Program Overview

Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years)

The Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) aims to prepare graduates who demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, professional practice, and professional engagement, and who are innovatively responsive to the changing and challenging demands of being educators in the 21st century.

Aim

The program equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to promote effective and inclusive learning in a range of educational settings from birth to five years. This is achieved through theoretical and practical studies spanning professional studies (specific learning area curriculum and pedagogical studies), education studies (addressing current educational foci), and through a curriculum specific specialism suited to the early years.

Content & Structure

The Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) is a three-year degree. Students will complete 108 units of study comprised of courses that are specific to teaching children from birth to five years and their transition to primary schools. Graduates will have a broad and coherent body of knowledge in professional experience, professional and discipline-specific curriculum studies, and education studies.

Courses

The following courses are part of the program:

• Contemporary Contexts of Early Childhood Education
• Foundations in Learning and Teaching 1: Learning through Play
• Professional Experience 1: Introduction to Educators' Practices (Birth-3 years)
• Children's Development: Conception to 3 Years
• English Curriculum: Language
• Design and Technology Education
• Children in Families and Communities
• Foundations in Arts Education
• English Curriculum: Reading
• Health and Physical Education
• Humanities and Social Sciences Education
• Elective
• Early Years Placement
• Teaching and Learning in Aboriginal Education
• Mathematics Education (Early Childhood)
• Foundations in Learning and Teaching 2: Creating Positive Learning Environments
• Science and Mathematics Education 2 (Birth to 5 years)
• Professional Experience 3: Informed Planning (Pre-school)
• Reconceptualising Early Childhood Education
• Science and Mathematics Education (Junior Primary)
• English Curriculum: Text Production
• Inclusive Education
• Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood

Electives

Students select one 4.5-unit course from the following electives:

• Teaching Children with Disabilities
• Catholic Scriptures: An Introduction
• Teaching in Rural and Regional Locations
• Brain Development in the Early Years
• Teaching Linguistically Diverse Learners
• Arts Across the Early Childhood Curriculum
• Dance and Music: Social Dreaming
• Drama and Visual Arts: Story Landscapes

Rules

1. Accreditation requirements mandate that students undertake supervised professional experience of no less than 80 days in a formal education setting.
2. Graduates of the program will be considered early childhood teachers (birth - 5 years) by ACECQA.

Notes

1. This course is part of the Education Studies component of the program which comprises 9 courses (40.5 units).
2. This course is part of the Curriculum Studies component of the program which comprises 10 courses (45 units).
3. Students select one 4.5-unit course from the 'Electives' list above. Alternative courses may be approved by the Program Director.
4. This course is part of the Professional Experience component of the program which comprises 3 courses (18 units).
5. These courses combined meet ACECQA's requirement of 80 days of placement (a minimum of 10 days Birth-35 months, with the remainder in a 3-5-year context).

Professional Accreditation and Recognition

This program has been approved by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an Early Childhood Teaching Qualification for the purposes of the Education and Care Services National Law.

Program Director

Dr Bec Neill

Related Degrees

• Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) (Mount Gambier)
• Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) (Whyalla)
• Bachelor of Early Childhood (B-5 years) (Magill)

Entry Requirements

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.

• Recent secondary education: Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent, and qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points.
• Higher education study: Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above.
• Vocational Education and Training (VET): Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma or above.
• Work and life experience: Qualify for Special Entry, or complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past.

Essential Requirements for Admission

Applicants are advised that a successful Working with Children Check (WWCC) with the Department of Human Services is required for all preservice teachers prior to undertaking any professional experience placement or site visit that involves contact with minors (under 18 years of age). These placements form a compulsory part of the program.

Duration

The duration of the program is approximately three years full-time.

Mode

The program is available on-campus and online.

Fees

The program is Commonwealth supported, and students are charged a portion of the cost of their higher education through a student contribution.

Start Date

The program starts in February and July.

Campus

The program is available at the Magill and Mawson Lakes campuses.