Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

Future Students Australian courses Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

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The early years of life are a time of rapid brain development as the foundations of learning and development are laid. High quality early childhood education makes a difference to the lives of young children during their prior-to-school years and the early years of schooling. As an ECE student you will focus on the education and care of children aged from birth to eight and throughout the primary school years, learning about development, behaviour and wellbeing.

Campus

Townsville, External, Cairns, Singapore

Available to Australian students for inter-campus study in Singapore.

Start dates

February, July

Duration

4 years full-time
Part time available

Study mode

On campus, Off campus

Prerequisites

At least ‘Sound Achievement’ in English, Mathematics A, B or C, plus an authority Science subject.

OP/Rank

14/69

Career opportunities

As a JCU Education graduate, you will have the skills and qualifications to seek employment across Australia and beyond.

Early Childhood Education is a specialised field of education that leads to work in schools, preschools, kindergartens and childcare centres. A typical day is active and rewarding, involves indoor and outdoor work, and may require after-school hours. Career opportunities have been increasing since national regulations came into effect in 2014. The Australian Government’s statistical service reports that employment for Early Childhood teachers is expected to continue its growth.

This course is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership(AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates of this course are eligible for Teacher registration in Australia.

The Bachelor of Education (ECE) is also fully accredited with ACECQA, which is the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

Course highlights

Gaining professional experience is an integral part of the Early Childhood Education at JCU, and commences in your first year of study.

Overall you will experience 100 days of workplace learning in a range of early childhood (prior to school) and school locations. We draw on our strong partnerships in a variety of educational settings to organise suitable placements for you in a variety of venues.

Upon completion of the degree, you will have gained a rich variety of professional experience that includes both prior to school and school settings.

JCU’s courses are designed to meet the demand for teachers in regional, rural, and remote areas.

All students are required to attend a compulsory 5-day on-campus intensive Professional Orientation Program at either the Cairns or Townsville campuses in their final year of study. This intensive program prepares you for your transition to teaching.

Course overview

Early Childhood Education (ECE) study areas include: child development, learning, behaviour, wellbeing, curriculum and pedagogy for the diversity of learners and learning needs within the early years.

You will develop specialist skills needed for teaching in rural and remote areas and you will be at the forefront of education for sustainability. Our program also focuses on ensuring you have the skills to help improve Indigenous education outcomes.

JCU’s ECE course allows you to complete your degree via external study (online) or through a mix of studying online and on campus. Please see the Handbook for further details. Please note that some subjects are only available online in this course. Mid-year entry is also available.

If you already hold a Certificate III or Diploma in Children's Services, you can receive credit for these qualifications - this may shorten the time it takes to complete your teaching degree.

All students must meet minimum literacy standards upon entry and upon completion as required by the Queensland College of Teachers.

Blue card

All students who are doing a teaching practicum within Queensland are required by law to hold a valid Blue Card, issued by the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA). Students need to apply for their Blue Card as soon as they have accepted their offer in order to ensure sufficient time for processing before their first practicum placement.

How to apply

Check the QTAC information and apply by clicking on the relevant link below depending on where you wish to study.

Take note of the QTAC code for this course in the location you've chosen because you'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.

Townsville (313311) - Apply now
Cairns (323311) - Apply now
External (313319) - Apply now

OP Score/Rank is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.

All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.

English language requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:

An overall score of 7.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with no sub-score less than 8 for Speaking and Listening and no sub-score less than 7 for Reading and Writing.

If you do not meet the English language requirements you can apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Our campuses in Singapore and Brisbane operate on a trimester system – three semesters per year. View academic calendars.

Pathway into course

On successful completion of the Diploma of Higher Education you may be eligible to continue into an Education degree, and you may be able to receive some credit for successfully completed subjects.

