College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions
BS in Education, Montessori Concentration
For students starting a bachelor’s degree
Our bachelor’s degree with a Montessori education concentration offers an outstanding opportunity for education students. You can earn three credentials in one program:
- A bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or Elementary education
- An Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Diploma
- State teaching certification
If you are a non-traditional student or adult learner, see our Bachelor of University Studies, Montessori Concentration program for information on completing your bachelor's degree.
- Monthly Info Sessions: Attend our next online info session to learn more about our Montessori degree programs. Schedule and registration here.
- Request information
- Visit campus
- Apply
- Questions? Contact the Program Director
About the Major
Our Bachelor of Science program with a Montessori concentration offers multiple benefits that give you flexible career options:
- Global: Your AMI Montessori diploma is recognized around the world and provides a “passport” to teach internationally.
- National: Our program provides Connecticut teacher certification in Early Childhood or Elementary education that is recognized by 45 other states.
- Local: You’ll gain classroom experience in the many public and private Montessori schools in the Greater Hartford area.
- Benefit from scholarship support for Montessori education students
The program is a partnership between the University of Hartford and the Montessori Training Center Northeast (MTCNE), an AMI-teacher training center managed by the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC).
Program
The Bachelor of Science degree with Montessori Studies is a minimum of 138 credits:
- Includes 30 credits of AMI Montessori training
- Additional coursework in Montessori studies that supports the AMI training
- Designed to be completed in four years
- Observation and practice teaching components
Successful completion results in:
- BS in Early Childhood or Elementary Education with Montessori Studies
- AMI Diploma – Primary (ages 3-6) or Elementary (ages 6-12)
- CT State Teaching Certificate – Early Childhood #113 or Elementary #305
Learn more:
Degree Requirements
The Bachelor of Science degree with Montessori Studies is a minimum of 138 credits. Students choose a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education.
View the course requirements for the BS in Early Childhood Education here.
View the course requirements for the BS in Elementary Education here.
An approved subject-area major is required as part of any undergraduate education major. Students in the Montessori program take a subject-area major in Montessori Studies. View the courses for Montessori Studies here.
Career Outlook
Montessori teachers are in high demand worldwide. There are about 4,500 Montessori schools in the U.S., both public and private, and more than 20,000 worldwide. Hundreds of job postings for trained Montessori teachers go unfilled each year.
Committed to the whole child
If you’re interested in an educational approach that focuses on the whole child, blending academics, social skills, life skills, the natural world, and joy in learning, Montessori may be right for you.
Montessori teachers are committed to the development of the whole child and helping children and young people understand their place and contributions in our global community. Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) saw education as more than simply passing on knowledge and skills but rather as a social reform movement leading to a better world for generations to come.
As part of the Association Montessori Internationale’s (AMI) Bold Goal, we hope to increase AMI-trained teachers significantly over the next few years. The University of Hartford and Montessori Training Center Northeast’s programs will prepare more AMI teachers to work in current and anticipated new Montessori teacher positions.
Visit montessoriguide.org for more information and videos about the Montessori approach to education.
Admission
Students starting a bachelor’s degree program should apply through the main university admission site here.
Note: When completing the application, your intended program of study should be one of the following: Early Childhood Education/Montessori OR Elementary Education/Montessori.
For admission to programs in the Department of Education, 16 units of secondary subjects are expected and should include the following as minimal:
- English, 4 units
- Social studies, 2 units
- Foreign language, 2 units
- Science, 2 units
- Mathematics, 2 units (including 1 unit of algebra)
- Other academic subjects, 4 units
Professional Program Requirements
Education students must apply for admission to the professional program during the fall of sophomore year. Professional program admission requirements include:
- SAT, ACT or Praxis Core scores. Although the University does not require SAT, ACT or Praxis scores for admission, the State of Connecticut requires these scores for teaching certification.
- Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Completed dispositions interview form
Please see the Catalog for grade requirements for preprofessional and professional level courses.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Financial aid and tuition assistance are available to those who qualify. To get started with the financial aid process, please fill out the Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov using the University of Hartford school code 001422.
In addition to the University's financial aid, Montessori-specific scholarships are available through the generosity of the James Walton Montessori Scholarship Fund. To be considered for the Walton Montessori scholarship, please complete these three items:
- A personal essay: Your essay may be of any length, but should include relevant personal and/or professional background information and experiences that have prepared you for participation in the Montessori program. These experiences might include a story about learning, a class you took, your own experience with Montessori or the experience of someone you know.
- References: Please provide the name, email and phone numbers of three references. We will contact them; they do not need to write recommendations.
- Interview: You will complete a scheduled interview with a program staff or faculty member.
