PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & COURSE OUTLINE
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: MONTESSORI EDUCATION

Program Description
Course Outline
Degree Requirements
Certification
Cost

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Early Childhood Department: 770-423-6121

Interim Department Chair: Dr. James Cope -- jcope@kennesaw.edu

Program Coordinator: Dr. Feland L. Meadows -- fmeadows@kennesaw.edu

The M.Ed. in Montessori Early Childhood Education 2.5-6 Year Level, will provide candidates with instruction, modeling and mentoring experiences through which they will acquire the knowledge, skills and dispositions required to work successfully with young children. This concentration will prepare candidates to offer children many opportunities for self-development within an enriched, scientifically designed, prepared learning environment. Through extensive fieldwork, candidates will become competent to expertly provide young children with developmentally appropriate activities and experiences that will make it possible for them to achieve their highest potential. The Montessori concentration offers teachers the opportunity to develop new insights into the true nature of the stages of childhood growth and development during the early years of life. Candidates will understand the research based, conceptual framework which serves as the foundation for the implementation of a proven, scientific system of education for young children. Instructors will model developmentally appropriate teaching strategies and materials presentations which research and practice have demonstrated to be especially effective in the education of young children. Candidates will practice and will acquire skills in presenting many developmentally appropriate manipulable materials that address the children’s needs for physical, sensorial and language development. They will also learn to present Mathematics, Geography, Biology, Social Science, Music and the Arts in ways that are most effective with young children. Candidates who complete the Montessori Concentration, offered in the Second Phase of the M.Ed. program, will qualify for International Certification by the PAN AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY. This Montessori Teacher Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE). MACTE is the only Montessori Teacher Education accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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COURSE OUTLINE

FIRST PHASE: INTEGRATED INSTRUCTIONAL INQUIRY
SEMESTER I (Total 9 Semester Hours)
ECE 7511 Inquiry: Educational Research and Prospectus (3)
ECE 7512 Inquiry: Best Instructional/Curr. Practices & Multiple Assessment Strategies (3)
ECE 7514 Inquiry: Essentials of Technology and Introduction to Portfolio (3)

SECOND PHASE : TEACHING EXCELLENCE
SEMESTER II & SEMESTER III (TOTAL 18 Semester Hours in Total)
ECE 7700 Scientific Foundations of Early Childhood Education
* Related field work experiences: 125 Clock Hours (3)
ECE 7710 Physical Development and Enhanced Control of Movement
* Related field work experiences 125 Clock Hours (3)
ECE 7720 Sensorial Foundations of Intellectual Life
* Related field work experiences 125 Clock Hours (3)
ECE 7730 Development of Language and Literacy Skills
* Related field work experiences 125 Clock Hours (3)
ECE 7900 Competence in the Preparation and Presentation of Language Materials
* 3 Related field work experiences 125 Clock Hours (3)
ECE 7740 Early Preparation of the Mathematical Mind
* 3 Related field work experiences 125 Clock Hours (3)

THIRD PHASE: ACCOMPLISHED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTIONAL LEADER
SEMESTER IV (Total 9 Semester Hours)
ECE 7550 Prospectus Completion (3)
ECE 7551 Portfolio Completion (3)
ECE 7560 Accomplished Instructional Leader (3)

PROGRAM TOTAL: 36 SEMESTER HOURS

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Transfer Credit
Candidates enrolld in the M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education: Montessori Education Concentration will not be given credit for graduate courses taken at other institutions without passing the KSU Montessori Program Competency Examination.

Grades in Graduate Courses
Expectations for satisfactory graduate level student performance are detailed in Academic Policies section of the Graduate Catalog.

Non-Degree Candidates
Students classified as non-degree students are permitted to enroll in the Montessori Education Courses leading to International Certification by the Pan American Montessori Society. This program will not provide graduate level course work for state certification renewal purposes.

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CERTIFICATION

For additional information on certification, please e-mail
Kellie Oxford koxford@kennesaw.edu
Certification Officer in the Teacher Education Advisement Center at KSU.

For additional information on the M.Ed. in Elementary & Early Childhood Education, please email Alisha Bello abello1@kennesaw.edu
Graduate Coordinator in the Teacher Education Advisement Center at KSU.