Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

In our early-childhood degree you'll participate in units focused on children from birth to five years. You'll come to understand how early-childhood and kindergarten teaching can include children and families as contributors to the learning process.

You'll graduate with expertise built on a strong sense of social justice, learnt through childcare and kindergarten-teaching experience and critical perspectives on early-childhood theory.

When you study early childhood education, you will gain insight into the early years by studying these fascinating areas:

• child development
• teaching practice that includes Aboriginal perspectives
• education and curriculum studies focused on relationships and meaning
• advocacy and activism in early-childhood settings
• history and philosophy of early childhood
• ethical early-childhood professional practice.

In first year all students attend the City Campus. In second year, which is a practical year, all classes are held at Footscray Nicholson where there is the Art Studio and Vu Play Space. In third year students will complete their course either at City Tower or online.

Childcare job openings are expecting massive growth (ACECQA).

Thanks to the essential experience you'll get from working in childcare and teaching in a kindergartens during your placement, you'll be work-ready before you even graduate.

Typically, our students find work in kindergartens and childcare centres, in jobs such as:

• kindergarten teacher
• early childhood teacher.

Check the salary for early-childhood teachers in Australia (Labour Market Insights).

To attain the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students will be required to complete:

• 288 credit points of Core studies

Students also undertake practical placements that include 80 days supervised professional experience.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

• Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
• Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Find out more about applying for our courses.