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Early Education with Montessori Credential Preparation

Early Education with Montessori Credential Preparation

The Montessori specialization offers an alternative for those who desire to work with young children. Montessori education has a philosophy of child growth and learning that focuses on:

  • designing an environment in which young children may live, learn and develop at their own pace;
  • developing a curriculum that adapts to the individual needs of young children while fostering creativity, personal responsibility, and community participation;
  • preparing teachers to gain specific insights and sensitivities toward a child’s total development: mind, body, and spirit.

Program Options Students seeking the Montessori certificate have the following program options:

  • M.Ed. in Early Education plus Montessori Credential Preparation
  • Graduate course credit plus Montessori Credential Preparation
  • Montessori Credential Preparation only (non-credit)

Note: Courses may be taken for undergraduate elective credits with approval from the student’s advisor.

Option I: Master’s in Early Education with Montessori Credential Preparation

This option is open to students who have a B.A./B.S. from an accredited institution and seek to obtain a Master’s Degree (M.Ed.) in Early Education plus a Montessori Credential issued by the American Montessori Society. As a prerequisite or co-requisite, the Credential requires a college level course in child development. If this course was not taken previously in an undergraduate program, it may be fulfilled by taking a course in child development, with the emphasis on birth through adolescence, at Chestnut Hill College or another accredited college or university as either an undergraduate or graduate course. Prior approval by the Montessori Director is required before registering for this course. Students must follow the attendance policy required by the American Montessori Society and must complete all the assignments for the courses plus the Graduate Projects for each course.

Courses (38-41 credits) Complete all

  • EDUC 620 Early Childhood Development and Learning (graduate credit) OR
  • MONC 027 Non-credit (or an equivalent undergraduate course)
  • EDSP 530 Theory and Pedagogy in Special Education
  • EDSP 532 The English Language Learner
  • EDMN 520 Montessori:  Philosophy and Educational Theory  
  • EDMN 521 Montessori:  Everyday Living 
  • EDMN 522 Montessori:  Sensorial  
  • EDMN 523 Montessori:  Math  
  • EDMN 524 Montessori:  Language
  • EDMN 525 Montessori:  Natural and Social Science 
  • EDMN 526 Montessori:  Education for Peace (1 credit)  
  • EDMN 630/631 Montessori Internship/Seminar Fall (5 credits)  
  • EDMN 632/633 Montessori Internship/Seminar Spring  (5 credits) 

TOTAL CREDITS: 38-41

Option II: Montessori Credential Preparation (Graduate Credit)

This option is open to students who have a B.A./B.S. from an accredited institution and seek to obtain graduate credits for the Montessori credential.

As a prerequisite or co-requisite, the Credential requires an equivalent non-credit or college level course in child development. If this course was not taken previously, it may be fulfilled by taking an equivalent non-credit or an undergraduate or graduate level course in child development, with the emphasis on birth through adolescence at Chestnut Hill, another accredited college or university or an American Montessori Society Early Childhood Teacher Education Program. Prior approval by the Montessori Director is required before registration for this course. Students must follow the attendance policy required by the American Montessori Society and must complete all the assignments for the courses plus the Graduate Projects for each course.

Courses (29-32 credits) Complete all

  • EDUC 620 Early Childhood Development and Learning (graduate credit) OR  
  • MONC 027 Non-credit (or an equivalent undergraduate course) 
  • EDMN 520 Montessori:  Philosophy and Educational Theory  
  • EDMN 521 Montessori:  Everyday Living 
  • EDMN 522 Montessori:  Sensorial  
  • EDMN 523 Montessori:  Math  
  • EDMN 524 Montessori:  Language
  • EDMN 525 Montessori:  Natural and Social Science 
  • EDMN 526 Montessori:  Education for Peace (1 credit)  
  • EDMN 630/631 Montessori Internship/Seminar Fall (5 credits)  
  • EDMN 632/633 Montessori Internship/Seminar Spring  (5 credits) 

TOTAL CREDITS: 29-32

Option III: Montessori Credential Only (Non-Credit)

This option is open to applicants who have a high school diploma, a bachelor's degree or master’s degree from an accredited institution may enroll in the CHC Montessori Teacher Education Program as non-credit students at a reduced cost. When choosing this option, students will receive only the American Montessori Society Credential and will not, upon completion nor in the future, receive any undergraduate or graduate college credit for the coursework. Students must follow the attendance policy required by the American Montessori Society and complete all the assignments for the course.

As a prerequisite or co-requisite, the Credential requires an equivalent non-credit or college level course in child development. If this course was not taken previously, it may be fulfilled by taking an equivalent non-credit or an undergraduate or graduate level course in child development, with the emphasis on birth through adolescence at Chestnut Hill, another accredited college or university or an American Montessori Society Early Childhood Teacher Education Program. Prior approval by the Montessori Director is required before registration for this course.

  • EDUC 620 Early Childhood Development and Learning (graduate credit) OR   
  • MONC 027 Non-credit (or an equivalent undergraduate course) 
  • MONC 020  Montessori: Philosophy & Educational Theory  (45 hrs)  
  • MONC 021 Montessori:  Everyday Living (45 hrs)  
  • MONC 022 Montessori:  Sensorial (45 hrs)  
  • MONC 023 Montessori:  Math (45 hrs)  
  • MONC 024 Montessori:  Language (45 hrs)  
  • MONC 025 Montessori:  Natural and Social Science (45 hrs) 
  • MONC 026 Montessori:  Education for Peace (15 hrs)  
  • MONC 030 Montessori Fall Internship  (270 hrs)  
  • MONC 031 Montessori Fall Seminar  (30 hrs)   
  • MONC 032 Montessori Spring Internship (270 hrs)  
  • MONC 033 Montessori Spring Seminar  (30 hrs) 

AMS Credential Students holding a Bachelor’s degree or higher will be awarded a full Early Education Credential from the American Montessori Society upon successful completion of all program requirements. Students who are high school graduates but do not have a four-year college degree will receive an Associate Early Education Credential. If later, these students earn a bachelor’s degree, the American Montessori Society will convert their credential to a Montessori Teacher Credential.

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