Program Overview

BA in Early Childhood Care and Education (MI007)

The BA in Early Childhood Care and Education is a full-time, four-year, honours degree programme (Level 8), designed to provide an exciting and challenging programme for those interested in working with young children, from birth to six years of age, in a range of educational settings.

Programme Overview

The programme is multidisciplinary in design and offers students the opportunity to become specialists in the care and education of young children from birth to six years of age. Specialisation in the combined areas of care and education demands a deep knowledge of both theory and practice.

Modules

Subjects covered will include:

• Child Health & Well-being
• Language Development in Early Childhood
• Child Development
• The Role of Play in Development
• Educational Psychology
• Child, Family and Community
• Creative Arts
• Language Acquisition and Early Literacy
• Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
• Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Early Childhood Education and Care Leadership and Management
• Including Children with Special Needs in the Early Years
• STEM in the Early Years
• Professional Development
• Research Methods

Professional Placement & Study Abroad

Placement opportunities are provided for students in a variety of early years settings working with children under three years and with children of preschool age.

Career Opportunities

There is a growing awareness in Ireland of the need for high calibre professionals to provide young children with the best possible care and education. Graduates may pursue leadership roles in both the private and public sector where high quality early years provision is required.

Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships

Each year, Mary Immaculate College awards up to 50 Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships across all undergraduate programmes valued at 2,000 each, on the basis of results obtained in the Irish Leaving Certificate Examination.

Fees & Grants

Tuition fees may be paid in respect of full-time undergraduate students undertaking approved courses in eligible institutions. Details of the Free Fees criteria are listed here.

Entry Requirements

Second-Level Pupils

Applicants are required to hold the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include Mathematics, Gaeilge or another language, and English, and must achieve the following:

• Grade H5 on a Higher Level paper in at least two subjects
• Grade O6/H7 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects

Special Entry Route for QQI/FET/FETAC Applicants

MIC recognises QQI Level 5 and Level 6 qualifications as pathways to this programme. Up to 10% of places on this programme will be available to QQI/FET/FETAC applicants who have achieved any of the following:

Mature Students

If you are at least 23 years old on the 1 January of the year of entry to College, you are considered as a mature applicant. All mature applicants who make an application to the College through the CAO for MI007 will be invited to attend for an interview.

Non-EU Applicants

Further information about BA in Early Childhood Care & Education (International) and applying as an non-EU applicant is available here. For International Fees, click here.

Programme Content

Structure

The BA in Early Childhood Care and Education programme features a varied range of innovative modules.

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