The accredited Graduate Diploma in Education (Montessori) is a 12 unit, or 26 point course that offers students a structured group of units of study and upon satisfactory completion, qualification as a teacher. Students choose a minor in one of the following age groups:

0-3 years Birth to Three
3-6 years Early Childhood
6-9 years Lower Primary
9-12 years Upper Primary

The course is offered primarily on an external study basis but cannot be completed fully externally. Attendance at least seven, face-to-face short-term workshop sessions is required to complete the qualification. These are in support of specific curriculum units and in conjunction with each, is a week of school experience. Two of these weeks are in a mainstrean classroom. In addition, a six-week school experience practicum is undertaken at the completion of all other units; a total of twelve weeks altogether. A theory and practical exam must also be taken.

The course will cover:

Educational and Montessori theory and philosophy (2 units)
Child development and teaching (3 units)
Study of curriculum practice, especially Montessori Curriculum (6 units)
Supervised teaching practice in Montessori classrooms (1 unit)

Approximate study times for the various aspects of the Graduate Diploma course are:

Theory and Practice Units 600 hrs.
Curriculum workshops and assignments 300 hrs.
Practice teaching 360 hrs. (equivalent to 60 days or 12 weeks)

TOTAL - 1260 hrs nominal

The information below indicates the sequence that units generally should be undertaken and the units that can be studied concurrently. However, some flexibility may be necessary in order to take advantage of the workshops being offered each semester.

Concurrent Units
Unit ME501 Montessori Historical & Theoretical Underpinning’s
Unit ME502 Montessori & Best Practice Today
Unit ME503 Montessori and Child Development
Unit ME506 Foundations of Development

Concurrent Units
Unit ME504 Classroom & Behaviour Management
Unit ME505 Role of the Teacher and the Family
Unit ME50 Math I
Unit ME508 Language I

Concurrent Units
Unit ME509 Extended Curriculum
Unit ME510 Society/Environment & the Sciences
Unit ME511 Arts, Physical Education, Health & Technology

Final Six-Week Practice
Unit ME512 Supervised practice teaching in schools

Entry Requirements

Applicants who have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution may apply for a place in the Graduate Diploma in Education (Montessori). Application may be made prior to the completion of the first-degree course.

Where applicable, MWEI would consider Recognition of Prior Learning, Mutual Recognition, Current Competencies, Credit Transfers, and Articulation with universities or other higher education institutions.