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Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

Degree Level Undergraduate

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
Magill

Duration
4 year(s) full-time

Program Code
MBCE

SATAC Code
444051 (Internal)
444055 (External)

Study as
Full-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported arrow-small-right

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Internal): 73.10 (for 2013)
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

  • Entry requirements

    Admission criteria

    The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

    Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

    To be eligible for selection, applicants are required to have:

      Completed the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE); and

    • completed 200 credits of subjects;
    • achieved a grade of C* or better in the Personal Learning Plan, 20 credits of literacy, 10 credits of numeracy and the Research Project at Stage 2;
    • achieved a grade C- or better in an additional 60 credits at Stage 2;
    • obtained a competitive ATAR.

      * For Stage 2 subjects a grade of C- or better is required

    OR:

    • completed the equivalent secondary education qualifications as required for University entry under SACE and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
    • completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma, obtaining a minimum score of 24 points and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
    • completed or partly completed a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
    • completed at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at the appropriate level and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
    • completed an award from TAFE or from another registered training organisation at AQF Diploma level or above and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
    • qualified for Special Entry and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
    • completed the University Foundation Studies program.

    Essential requirements for admission

    Prerequisites

    None

    Assumed Knowledge

    None
    View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

This program has been replaced with the Early Childhood specialisation in the new MBET Bachelor of Education, from 2013.

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Aim

To prepare graduates to work in a diverse and changing range of services for the education and care of children from birth to eight years of age.

Content & Structure

The program is made up of courses totalling 144 units of study over four years fulltime or part-time equivalent. The program consists of three compulsory professional strands: 'Professional experience' (5 courses), 'Curriculum' (10 courses), 'Child Development' (6 courses). Also compulsory are courses which are related to the professional studies aspects of the award, referred to as 'Education Studies' (6 courses).

What courses you'll study

Course name Area and cat no. Units Reference  
External offerings of courses listed below are reserved for specific student cohorts. Note(s): 9
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Changing Concepts of Children and Childhood EDUC 1065 4.5
Language and Multiliteracies EDUC 1063 4.5
Children's Services in Community Contexts EDUC 1073 4.5
Free Elective 4.5 Note(s): 10
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Professional Experience Birth to 3 EDUC 1044 4.5 Note(s): 5
Development and Learning Birth to 3 EDUC 1041 4.5
Developing a Play Curriculum EDUC 1014 4.5
The Context of Mathematical Competency EDUC 1032 4.5
or
Elective 4.5 Note(s): 6,7
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Introduction to Literacy and Numeracy in Early Childhood EDUC 2048 4.5
Physical Education and Health Birth - 8 Years EDUC 2022 4.5
Professional Experience 2 (3 to 5 Years) EDUC 2026 4.5
Social and Emotional Development in Early Childhood EDUC 1016 4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Social Education Birth - 8 Years EDUC 2024 4.5
Arts in Early Childhood EDUC 2023 4.5
Children in Families and Communities EDUC 3001 4.5
Background Science for Teaching EDUC 1011 4.5
or
Elective 4.5 Note(s): 6,7
THIRD YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Children Developing in Context 3 EDUC 1015 4.5
Literacy Birth to 8 Years EDUC 3053 4.5
Indigenous Study Elective 4.5 Note(s): 6
The Arts-rich Early Childhood Curriculum EDUC 1067 4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Numeracy Birth to 8 Years EDUC 3054 4.5
Professional Experience 3 (5 to 8 Years) EDUC 3022 4.5
Science and Technology Birth - 8 Years EDUC 1013 4.5
Research with Young Children EDUC 1012 4.5
FOURTH YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood EDUC 4193 4.5
Ethics, Education and Critical Inquiry EDUC 4160 4.5
Professional Experience 4 (5 to 8 Years) EDUC 1040 4.5
Early Childhood Elective 4.5 Note(s): 8
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Literacies Across the Early Childhood Curriculum EDUC 4194 4.5
Early Childhood Elective 4.5 Note(s): 8
Teaching Children with Disabilities EDUC 4100 4.5
Early Childhood Practitioner Research EDUC 1039 4.5 Note(s): 4
FOURTH YEAR (WITH HONOURS)
 Note(s): 1 Rule(s): 1,2,3
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood EDUC 4193 4.5
Education Honours A EDUC 4203 9
Professional Experience 4 (5 to 8 Years) EDUC 1040 4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Literacies Across the Early Childhood Curriculum EDUC 4194 4.5
Teaching Children with Disabilities EDUC 4100 4.5
Education Honours B EDUC 4204 9
  • Electives minus-thick plus-thick
    Course name Area and cat no. Units
    Contemporary Aboriginal Issues HUMS 1034 4.5
    Managing Learning Environments EDUC 3007 4.5
    Aboriginal Cultures HUMS 1035 4.5
    Australian Society, Aboriginal Voices LANG 2007 4.5
    Aboriginal People, History and Colonialism HUMS 2010 4.5
    Brain Development in the Early Years EDUC 2050 4.5
    World Music PERF 1009 4.5
  • Rules & notes minus-thick plus-thick

    Rules

    1. To gain entry into the with Honours strand students must maintain a high Credit average in graded courses and successfully complete all Professional Experience requirements across the first three years of the program, and achieve a Credit in EDUC 1012 Research with Young Children.

