Montessori Education

Bachelor of Education (Honours)

Montessori Education student with children in background
Montessori Education student with children in background
Type of Programme
Full-time
Number of Places
18
Duration
4 Years
Course Code
MT 970
Entry Requirements
347 CAO Points in 2023 (round 1) and meet minimum entry requirements as listed below
Application Deadline
See CAO for details
Location(s)
MTU Bishopstown Campus, Cork
Course NFQ Level
Level 8

Marian Quinn

T: +353 (0)21 432 6022

Email: (email)

Overview

This programme serves to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Montessori approach to the education and care of children in early and middle childhood. Students are supported to develop the requisite knowledge(s), values and competencies to work effectively in a range of education and care settings, in line with current legislation, standards and quality frameworks.

The aim of professional practice placement (years 2 and 3) is to provide students with the opportunity to experience various education and care settings, thus facilitating the professional growth, development and training of the student over the duration of this programme of study.  Learning situations within the working environment facilitate the student to integrate theory and practice and develop competence in practice skills.

What will I study?

First year at a glance

  • Montessori: Child introduces students to the core principles of the Montessori philosophy of education with particular emphasis on the child from birth to three years of age
  • Child Development and Learning explores the requisite knowledge and understanding of children’s development and learning with particular emphasis on children from birth to 12 years
  • Inclusion: Equality and Diversity aims to develop the student’s understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion in early childhood education and care settings in Ireland
  • Learning to Move, Moving to Learn examines the role of movement in a child’s development from birth to age 12; planning, implementing and evaluating physical activity and movement opportunities for children
  • Introduction to the Arts within the disciplines of music, art and drama. The artistic elements are central to the concepts explored within experiential workshops

Modules

What is a Module?

A module is a standalone unit of learning and assessment and is completed within one semester. A full-time student will normally study six modules in each semester; part-time and ACCS (Accumulation of Credits and Certification of Subjects) students will have flexibility as to the number of modules taken.

The button below provides a link to all of the University's approved modules for this programme.

View Modules

Entry Requirements

Entry 2024

For admission to a programme, standard applicants must

  • score the necessary CAO points and
  • meet the minimum entry requirements

Leaving Certificate in six subjects i.e. H5 in two subjects and O6/H7 in four other subjects. The six subjects must include Mathematics and either English or Irish grade O6/H7.

NOTE: Vetting by an Garda Síochána is a mandatory requirement for this programme.

 

For Non-EU International Entry Requirements please visit https://www.mtu.ie/international/non-eu/.

Career options

Employment Opportunities

  • Early childhood education and care practitioner and manager
  • School age childcare practitioner and manager
  • Montessori teacher in both early childhood and primary education settings
  • Development worker with city and county childcare committees
  • Quality specialist and/or inclusion specialist with Better Start
  • Early Years Specialist with Tusla inspectorate
  • Tutor and/or research assistant

Progression

Further Studies

Suitably qualified graduates may progress to:

  • Teacher Education (PME Primary Teaching, Mary Immaculate College; Maynooth University; Dublin City University; and Marino Institute of Education)
  • Intervention (MA in Play Therapy, MTU; MSc in Speech and Language Therapy (Professional Qualification), University of Limerick)
  • Leadership (MA in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care, Institute of Technology Carlow, Institute of Technology Sligo, and Technological University of Dublin)

Question Time

While there are strong links between the existing ECEC programme in the department and this Montessori Education programme, there are also significant differences as the latter embeds Montessori philosophy and pedagogy throughout all the practice modules.

While graduates will have a foundation in ECEC in general, they will have specialist knowledge and practices in relation to the Montessori approach to education and care. This BEd (Honours) in Montessori Education programme incorporates pedagogy relating to children from birth to twelve years of age while the BA in ECEC covers the span from birth to six years of age.

Graduates are qualified to teach in Montessori primary schools in Ireland. These are fee-paying schools where children are educated using the Montessori pedagogy. Teachers in these schools do not require a Teaching Council number.

BEd (Honours) in Montessori Education graduates are eligible to apply for the Professional Master of Education (PME) in Primary Teaching, which is a 2-year Level 9 qualification, provided they present with the minimum Leaving Certificate requirement in Irish or suitable equivalent. The Department of Education recognises this PME to teach in Primary Schools.

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