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 extends children’s sense of agency, learning and active citizenship. 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.
- 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.
- † Semester 2 intake not available at Gympie.
The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care extends children’s sense of agency, learning and active citizenship. 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 supportive environments in early learning. Benefit from Supervised Professional Experiences in a range of early childhood settings that link knowledge and practice. You’ll also gain valuable and rewarding Wider Field Experiences where you engage with community projects and work with children, families and communities.
Our program has been developed in partnership with leading educational bodies. As a graduate, you are eligible to register with the Queensland College of Teachers.
Personal statement requirement
As part of your application, you will need to write a 1000-word personal statement on why you think you would make a great teacher, and why influencing the future appeals to you.
After you have submitted an application for this program, you will be contacted with further information about the written statement and how to complete your application.
More information is 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 Accounting for Business
EDU101 Introduction to Informatics
EDU103 Business Law and Ethics
EDU104 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
EDU109 Consumer Behaviour
EDU110 Services Marketing
EDU112 Marketing Communication
EDU115 Marketing of Social Causes
Advanced courses (24)
EDU206 Brand Management
EDU208 Contemporary and Emerging Marketing Perspectives
EDU209 International Marketing
EDU212 Food Marketing
EDU213 Sport and Event Marketing
EDU214 Communication and Thought
EDU216 Human Development and Learning
EDU217 Integrating ICT into Learning
EDU218 Foundations of Literacy and Numeracy
EDU300 Professional Experience: Play and Pedagogy in Early Learning
EDU308 Engagement and Behaviour in Early Learning
EDU309 Professional Experience: Communities and Partnerships
EDU316 Creative Expression and Play through the Arts
EDU339 Sustainability Through Play and Pedagogy
EDU340 Professional Experience: Learning Theories in Early Learning
EDU344 Teaching Mathematics in the Early Years
EDU361 Teaching Science in the Early Years
EDU400 Teaching English: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDU408 Teaching Arts in the Early Years
EDU409 Teaching HPE in the Early Years
EDU410 Professional Experience: Evidence Based Decision Making in Early Learning
EDU415 Inclusive Practices and Intervention in Early Learning
EDU421 Assessing Learning
SCS203 Professional Experience: Differentiated Practice
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
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)
- (Caboolture) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Caboolture) Semester 2 commencement (July)
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) and following the recommended study sequence
- 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