Bachelor of Early Childhood Education - University of Wollongong

TEL: 0207 193 7932   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Overview

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program focuses upon developing early childhood teachers as critically reflective teachers and managers who can work with children across the age range 0-8 years in a variety of early childhood settings.

Course content covers: Foundations of Education (psychology, history, sociology, and philosophy of early childhood education); Curriculum Studies (e.g. Mathematics, Science, Language, and Creative Arts, in early childhood education); Managing Early Childhood Learning Environments; and Child Development and Care. Fieldwork is an ongoing component throughout the course, and students are expected to conduct independent and collaborative inquiry in the field as part of their learning and assessment tasks.

The approach to course delivery emphasise students' autonomy and critical reflection in their learning. Students are involved in problem-solving, field and library research, which is conducted in teams, following input provided by lecturing staff. Teamwork is also used to promote students' interpersonal skills, which is identified as a requirement for early childhood practitioners.A framework that provides scaffolding which is systematically reduced over the four years of the course further aims to develop skills in self-directing team work.

Appropriate arrangements are made to cater for the needs of students not proceeding through the program at the normal rate, as defined in the schedule below.

Advanced Standing

Academic credit of 48 credit points is awarded to students who have completed a Diploma in Social Science (Child Studies) or equivalent.

Entry Requirements / Assumed Knowledge

The New South Wales Department of Education and Training requires graduates seeking employment with the Department to have completed any two units of English, or equivalent subjects, and any two units of mathematics as part of their HSC or university studies, to gain registration as a teacher.

Course Requirements

Practical Teaching Experience

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education are required to undertake a practical teaching experience.Practical teaching experiences include 5-8 year-olds in K-2 classrooms; 3-5 year-olds in preschool, and birth -5 year olds in long day care settings; 3rd year practical experience will be in either Long Day Care or Preschool.In the 4th year students undertake a year long practical project in a setting selected from one of these options.Practical teaching experiences usually occur in Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Southern Highlands and Southern Sydney. Opportunities to undertake a practical teaching experience in countries such as China, Fiji, Malaysia and Thailand, or in mobile units or Western NSW areas may also be available.

Prohibited Persons Legislation

Teacher education students must complete a ÒProhibited Employment DeclarationÓ before undertaking practical teaching experience as required by the Child Protection (Prohibited Employment) Act 1998.

Course Program

Professional Recognition

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education is currently under assessment for accreditation by Early Childhood Australia for all three levels mentioned in New South Wales Regulations, the New South Wales Department of Education & Training, the New South Wales Institute of Teachers, the New South Wales Department of Community Services and is a registered VETAB Early Childhood Teacher Education course.