Handbook

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

Handbook year	2019
Course code	109210
Course type	Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7)
Professional accreditation status	This course is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates of this course are eligible for Teacher registration in Australia. This course is also nationally accredited through the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Graduates are eligible for employment in the early childhood area (0-8 years) as an educator or service provider. In Queensland the Regulatory Authority is the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care, Department of Education, Training and Employment.
Division	Tropical Environments and Societies

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	English, Mathematics A or B or C and Authority Science
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of an overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with sub-scores no less than 7.0 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 6.0 in Reading and Writing. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. English test results must be no more than two years old at the commencement of the course. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website.
Additional selection requirements	All applicants for initial teacher education courses must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria. Applicants’ non-academic capabilities will be assessed by way of an instrument applied by QTAC and developed in consultation with the Australian Council of Deans of Education. All students must meet minimum literacy and numeracy standards upon entry and completion as required by the Queensland College of Teachers.
Post admission requirements	Professional practice: This course includes prescribed professional placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. Further information about placements can be found at Enrolment Policy – Coursework Students Suitability to Work with Children Card (blue card): This course includes prescribed professional placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) before the start of the first placement in an Australian school setting. Students undertaking professional placements in Australian school settings must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: Blue Card Services English Proficiency: Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds are advised that the Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of meeting the following English language requirements prior to graduation: An overall score of 7.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with sub-scores no less than 8.0 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 7.0 in Reading and Writing. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. Students advised that the Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of meeting the English language requirements as stated above prior to graduation. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points

96 credit points as per course structure

Additional completion requirements

All students must sit and meet the standard of the Literacy and Numeracy Test Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to graduation. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. Refer to https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/

All students must successfully complete a final-year teaching performance assessment (Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment [GTPA]) embedded in a subject and a professional placement of no less than four weeks in the final year of the degree, prior to graduation that is shown to:

a) be a reflection of classroom teaching practice including the elements of planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting;

b) clearly assess the content of the Graduate Teacher Standards; and

c) demonstrate an understanding of moderation processes that support consistent decision-making against achievement criteria.

The GTPA is built into course requirements and assessments.

All students must possess dispositional attributes deemed suitable for the profession of teaching.

For students undertaking the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) online, participation in a 5-day intensive Professional Orientation Program on campus in the final year of the course is a requirement to complete this degree. This program may be undertaken at either the Cairns or Townsville Campus.

Course learning outcomes

In the context of a JCU graduate, on successful completion of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education), graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate a broad understanding of professional knowledge and practices, relevant to all domains of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and other regulatory frameworks relevant to practice in the field of Education.
Critically evaluate and apply educational and developmental theories, principles, content knowledge and contemporary research to meet the needs of diverse children in positive and inclusive learning and care environments with an emphasis on the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Integrate curricula, pedagogical and technological knowledge and skills to plan, deliver, assess and critically reflect on learning and development with an emphasis on the needs, abilities and life-worlds, of children and communities in regional, rural, remote and tropical areas.
Identify, collect, analyse and critically review information to inform professional decision making and enact quality monitoring, assessment and feedback practices.
Establish and maintain positive, engaging, respectful and safe learning and caring environments with children, caregivers and community and collegial interactions with other professionals through the modelling of effective, context-specific oral, written and digital communication and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrate literacy and numeracy mastery, while applying pedagogical strategies to develop, monitor and evaluate students’ literacy and numeracy skills in a variety of curricular contexts.
Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and technical ability to safely, creatively and ethically integrate technology and other learning resources into curricula and pedagogical design and delivery.
Develop and demonstrate intercultural and ethical approaches to professional practice based on broad knowledge of legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks that address social justice, equity, diversity and sustainability issues.
Demonstrate initiative, judgement, professional responsibility and accountability in complex and diverse contexts with a commitment to continuing professional learning.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Level 1

ED1401:03 Education Perspectives and Practice

ED1411:03 Science and Sustainability in Education

ED1421:03 Foundations of Language and Literacy in Education

ED1439:03 Early Childhood Education and Care 1

ED1440:03 Technologies for Early Childhood Education

ED1443:03 Early Childhood Arts Education

ED1481:03 Educational Psychology: Learners and Learning

ED1492:03 Teaching Mathematics and Numeracy in Primary and Early Childhood Settings

