coursework, and informally or non-formally through workplace experience.