    2. To receive the degree with Honours, selected students must achieve a Credit in EDUC 4203 Education Honours A and EDUC 4204 Education Honours B and maintain a Credit average in graded courses in the fourth year of the award.

    3. Students who study EDUC 4203 Education Honours A and EDUC 4204 Education Honours B courses will be exempt from EDUC 1039 Early Childhood Practitioner Research, EDUC 4160 Ethics, Education and Critical Inquiry and two early childhood elective courses.

    4. Students who have successfully completed a TAFE Diploma of Children's Services (Childcare) are eligible for 36 units of credit. Credit is also available for two courses in Child Development successfully completed through Open Universities Australia. This credit arrangement may be extended as other relevant courses become available. Credit applications must be made in writing on the appropriate form to the program director.

    Notes

    1. The award is available at both ordinary and 'with honours' levels in accordance with University policy. Students who wish to graduate 'with honours' are required to maintain an overall credit standard in graded courses in their first three years and, specifically, in the course EDUC 1012 Research with Young Children. For honours students, EDUC 4203 Education Honours A and EDUC 4204 Education Honours B will take the place of two 4.5 unit elective courses: EDUC 4160 Ethics, Education and Critical Inquiry and EDUC 1039 Early Childhood Practitioner Research. The latter course is intended for students who are not in the Honours strand.  

    2. Some courses have prerequisites and assumed knowledge requirements. These can be met by recognition of prior knowledge (from school or elsewhere) or by taking an appropriate Elective Study course. Students will be required to check details of assumed knowledge requirements and prerequisites prior to enrolment in courses in their first year. Students should note that Elective Study courses are available in the first two years to assist students who do not meet these requirements in science and mathematics however the music assumed knowledge requirement of "the ability to meet the following objectives: read musical notation in the treble clef; and reproduce simple tunes from musical notation using a melodic instrument' may need to be met outside the program.

    3. The importance of study in depth is recognised by the provision of a sequential 40.5 units of study in curriculum and 27 units in child development.

    4. Two sequential research courses are offered: EDUC 1012 Research with Young Children and EDUC 1039 Early Childhood Practitioner Research, with initial foundation provided in EDUC 1065 Changing Concepts of Children and Childhood.

    5. Prior to EDUC 1044 Professional Experience 1 (Birth to 3 years), students will need to have obtained a current First Aid certificate. The approved certificate is 'Basic Emergency Life Support'.

    6. Five x 4.5 units of Electives must be studied during the program including one compulsory 4.5 unit Indigenous Study Elective selected from the listed courses offered by The Unaipon School plus 2 x 4.5 unit courses chosen from the four early childhood electives offered in the final year of the program (see Note 8). The other two 4.5 unit electives may be given to the Assumed Knowledge courses described in Note 7.

    7. If students meet the assumed knowledge requirements for the program they may select two Electives from other Schools and campuses and/or other universities. Students should check in the Majors and Minors section on UniSAnet. Examples of the subject areas available at Magill campus are listed below: Children's Literature; Drama; French Studies; Gender Studies; Italian Studies; Japanese Studies; Interactive Multimedia; Music Media; Physical Education; Sport and Play Studies. Students may also chose from courses at other campuses if they can develop a workable timetable. If a student does not meet the assumed knowledge requirements for the Maths and Science curriculum areas they should enrol in either one of the following courses as their elective: EDUC 1032 The Context of Mathematical Competency or EDUC 1011 Background for General Science. There is also an assumed knowledge requirement in music which is 'the ability to meet the following objectives: read musical notation in the treble clef; and reproduce simple tunes from musical notation using a melodic instrument'. Students may need to meet this requirement outside the University, for example, at a WEA course or equivalent on how to play a musical instrument and read basic musical notation."

    8. The two Early Childhood electives in the final year may be selected from those listed or students may compete one Early Childhood Elective plus an additional Indigenous Study Elective.

    9. This program is available in external mode to the following students only: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in university study centres; and students who have completed the TAFE Diploma of Children's Services or equivalent.

    10. All students complete at least one Free Elective as part of their undergraduate program of study, see undergraduate elective courses.

Contact us

Australian students

Phone: +61 8 8302 2376
Enquiry: unisa.edu.au/enquiry

International students

Phone: +61 8 9627 4854
Enquiry: unisa.edu.au/enquiry

For further information please visit unisa.edu.au/study
Information correct at the time of publication. CRICOS provider number 00121B.
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