Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
Course code/s: Bendigo (EBECE)
The course prepares students for employment as pre-school teachers, Primary school teachers and childcare professionals. Students may undertake specialist studies that will enable them to teach to year 6 in primary schools or they may undertake specialist studies in Special Education and Early Intervention focusing on children 0-8 years. The course consists of core professional studies in Early Childhood Education and key curriculum areas including 100 days practical experience in pre-school settings, childcare centres, primary schools and special education settings (according to area of specialisation). Students gain teaching experience in each of the four years.
Professional recognition
The course is accredited with Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). Graduates from the course are eligible to apply for registration with VIT.
Upon course completion each student's academic record is released to VIT for teacher registration purposes. Students who do not want their academic record released to VIT must notify their Course Administrator in writing or email before the end of teaching in their last subject.
Admissions requirements
Applicants must satisfy normal university entry, including a study score of at least 25 in Units 3 and 4 of English and have two Units of Mathematical Methods or General Mathematics. Special entry provision for NONYR12 is available.
Applicants with a Diploma of Children‘s Services gain accelerated entry to a reduced program.
Working with children check
The Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development require a satisfactory criminal record check for all teacher education students undertaking practicum requirements in Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development schools. It is expected that equivalent requirements will exist for all other Victorian schools. Prior to commencing the course, students will be required to complete a ‘Working with Children Check’ form available at Australia Post offices. Students must provide a certified copy of their valid ‘Working with Children’ card prior to undertaking teaching placements. Confirmation of a criminal record may jeopardise a student’s ability to gain access to a suitable, or any, practicum placement(s) and may therefore delay or prevent completion of the course.
Course structure
The course is a four-year full-time program. It consists of 480 credit points of study. All subjects are 15 credit points except where indicated.
First year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Language and Literacy | EDU1LL |
| TE-SEM-1 | ICT for Education | EDU1ICT |
| TE-SEM-1 | Concepts of Wellbeing | EDU1CW |
| TE-SEM-1 | Introduction to Teaching Practice | EDU1ITP |
| TE-SEM-2 | Working Mathematically | EDU1WM |
| TE-SEM-2 | Concepts of Communities | EDU1CC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Childhood in Contemporary Times | EDU1CCT |
| TE-SEM-2 | Introduction to Learning Theories | EDU1ILT |
Second year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Child development - Baby to Toddler | EDU2CD |
| TE-SEM-1 | Sing, Play and Explore | EDU2SPE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Health, Nutrition for Children | EDU2HNW |
| TE-SEM-1 | Early Learning Environments | EDU2ELE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Language, Literacies and Communication | EDU2LLC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Designing Early Childhood Curriculum | EDU2DEC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Making Sense of Their World | EDU2MSW |
| TE-SEM-2 | Connections and Transitions | EDU2CT |
Third year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | Connections Through Expression | EDU3CTE |
| TE-SEM-1 | Primary Curriculum Investigations | EDU3PCI |
| TE-SEM-1 | Learning Difficulties and Disabilities | EDU3LDD |
| TE-SEM-1 | Teaching in Primary Schools | EDU3TIP |
| TE-SEM-2 | Communications for Inclusive Contexts | EDU3CIC |
| TE-SEM-2 | Assessment and Reporting in Early Childhood Education | EDU3ARE |
| TE-SEM-2 | Indigenous Education | EDU3IED |
| TE-SEM-2 | Early Inclusion | EDU3EI |
Fourth year
| Teaching period | Subject name | Subject code |
|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | The Professional Work of Teachers | EDU4PWT |
| TE-SEM-1 | Learning Journey Portfolio | EDU4LJP |
| TE-SEM-1 | Focus elective | |
| TE-SEM-1 | Focus elective | |
| TE-SEM-2 | Early Childhood Action Research (30 credit points) | EDU4ECR |
| TE-SEM-2 | Work-based Learning | EDU4WBL |
| TE-SEM-2 | Leadership and Management | EDU4LAM |