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
- 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.
- † 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 Introductory Counselling Skills
EDU101 Foundations of Human Behaviour
EDU103 Introduction to Social Work and Human Services
EDU104 Group Processes and Practice
EDU109 Australian Society: How does(n't) it work? - An Introduction to Sociology
EDU110 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
EDU112 Introduction to Social Work Practice Theories
EDU115 Organisations: Communication Skills for Practice
Advanced courses (24)
EDU206 Ethics, Law and the Helping Professions
EDU208 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
EDU209 Working With Children, Youth and Families
EDU212 Transition to Social Work Practice
EDU213 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
EDU214 Mental and Physical Health and Wellbeing
EDU216 Community Development and Social Action
EDU217 Social Work Field Education 1
EDU218 Social Research
EDU308 Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
EDU309 Working with Victims and Offenders
EDU318 Direct Practice Processes
EDU300 Critical Social Policy Analysis
EDU331 Social Work Field Education 2
EDU332 Context Responsive Social Work Practice
EDU339 Communication and Thought
EDU340 Human Development and Learning
EDU344 Integrating ICTs into Learning
EDU400 Foundations of Literacy and Numeracy
EDU408 Professional Experience: Play and Pedagogy in Early Learning
EDU409 Engagement and Behaviour in Early Learning
EDU410 Professional Experience: Communities and Partnerships
EDU415 Creative Expression and Play through the Arts and Technology
SCS203 Sustainability Through Play and Pedagogy
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
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- Transitional Study Plan 1 (Semester 1, 2015 commencement)
- Transitional Study Plan 2 (Semester 1, 2014 commencement)
- Transitional Study Plan 3 (Semester 1, 2013 commencement)
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