For more information about these scholarships, contact Paige M. Bray, director of Montessori studies, at bray@hartford.edu.
Admission and Financial Aid
Applications for admission to the freshman class at the University of Hartford are considered on a "rolling basis" beginning in late September. The deadline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for financial aid consideration is February 15.
If you are an international student, please contact our International Admission office to learn about any additional requirements that may affect you.
- For the most up-to-date tuition costs at the University of Hartford, visit our Tuition and Fees page.
- Housing and meal plans are available, though the costs are separate from tuition. Visit the Tuition and Fees page to learn more.
- Your AMI training is included in the cost of tuition.
- Books, materials, and student expenses are additional.
Yes! Financial aid and tuition assistance is available to those who qualify. If you would like to get started with the financial aid process, please fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov using the University of Hartford school code 001422.
In addition, Montessori-specific scholarships are available through the generosity of the James Walton Montessori Scholarship Fund. For more information about these scholarships, contact Paige M. Bray, Director of Montessori Studies, at:
No, your Montessori AMI training is included in the cost of tuition.
Curriculum
The Bachelor of Science program is a minimum of 138 credits:
- Includes 30 credits of AMI training
- Additional coursework in Montessori studies that supports the AMI training
- Designed to be completed in four years
- Observation and practice teaching components
Successful completion results in:
- BS in Early Childhood or Elementary Education with Montessori Studies
- AMI Diploma – Primary (ages 3-6) or Elementary (ages 6-12)
- CT State Teaching Certificate – Early Childhood #113 or Elementary #305
For students starting a bachelor's degree, the program is designed to be completed in four years.
Yes. When you successfully complete this program, you will have a bachelor’s degree with Montessori education concentration, an AMI Diploma (Primary or Elementary), and one of the following depending on your program: CT State Teaching Certificate Early Childhood, Elementary, or Montessori Endorsement.
No, they cannot be transferred to another university.
No. This program is designed for those who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree. If you already have a bachelor's degree, you can take the AMI training as a stand-alone or combine the training with a University of Hartford Master of Education degree. To learn more, visit our Master of Education with Montessori Concentration page.
- Attend an information session – in person or on a webinar. Check here for more details.
- Complete the inquiry form here
- Email medmtcne@hartford.edu
Yes. Students accepted into the program are eligible for University housing.
Additional Information
Montessori Early Childhood Education
Montessori Content Knowledge (Disciplinary) Demonstrates knowledge of Montessori human development and educational theory.
Montessori Professional Application of Knowledge, Skills and Ethical Practice Communicates the guiding tenants and best practices of Montessori education.
Montessori Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners Demonstrates inclusive Montessori practices.
EC Content Knowledge (Disciplinary) Candidates will use specific content knowledge to differentiate teaching and demonstrate specific knowledge of child development.
EC Professional Application of Knowledge, Skills and Ethical Practice Candidates will demonstrate the ability to apply core knowledge of the field in their teaching practice (e.g., content, pedagogy, dispositions, collaboration).
EC Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners Candidates will consider critical factors of diversity (e.g.. student abilities, interests, learning environments, and cultural and linguistic factors) to assess and advance learning.
Montessori Elementary Education
Elementary Efficacy and Professionalism in clinical settings Effective Candidates in Elementary Education will gain firsthand experience observing/working in classrooms and will demonstrate efficacy and professionalism as educators in clinical field experience settings (student teaching).
Elementary Lesson Planning Effective candidates in Elementary Education will learn how to plan a standard-based sequence of instruction and assessment using national and state standards.
Elementary Candidate effect on Student learning Successful candidates in Elementary Education will learn to plan effective instruction based on state standards using pre and post assessment data and will be able to reflect on their instruction and student learning outcomes as reflected in the pre and post assessment data.
Montessori Content Knowledge (Disciplinary) Demonstrates knowledge of Montessori human development and educational theory.
Montessori Professional Application of Knowledge, Skills and Ethical Practice Communicates the guiding tenants and best practices of Montessori education.
Montessori Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners Demonstrates inclusive Montessori practices
Paige M. Bray
Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education
Director of Montessori Studies
Department of Education
860.768.4553
medmtcne@hartford.edu
Center for Montessori Studies
Accreditation and State of Connecticut Certification
Certification programs in the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions are accredited based on the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) through the CAEP Accreditation System (CAEP), as well as the State of Connecticut Department of Education. The Educational Testing Service's Praxis II exam is utilized for certification of teachers in Connecticut. See Pass rate.
Professional Licensing Disclosure
Visit Out-of-State Educators to see the Connecticut State Department of Education reciprocity agreement. The NASDTEC website details the interstate reciprocity agreement across states.