Program Overview

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Course Overview

This course teaches students to make a difference in the lives of babies and young children by understanding how they develop and learn. Students will learn how to meet the needs of children and understand the role of the family and society.

The program promotes a child-centered approach to care and education, taking account of physical, educational, and emotional needs of babies and young children.

The aim of the level 7 degree program is to equip students with the theory and hands-on experience and practical skills required to provide quality support for children's development (0-6 years). Students will experience the variety of the early years' sector through placements in different early-years' settings, thus providing the opportunity to link classroom learning with work-based practice.

Course Details

• CAO Points: 196
• Location: Athlone
• Duration: 3 years
• Course Code: US780
• Level: 7
• Course Type: Undergraduate
• Study Mode: Full Time
• Department: Social Science

Entry Requirements

• Leaving Certificate: Grade 06 at ordinary level in five subjects in the Leaving Certificate examination. Two of these subjects must be Mathematics and a language (English or Irish). Note: An FL2 in Foundation Level Mathematics will be accepted as meeting the minimum Mathematics requirements for entry to this course. Mature applicants are not required to meet the minimum entry requirements. However, an interview may form part of the selection process.
• QQI: Up to 15 places are reserved for FETAC students. Any QQI Level 5 qualification is acceptable. Applicants, however, must hold one of the following awards: 5N1370 Social Studies / 5N1279 Human Growth and Development / 5N1770 Early Care and Education Practice / 5N1765 Child Health and Wellbeing / 5N2705 Care Provision and Practice / 5N1764 Child Development / 5N1773 Early Childhood Education and Play / 5N1786 Special Needs Assisting.
• Mature Applicants: Mature applicants are not required to meet minimum entry requirements. However, an interview may form part of the selection process.
• International Applicants: International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time.

Course Modules

Year 1 – Semester 1

• Principles and Practices of the ECEC Sector (5 credits)
• Developing Academic Practice (5 credits)
• Introduction to Relational Pedagogy in ECEC (5 credits)
• Early Childhood Developmental Psychology (10 credits)
• Contexts of Early Childhood (5 credits)

Year 1 – Semester 2

• Creative Skills for ECEC (5 credits)
• Child Health & Wellbeing 1: Promoting Positive Health and Wellbeing in ECEC (5 credits)
• Preparation for Professional Practice Placement 1 (5 credits)
• Outdoor Pedagogy (5 credits)
• ECEC Social Policy (5 credits)
• Introduction to Inclusive Policy and Practice in the ECEC Setting (5 credits)

Year 2 – Semester 1

• Making Learning Visible: Multimodal Approaches to Literacy in ECEC (5 credits)
• Introduction to the Regulatory Context for ECEC (5 credits)
• Personal Reflection for Practice (PRP) (5 credits)
• Applied Pedagogy & Curriculum in ECEC (5 credits)
• Working Collaboratively with Parents and relevant stakeholders in an ECEC Setting (5 credits)
• Professional Practice Placement 1 (5 credits)

Year 2 – Semester 2

• Child Health and Well-being 2: Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in the ECEC Setting (5 credits)
• Children’s Rights and Advocacy (5 credits)
• Language Acquisition (5 credits)
• Applied Inclusive Practice in the ECEC Setting (5 credits)
• Professional Practice Placement 2 (10 credits)
• Professional Practice Placement 3 (30 credits)

Year 3 – Semester 1

• Introduction to Research Methodology and Practice (10 credits)
• Law for the Early Childhood Sector (10 credits)
• Therapeutic Recreational & Creative Play Interventions in ECEC (5 credits)
• Teamwork and Group Dynamics in an ECEC Setting (5 credits)
• Business Management & Enterprise in ECEC (5 credits)

What can you do after this programme?

Further Study

As a graduate of the Level 7 programme, students will be eligible to progress to the Level 8 BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care.

An Honours Degree provides routes, with additional study/experience (in addition to the above) into:

• Primary school teaching
• Early Years' Inspectorate
• Mentoring

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this programme are eligible to apply to join TUS's one year add-on Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care. As a graduate you can reasonably be expected to work as an Early Years' Educator (various roles such as Assistant, Room Leader, Assistant Manager, Manager) in full day crèche settings, part-time, sessional (ECCE), afterschool, breakfast club, naíonraí (with Irish language); parent and toddler groups and drop in care settings. Curricula approaches most frequently identified in early years' settings, which incorporate the Aistear curriculum framework and Síolta quality framework, are Montessori, HighScope and play-based. There may also be opportunities to work in outdoor preschools/Forest Schools. This role may include such responsibilities as the development and evaluation of programmes of care and education which support learning and development; to work as part of a team to develop quality improvement strategies to enhance the quality of experience for all children and staff.