Montessori Teacher Education Program

• Average Cost
  ^$4,725-^$5,150
• Format
  On Campus
  
  Duration
  10-12 months
  
   Course Schedule
  
  

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FAQs

• What is the duration of the program?
• The Early Childhood Program (Preschool – Ages 2.5 through 6) is a ten-month program that starts in August and ends in June.
  
  The Infant & Toddler Caregiving Program (Infants & Toddlers – Ages Birth through 3) is a twelve-month program that starts in July and ends in June.
  
  *You cannot join the program at any time. You must start the program and end the program at the time stated above.*
• How much does the program cost?
• This AMS/MACTE certified training is offered through the University Montessori Lab School in collaboration with UCI Division of Continuing Education. Students register through UCI Division of Continuing Education, which provides students with the academic credits to document their studies. Course fees are paid to the UCI Division of Continuing Education with additional fees paid to the University Montessori Lab School and accrediting agencies. Fees paid to the lab school include the cost of course materials, field consultation visitations, and AMS/MACTE credentialing. Please note that the field consultation visitations fee might increase if the student’s practicum site is outside of Orange County.
  
  For the early childhood program: The total fee paid to UCI Division of Continuing Education is $1,900. You pay at the time of enrollment for each course and thus you do not pay the $1,900 all at once. The total fee paid to the lab school is $3,250* (subject to change). Ms. Ruszat will be able to provide you the exact fees for the upcoming school year. Like the fees you pay to the UCI Division of Continuing Education, the fees paid to the lab school are paid each quarter, not all at once.
  
  For the infant & toddler program: The total fee paid to UCI Division of Continuing Education is $1,475. You pay at the time of enrollment for each course and thus you do not pay the $1,475 all at once. The total fee paid to the lab school is $3,250* (subject to change). Ms. Ruszat will be able to provide you the exact fees for the upcoming school year. Like the fees you pay to the UCI Division of Continuing Education, the fees paid to the lab school are paid each quarter, not all at once.
  
  *Internships outside of Orange county may have additional cost for Field Consultant Observations of the student in their practicum site.*
  
  The fees listed above do not include the cost of course textbooks.
  
  Please contact Cheryll Ruszat at the University Montessori Lab School for additional information regarding this program and the additional fees paid to the lab school.
• Is there an orientation?
• There is a REQUIRED orientation for both the early childhood and infant & toddler program. At the orientation, you will be required to provide documentation that you have met all of the prerequisites:
  
  
  1. The name of the your Practicum/Internship site including the address, phone, and director’s name, director’s contact information, supervising teacher contact information and Montessori diploma, number of children and age range of the children in the class being used for practicum
  2. An official hard copy College Transcript (non-electronic) reflecting completion of the courses in Child Development and Child, Family, Community (which is the minimum coursework requirement to work in a school for your practicum) OR a certified copy of your high school diploma. If you have a foreign transcript will need to be evaluated and certified by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
  3. English Proficiency Requirement: All programs at UCI Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.
  The orientation date of the Infant & Toddler program is the first day of EDUC X321.54 (July) and the orientation date of the Early Childhood program is the first day of EDUC X321.21 (August).
• Are the courses in-person or online?
• The courses are held on the UCI campus at the University Montessori Lab School; thus, parking is free when you park in the University Montessori School of Irvine’s school parking lot. The courses are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. with some occasional all-day Saturday class meetings from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Internet access is required to participate in the program since all courses have accompanying online coursework and EDUC X321.10 is a fully online course.
• What is the schedule for Early Childhood?

• Quarter	Course	Units	Fees	Format
  Fall	EDUC X321.21 Montessori Philosophy and Pedagogy (EC/Preschool)	4.5	$425	Hybrid
  	EDUC X321.10 Preventative Health Practices for Young Children in Childcare	1	$200	Online
  	EDUC X321.2* Montessori Practicum (EC/Preschool)	4.0	$425	Online
  Winter	EDUC X321.07 Montessori II: Practical Life, Sensory Education, Art, Music and Movement (EC/Preschool)	4.5	$425	Hybrid
  Spring	EDUC X321.32 Montessori III: Math, Language, Geography, Social Studies, and Science (EC/Preschool	4.5	$425	Hybrid
  Total course fees to UCI DCE (not including lab school fees)		18	$1,900

  *The Montessori Practicum courses run from the fall to the spring quarter.
• What is the schedule for Infant & Toddler?

• Quarter	Course	Units	Fees	Format
  Summer	EDUC X321.54 Studies for Infant & Toddler Caregivers	4.5	$425	Hybrid
  Fall	EDUC X321.51 Montessori Overview of Philosophy/Pedagogy for Infant & Toddler	4.5	$425	Hybrid
  	EDUC X321.10 Preventative Health Practices for Young Children in Childcare	1	$200	Online
  	EDUC X321.52* Montessori Practicum for Infant & Toddler	4.0	$425	Online
  Winter	Continuing Practicum
  Spring	Continuing Practicum
  Total course fees to UCI DCE (not including lab school fees)		13.5	$1,475

  *The Montessori Practicum courses run from the fall to the spring quarter.
• What is the practicum requirement and how to meet the practicum requirement?
• The Montessori credentialing requires a full academic year of concurrent Monday through Friday internship in a Montessori Early Childhood Program under the direct supervision of an experienced Montessori teacher in the age range for which you seek credentialing. If you have further questions on the practicum requirements or how to go about finding an internship, you may contact the instructor/coordinator of the Montessori program, Cheryll Ruszat, at (949) 854-6030 or email crruszat@uci.edu.

English Proficiency Requirement
All certificate programs at UCI Division of Continuing Education (classroom and online formats) require professional-level English language proficiency in listening and note-taking, reading comprehension and vocabulary, written expression, and oral presentation.