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

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Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Make a positive and 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 set up a child’s learning for life. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including primary school (Prep to Year 3), kindergartens and childcare.

CRICOS code
077419C
Commence
Semester 1 only
Program length (full-time)
4 years
Semester tuition fee 2015
A$9,500
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$76,000
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.
  • € From 2016 it will be a requirement to have Maths (4, SA), Science (4,SA) and English (4, SA)
Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 017401
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 16 Rank - 64
UniSC program code
ED303
Commence
Semester 1 only
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Prerequisites
English (4,SA) €
Recommended prior study
Maths A, B or C; a science subject; 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. Entry requirements subject to change in 2016.
Fee type 2015
  • What will I pay?
Total units
384
Footnotes
  • € From 2016 it will be a requirement to have Maths (4, SA), Science (4,SA) and English (4, SA)

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

You’ll learn about the importance of wellbeing, play and environments in early learning. Benefit from supervised professional experiences in a range of early childhood settings that link theory 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.

Post-admission requirements

Students must complete 129 days of Supervised Professional Experience and 20 hours of Wider Field Experience. Students must undergo a Working with Children Check and obtain a Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PBSA) prior to commencing supervised professional experience.

Career opportunities

Early childhood teaching or leadership roles in long day care centres, kindergarten and primary school settings (from Prep to Year 3), integrated community services, government.

Membership

Early Childhood Australia.

Registration

Queensland College of Teachers.

Program structure

For students commencing Semester 1, 2015. All other students please refer to previous handbooks.

Introductory required courses

9 required courses:

COR109 Science Research Methods
EDU100 Discovering Science
EDU104 Introduction to Mathematics
EDU107 Communication and Thought
EDU108 Becoming a Teacher
EDU109 Foundation of English and Mathematics
EDU110 Science Teaching in the Early Years
EDU111 The First Three Years of Life and Learning
EDU112 Professional Experience 1: A Holistic Approach to Learning

Advanced required courses

21 required courses: 

EDU201 Early Learning Environments and Curriculum
EDU203 Documenting Children's Learning
EDU206 Professional Learning 2: Early Learning Experiences
EDU207 Language and Literacies in Education
EDU208 Valuing Children's Play and Inquiry
EDU305 Early Childhood Education for Sustainability
EDU309 Guiding and Supporting Children
EDU316 Professional Experience 3: Building on Early Learning
EDU331 Human Development and Early Learning
EDU332 Teaching Science in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools
EDU333 Teaching History and Geography in Primary and Junior Secondary School
EDU334 Transition to School: Early Learning Environments and Curriculum
EDU335 Investigating the World Around Us
EDU336 Teaching HPE in the Early Years
EDU340 Policy and Practice in Early Education
EDU341 Self Expression and Communicating Through the Arts
EDU343 Professional Learning 4: Continuity of Early Learning Experience
EDU344 Teaching Reading and Writing
EDU407 Teaching Mathematics
EDU408 Inclusive Practices in Early Education
EDU409 Leading in Early Childhood Contexts

Elective courses

Select 2 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering). It is strongly recommended that students select electives that develop a specific curriculum area.

Requirements for placements

As required by the Queensland Family and Child Commission Act (2014), preservice teachers must undergo a Working with Children Check and be issued with a Blue Card by the Public Safety Business Agency to allow them to undertake supervised professional experience in a school or centre where children under 18 years of age are present. It is now a requirement of all Queensland sites and most Australian sites that preservice teachers have obtained the Blue Card prior commencing supervised professional experience.

To avoid processing delays, you are encouraged to apply for a Blue Card as soon as you have accepted your offer. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when you apply through USC’s Professional Learning office (Level 1, H Building).

Note: If you do not possess a current Blue Card, you will be unable to complete the professional experience component of your program and you will be unable to meet graduation requirements.

Visit the Public Safety Business Agency website for information on Blue Cards and how to apply.

Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

 

In order to graduate you must:

 

  • Complete 32 courses including 30 required courses and 2 elective courses.
  • Complete no more than 12 introductory level courses, including core courses.
  • Complete a minimum of 129 days of Supervised Professional Experience, with the majority completed as full-time blocks. One major Supervised Professional Experience must be completed in an Australian school.
  • Complete 20 hours of Wider Field Experience.
  • A Blue Card is required, refer to Requirements for placements.

 

Program notes

 

  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
  • Electives may be used to increase curriculum knowledge in Key Learning Areas.
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
  • Graduates from the Diploma in Children’s Services will be able to enter into the second year of the program via a negotiated credit transfer pathway. 96 units of credit will be awarded.
  • The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to Early Childhood students.
  • Only a fulltime study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
  • When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan.