02 October, 2020

The CIT Department of Sport, Leisure & Childhood Studies (SLCS) acknowledges the increasing professional expectations of both the Early Childhood and School Age Education & Care workforces in Ireland and the subsequent need for competent, experienced and technically proficient personnel in the growth area of quality pedagogical practice.

Following from the extensive policy and practice developments for the sector, demand for personnel with specialist knowledge and advanced skills in these inter-related areas is rising. The BEd (Hon) in Montessori Education has been designed to cater for such demonstrable sector needs.

BEd (Honours) in Montessori Education (Level 8)

• CAO Code: CR 440
• Department of Sport, Leisure & Childhood Studies
• Duration: Four Years (full-time)
• Enquiries to Marian Quinn by email to marian.quinn@cit.ie

Programme Rationale

The Department is keenly aware of the increasing statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements of (i) the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), (ii) Pobal, (iii) Tusla, and (iv) the Department of Education and Skills, with regard to the Early Childhood and School Age Education & Care sectors; sectors that continually seek ‘work-ready’ graduates with substantial practice-based experience established, even at this early stage of their careers. This has led to an embedded comprehensive teaching-based Placement Programme that provides not just breadth, but also significant depth, in the philosophical underpinnings of Montessori Education, which is an integral component in achieving such sector demands.

Programme Objectives

This programme will:

• Enable graduates to specialise in their chosen field by offering specific niche modules in the education and care domain, e.g. Montessori: The Pre-School Child, Montessori: Middle Childhood, Montessori & Transformation, Introduction to the Arts, and Learning Through Creativity.
• Ensure that graduates are appropriately prepared with the necessary skills for careers in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECEC) and School-age Childcare (SAC) sectors. This aligns with ‘First 5: A Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families’ (2018), which outlines the importance of the workforce in delivering high quality ECEC and SAC, through the development of a professional workforce.
• Provide graduates with increased opportunities to apply for Level 9/10 programmes of postgraduate study. The breadth of study from birth to twelve years of age provides great scope for research across both early and middle childhood.

The Difference between the ‘Montessori’ and ‘ECEC’ Programmes

While there are strong links between the existing ECEC programme in the Department and this BEd. (Hons) in 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.

Graduate Profile

Graduates of the programme will have expertise in the following areas:

• Montessori pedagogy for early/middle childhood 
• Child Psychology
• Leadership in early childhood & school age education
• Anti-bias curriculum
• Learning through Creativity/Developing Arts based curricula
• Inclusive Practice
• Physical Activity & Health Promotion 
• Leading outdoor learning