Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
Course Overview
The importance of access to early childhood education and its long-term benefits is well recognised. In the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, you will study the significance of the learning and development that occurs between birth and starting school for every child. As graduate early childhood teachers, you will have an understanding of educational theory and contemporary approaches to empower you to design and deliver curriculum that enhances each child’s learning dispositions and cognitive, social, emotional and physical development skills.
During your four-year degree, you will develop skills in play pedagogy to teach literacy, maths, science, technology, engineering, arts, music, dance, drama, multimodal media, and STEM to young children. This will be balanced with safety, health and wellbeing; documentation, planning and assessment; sustainable practices; working with families and communities; diversity and inclusion practices; advocacy and research; pedagogical and educational leadership; and service provision and management.
The course is recognised by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an approved early childhood qualification for Early Childhood Teachers under the National Quality Framework. Graduates may be eligible for teacher accreditation recognition via their relevant state regulatory authority.
Course Structure
Students are required to successfully complete the following 32 subjects (192 credit points) to be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Early Childhood Education:
Year One:
- Professional Practice
- Exploring Play & Documentation
- Holistic Child Development
- Diversity & Equity
- Safety, Health & Wellbeing
- Development, Assessment & Planning
- Exploring Creativity
- Professional Experience 1
Year Two:
- Theoretical Perspectives & Pedagogy
- Understanding & Supporting Exceptionality
- Understanding & Guiding Behaviour
- Working with Families & Communities
- Sustainability Perspectives
- Development, Assessment & Planning
- Curriculum Approaches & Teaching Strategies
- Professional Experience 2
Year Three:
- Language & Literacy in the Early Years
- Mathematics in the Early Years
- Digital Technology & Media in the Early Years
- Teaching Curriculum: Literacy & Numeracy
- Teaching Curriculum: Science and Engineering
- Teaching Curriculum: Music, Dance & Drama
- Teaching Curriculum: Art
- Professional Experience 3
Year Four:
- Inclusive Perspectives in Early Childhood Education
- Contemporary Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
- Indigenous Perspectives in Early Childhood Education
- Advocacy & Social Justice in Early Childhood Education
- Educational Leadership
- Leadership & Service Management
- Researching in Early Childhood Education
- Professional Experience 4 (Capstone Subject)
Entry Requirement
| Admission Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Academic Entry Requirements | Students must satisfy one of the following: Applicants with Recent Senior Secondary Education (within the past two years) must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12). For guaranteed entry applicants must have achieved an ATAR of 65 (or equivalent). Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study must have completed a vocational qualification at Diploma level or higher. Applicants with Work/Life experience who left senior secondary education more than two years prior to their application, and have not undertaken VET or HE study since, may gain entry based on professional or work experience and/or any non- formal courses undertaken in preparation for tertiary study or that are relevant to the subject area. |
| Language Requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS Score (Minimum) | International applicants must have an English Language Proficiency Score of IELTS 6.5 (Academic) with Speaking no less than 6.5; Listening, Writing and Reading no less than 6.0, or equivalent. |
Career Opportunities
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education prepares graduates for an exciting career as an early childhood teacher with the skills to educate children from birth to five years across a variety of early childhood settings, and in professional and community roles within the sector. Graduates wishing to advance their learning in early childhood education may be eligible for postgraduate studies.
Internship or Work Placements
As part of the degree, you will actively engage in 80 days of professional experience across four discrete placements to develop your teaching practice with young children. The final 30-day placement will give you the opportunity to consolidate your pedagogical and leadership practice, and the confidence and practical experience to enter the sector as a graduate early childhood teacher.