Level 2

ED2090:03 Health and Physical Education for Early Childhood

ED2093:03 Early Childhood Mathematics and Numeracy

ED2094:03 Early Childhood Language and Literacy

ED2491:03 Planning for Engaging Learning

ED2991:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

ED2096:03 Humanities and Social Sciences for Early Childhood Education

ED2095:03 Science Education for Early Childhood

ED4306:03 Students with Reading Difficulties

Level 3

ED3442:03 Inclusive Education: Differentiated Learning for Students with Special Needs and Abilities

ED3443:03 English as an Additional Language/Dialect for Indigenous Learners

ED3441:03 Technologies Across the Curriculum

ED3223:03 Advanced English Education for Early Childhood

ED3096:03 Early Childhood Mathematics and Numeracy 2

ED3097:06 Reflective Teaching Cycles and Positive Learning Environments (ECE)

ED3590:03 Early Childhood Education and Care 2

Level 4

ED4460:03 Service Learning for Sustainable Futures

ED4461:03 Indigenous Futures

ED4488:03 Fourth Year Professional Experience A [Australia] or ED4388:03 Fourth Year Professional Experience A [Singapore]

ED4490:06 Fourth Year Professional Experience B

ED4621:03 Leading Wellbeing and Sustainability in Learning Communities

ED4623:03 Teachers as Ethical and Collaborative Change Agents

ED4995:03 Education across Culturally Diverse Contexts

Campus

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Cairns	Some subjects are only available externally
Townsville
Singapore	Available on-campus only
External	Mandatory on campus component is a 5 day intensive Professional Orientation Program in the final year

Candidature

Expected time to complete	4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Maximum time to complete	11 years
Maximum leave of absence	3 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	This course includes prescribed professional placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. Only those students who complete the majority (12 credit points or more) of prescribed education placements in schools in Australia will be automatically verified for teacher registration in Queensland. Further information about placements can be found at Enrolment Policy – Coursework Students. To undertake the final Professional Experience and Co-requisite subjects, students must have completed 72 credit points of level 1, 2 and 3 subjects in this course.
Special assessment requirements	Students undertaking their placement in Australia: Suitability to Work with Children Care (blue card) This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students undertaking professional placements in Australian school settings are required to obtain a Suitability to work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: Education Blue Card Students who do not complete the required number of days of a professional experience subject or a professional component of a subject, without the approval of the Director of Professional Experience, will be determined to have failed the subject. Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy.
Professional accreditation requirements	Successful completion of all subjects contributes to the requirements for the Queensland College of Teachers Graduate level of the Australian Professional Standards (APST). Please also see `Additional Completion requirements’ in reference to the GTPA. Graduates are eligible for employment in the early childhood area (0-8 years) as an educator or service provider. In Queensland the Regulatory Authority is the Office for Early Childhood Education and Care, Department of Education, training and Employment and at the National level it is the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Advanced Standing

Eligibility	Students may apply for advanced standing for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit and Articulation policy and associated procedures.
Maximum allowed	63 credit points
Currency	Advanced standing will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Advanced standing gained for any subject shall be cancelled 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the advanced standing is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	The maximum advanced standing allowable for professional development courses is three credit points except where one course is judged to be larger in size than one university subject. Advanced standing may be granted for professional development courses smaller than a university subject. However, no advanced standing will be given for courses smaller than two credit points, or equivalent. Recognition of Current Competence (RCC) may apply where a teacher education student can clearly demonstrate outcomes relevant to a specific professional experience component of a Bachelor of Education program. If these outcomes can be demonstrated, the pre-service teacher will be granted advanced standing for a part of the requisite days of the professional experience requirement. Demonstration of attainment of outcomes may be in the form of professional experience reports from other institutions and/or statements of teaching or related service.

Award Details

Award title	BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION) ¹ or BACHELOR OF EDUCATION ¹Students will be eligible for this award if they have completed a minimum of 41 days of placement in prescribed education placements in Australia.
Approved abbreviation	BEd(ECE) or BEd ² ²The approved abbreviation for students graduating with the Award BACHELOR OF EDUCATION
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable – this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 72 credit points of study and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive the award of Bachelor of Educational Services.
Course articulation	Not applicable

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This website is intended as general guide. Prospective students should contact the university to confirm admission requirements and the availability of courses. James Cook University reserves the right to alter any course or admission requirement without prior notice.