 |
Educational Foundations
Certificate Advisor: Maughn Gregory
Office: University Hall, Room 2155
Phone: (973) 655-7049
Email: gregorym@mail.montclair.edu
Overview
The Philosophy for Children Certificate Program
focuses on cultivating dialogue, inquiry and good judgment in children and adolescents.
The Certificate program is designed especially for teachers who are interested in helping
young people become better thinkers. This program of study invites candidates to construct
a community of inquiry focusing on key issues relating to democratic pedagogy, curriculum,
and cognitive, affective, social and ethical development. It will also assist teachers in transforming their own classrooms into communities of inquiry.
Such a transformation represents a new paradigm in teaching and learning one which builds upon, but goes beyond those traditionally on offer. |
|
|
The Certificate Program in Philosophy for Children offers 15 credits and also provides New Jersey teachers a total of 225 hours of professional development applicable to the State requirement. The Certificate program is tailored to fit the professional interests and schedules of practicing teachers. Candidates are asked to select from a range of graduate courses - but only one per semester, on average- covering such key areas as critical thinking, personal and social development, reasoning in science, math and language arts, and values education. Additionally, candidates will take two new courses, over two semesters designed to introduce teachers to the theory and practice of teaching philosophy in the classroom, improving the quality of thinking, and building communities of inquiry. These courses will be held after regular school hours at one or more schools of participating teachers, so that participants can receive consultation from Faculty regarding their practice of
Philosophy for Children in their own classrooms, and work together in small groups, reflecting on actual classroom practice.
Montclair State University has been the international home of Philosophy for Children since the inauguration of the Institute for the Advancement of Philosophy for Children (IAPC) thirty years ago. IAPC faculty members have international reputations in philosophy for children and the teaching of thinking, and are at the forefront of teaching and research in these areas. Since 1974, students and scholars from all over the world have made their way to Montclair to study together, under the guidance and direction of this outstanding faculty. The courses offered as part of the Certificate program will encapsulate professional development at its best, blending together outstanding pedagogy and practice with the opportunity to think about some of education's most interesting and pressing issues, all in an environment of friendly, stimulating collegiality. School districts in and around Montclair have express significant interest in our work, rightly perceiving that it addresses key aspects of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards. They have offered to provide support to teachers and schools interested in participating in the Certificate program.
Admission Requirements:
Applicants to the Certificate Program in Philosophy for Children are required to be certified teachers with at least one year of experience. They should also have a B.A. degree.
Requirements for the Philosophy for Children Certificate Program
Students will be required to pass the courses with a grade point average of at east 3.00 and with no more than two course grades below a B-minus.
| PHLC 501 |
Teaching Children Philosophical Thinking I |
3 |
| PHLC 502 |
Teaching Children Philosophical Thinking II |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
Summer (two week, off-campus residential session):
|
| PHLC 508 |
Teaching Philosophical Reasoning I |
2 |
| PHLC 509 |
Teaching Philosophical Reasoning II |
2 |
|
Fall/Spring
|
| PHLC 511 |
Teaching Philosophical Reasoning III |
3 |
| PHLC 512 |
Value Inquiry |
3 |
| PHLC 513 |
Social Inquiry |
3 |
| EDFD 522 |
Pragmatism in Education |
3 |
| EDFD 581 |
Critical Thinking, Community and Self |
3 |
|
Summer (two week, off-campus residential session)
|
| PHLC 614 |
Scientific Reasoning |
2 |
| PHLC 615 |
Foundations of Philosophy for Children |
2 |
|
Total semester hours: 15
|
|
|
|
