Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)

Make a life-long difference to children and their futures.

The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care strengthens a child’s learning for life. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight years) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including childcare, kindergarten and primary school, with a focus on Prep to Year 3.

Offered at Caboolture Semester 1, 2018 subject to final approval

Study location
  • Sippy Downs
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
077419C
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2 †
Program length (full-time)
4 years
Semester tuition fee 2017
A$11,200
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$89,600
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
  • † Semester 2 intake not available at Gympie or Caboolture.
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 017401
  • Caboolture 018611
  • Gympie † 012811
Refer to the program footnotes
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 16 Rank - 65
UniSC program code
ED303
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2 †
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
on campus
Prerequisites
English (4,SA), Maths (4,SA) and Science (4,SA)
Recommended prior study
A history subject
Other requirements
Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attain an IELTS score of at least 7.5 with a minimum of 8.0 in speaking and listening and 7.0 in all other subtests. Refer to English language requirements.
Fee type 2017
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
32
Total units
384
Footnotes
  • † Semester 2 intake not available at Gympie or Caboolture.

The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care strengthens a child’s learning for life. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight years) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including childcare, kindergarten and primary school, with a focus on Prep to Year 3.

You’ll learn about the importance of wellbeing, play and inspirational environments in early learning. Benefit from Supervised Professional Experiences in a range of early childhood settings - linking knowledge and practice. You’ll also gain valuable and rewarding Wider Field Experience where you engage with community projects and work with children, families and communities.

Our program has been developed in partnership with leading educational bodies, and as you graduate you’ll be eligible to register with the Queensland College of Teachers.

Admission requirements

Applicants must write a 1000-word written statement that describes their non-academic capabilities. Effective teachers possess both academic and non-academic capabilities. Research has shown that the best teachers are those who have academic capability, literacy and numeracy skills and personal characteristics (non-academic capabilities). Non-academic capabilities include motivation to teach, self-efficacy, willingness to learn, conscientiousness, engagement with learning, resilience, interpersonal and communication skills, organisational and planning skills, and written communication skills. Research has also shown that a personal written statement describing self-assessment of non-academic capabilities is a suitable means for assessing non-academic capabilities for teaching.

Entry to this program requires applicants to meet academic and non-academic criteria.

Full details of entry to this program are on the QTAC website

Post-admission requirements

Students must complete 95 days of Supervised Professional Experience, 20 days of an internship and 75 hours of Wider Field Experience. Students must obtain a Blue Card (or link their existing Blue Card to USC) prior to commencing SPE. Blue Card applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the SPE start date. View the Blue Card Fact Sheet for further information. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when applying through the School of Education at USC.

Students will also need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students. For more information on this Government initiative please visit the Students First website. Further information on the test, including sample test questions and registration information, please visit the Australian Council of Educational Research website.

Career opportunities

Early Childhood teacher, primary school teacher, Manager of Early Childhood centre, private practice tutor, education consultant, community education centre leader, College/University lecturer, zoo education officer, education exhibition organiser, Education Policy Analyst, children’s television presenter, youth support worker, teacher of English overseas, children’s advocate leader.

Membership

Early Childhood Australia.

Registration

Queensland College of Teachers.

Program structure

Introductory courses (8)

COR109 Communication and Thought
EDU101 Human Development and Learning
EDU103 Integrating ICTs into Learning
EDU104 Foundations of Literacy and Numeracy
EDU109 Professional Experience: Play and Pedagogy in Early Learning
EDU110 Engagement and Behaviour in Early Learning
EDU112 Professional Experience: Communities and Partnerships
EDU115 Creative Expression and Play through the Arts and Technology

Advanced courses (24)

EDU206 Sustainability Through Play and Pedagogy
EDU208 Professional Experience: Learning Theories in Early Learning
EDU209 Teaching Mathematics in the Early Years
EDU212 Science Teaching in the Early Years
EDU213 Teaching English: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDU214 Teaching Arts in the Early Years
EDU216 Teaching HPE in the Early Years
EDU217 Professional Experience: Evidence Based Decision Making in Early Learning
EDU218 Inclusive Practices and Intervention in Early Education
EDU308 Professional Experience: Responding to Individual Learner Needs
EDU309 Teaching Science in Primary Schools
EDU318 Professional Practice: The Inquiring Teacher
EDU300 Assessing Learning
EDU331 Transitions in Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDU332 Investigating the World Around Us
EDU339 Professional Experience: Curriculum Approaches and Pedagogies
EDU340 Teaching Reading and Writing
EDU344 Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood
EDU400 Teaching Primary School Mathematics
EDU408 Professional Experience: Teacher Identity and Professional Practice
EDU409 Internship
EDU410 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
EDU415 Teacher as Researcher
SCS203 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Courses offered at Caboolture are yet to be confirmed

Total units: 384

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
  • Complete a minimum of 80 days of Supervised Professional Experience, plus 15 days in a childcare setting and 20 days of an internship, with the majority completed as full-time blocks
  • Complete 5 days (25 hours) of Wider Field Experience
  • Successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students. For more information on this Government initiative please visit the Students First website. Further information on the test, including sample test questions and registration information, please visit the Australian Council of Educational Research website.
To commence supervised professional experience (SPE) you must:
  •  Obtain a Blue Card (or link your existing Blue Card to USC) prior to commencing supervised professional experience. Applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the SPE start date. View the Blue Card Fact Sheet for further information
  • Complete PrePlace and a Student Placement Agreement (further information will be provided by the placement office upon enrolment)
  • Be willing to travel to attend supervised professional experience placements
  • Visit Education - Supervised Professional Experience (SPE) for more information regarding requirements for placements
Program notes
  • Cross-institutional study is not permitted for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
  • The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to Early Childhood students
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
  • Refer to the 'Planning your study' page to manage your progression
  • Courses offered at Caboolture are yet to be confirmed