Philosophy for Children Certificate ProgramChairperson Mr. Maughn Gregory For 2500 years, philosophy has been the exclusive province of a handful of adults with the time and the motivation to think about ideas that mattered to them. Until very recently, young people had been excluded from this process, mainly because philosophy was thought to be too difficult a subject for children to study. Yet we know that children, from a young age, are fascinated and puzzled by the same kinds of ideas that interested Plato and Socrates - ideas such as truth, goodness, fairness, beauty, real, the mind, and so on. Furthermore, it has long been known that children's reasoning and moral judgment need to be strengthened. The introduction of philosophy in the elementary school was the response that the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children (IAPC) offered to meet such a need. Since its inception in 1974, the IAPC has pioneered the development of curriculum materials and pedagogical methods that engage young people in reasoning and judgment through the practice of philosophy. Today, Philosophy for Children is the outstanding curriculum for grade school philosophy in over fifty countries worldwide. To learn more about Philosophy for Children, go to the IAPC
website Program DescriptionThe Graduate Certificate in Philosophy for Children is a post-baccalaureate
program that provides teachers with a substantive introduction
to the theory, the pedagogy and the curriculum of Philosophy for
Children (P4C). The Certificate Program is designed to help teachers
cultivate the philosophical dispositions of thinking critically,
recognizing philosophical concepts, and of engaging with others
in communities of inquiry. These dispositions will enable teachers
to model multi-dimensional thinking for their students, to find
opportunities to engage their students in philosophical dialogue,
and to engage their fellow-teachers and school administrators
in critical dialogue toward meaningful change. REQUIREMENTSAdmission Requirements Applicants to this program are required to be certified teachers with a least one year of experience. Candidates should enjoy working with ideas, and empathize with children's needs and interests. They should have a B.A. degree with a major in any of the liberal arts. The Philosophy for Children certificate program utilizes the same application forms and options as the other Graduate School programs. Go to Getting Applications to review these options. You can apply on line (the quickest option) or download application forms from there. There are no formal application deadlines, but credentials are processed as soon as they are received, and the Office of Graduate Admissions & Support Services recommends that you submit them as early as possible to ensure that they will receive a timely notice of their admission decision. The Coursework The curriculum includes five graduate-level courses in Philosophy
for Children (15 semester hours).
The coursework can be completed by a full-time teacher in one
calendar year. In any case, certificate candidates will be required
to complete the course work within four consecutive academic semesters,
not including summer sessions. Link to Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children (IAPC) website. ADMISSIONAll candidates must meet the basic admissions requirements for graduate study at Montclair State. The completion of a major from an accredited college or university is preferred. Candidates with degrees in closely related areas will be considered, although prematriculation coursework may be required. DEADLINESCredentials are processed as soon as they are received. This program does not have a specific deadline; however, the Office of Graduate Admissions & Support Services recommends that students submit their credentials as far in advance as possible for the semester they plan to begin their studies to ensure a timely review of their application. TO APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT http://www.montclair.edu/graduate/prospective/app.shtml |
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