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The University of Notre Dame Australia

  • 2% international / 98% domestic

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

  • Bachelor

If you are passionate about teaching young children and fostering an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, The University of Notre Dame Australia's Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree is the ideal choice for you. This four-year degree has flexible full-time or part-time study options available.

Key details

Degree Type
Bachelor
Duration
4 years full-time
Course Code
3589
Study Mode
In person

About this course

School of Education

If you are passionate about teaching young children and fostering an enthusiasm for lifelong learning, The University of Notre Dame Australia's Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree is the ideal choice for you. This four-year degree has flexible full-time or part-time study options available. Our degree will qualify you as an early childhood teacher (ECT) enabling you to work in early childhood education and care services across Australia. Contact us today to be the future of education.

Entry requirements

Academic requirements for this program are outlined below. In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency. We also consider your application more broadly - your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program. See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

OR

  • Equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) score

*Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

Applicants with Higher Education

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

*Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing). See here for details.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required*.

OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 in the Written English section*.

OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under secondary Education section above.

*STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

Discipline Specific requirements

  • Applicants to all initial teacher education programs must complete a statement of purpose. This assesses non-academic capabilities important for success in the teaching profession. Assessment of non-academic capabilities for entry into teacher education is a national requirement.

Study locations

Sydney

What you will learn

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education has been designed to meet the increased demand for early childhood educators. This degree qualifies graduates to work with children birth to five years in early learning settings and prepares them to become reflective and responsive teachers. The program strikes a balance between theory and real world practice. In addition to core developmental and learning areas, students engage in 95 days of professional experience.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education offers students the unique opportunity to complete a Major in Special and Inclusive Education.

This program is designed to address every facet of the knowledge, skills and experience required to educate and care for young children at an excellent standard. Courses focus on contemporary pedagogies and the characteristics and development of children, their behaviour, their needs for intellectual, physical, language, social and spiritual development. You will learn skills in facilitating play and learning-through-play, and consider the key learning areas in which children develop their skills in early childhood settings.

Courses also consider cultural sensitivity and awareness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as well as inclusion for all students. Graduates complete a Major in Special and Inclusive Education as part of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. You will also learn about ethical leadership and management of child care centres, equipping you for leadership roles as your knowledge and experience develop.

Career pathways

With a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, you can teach early childhood education in an early childhood education and care service. Career opportunities within the education system include early childhood educator and director of early childhood centre.

Course structure

Year 1

  • EDUC1032 Contemporary Theories On Child Development And Learning
  • EDUC1027 Inclusion and Diversity In Early Childhood
  • EDUC1033 Understanding & Guiding Children's Behaviour
  • EDUC1034 Play as Pedagogy
  • EDUC1035 Health, Well-Being & Fundamental Movement Skills
  • EDUC1028 Teaching and Learning in Context
  • EDUC1036 Holistic Care For Young Children
  • CORE1000 Foundations of Wisdom

Year 2

  • EDUC2046 Foundations Of Language And Literacy
  • EDUC2059 Mathematical development - B-5 years Numeracy and Mathematics
  • EDUC2064 Pedagogical Documentation In Early Childhood
  • EDUC3046 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students: Culturally Responsive Connections
  • EDUC2068 Scientific and Digital Inquiry In Early Childhood
  • EDUC2066 Catering for Children With Special Needs
  • EDUC2067 Integrating Language & Literacy Through The Arts
  • CORE Elective

Year 3

  • EDUC3061 Families and partnerships in teaching and learning
  • EDUC3063 Language and literacy 1
  • EDUC3093 The Educational Leader
  • EDUC3054 The Reflective practitioner
  • EDUC3065 Communication needs and challenges in ECE
  • EDUC3064 Early intervention in early childhood contexts
  • EDUC3056 Trends in early learning
  • EDUC3094 Professional Experience 3: Early Childhood Education (3-5 years)

Year 4

  • EDUC4034 Research ethics with young children
  • EDUC4035 Sustainability and environmental education
  • EDUC4008 Leadership and management in the early years
  • EDUC4042 Autism spectrum in early childhood
  • EDUC4043 Differentiated learning project
  • EDUC4038 Professional engagement (co-requisite with EDUC4056 EC Internship)
  • EDUC4036 Research capstone
  • EDUC4056 Professional Experience Internship: Early Childhood education

Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

Please note: the availability of these courses is indicative only and may be subject to change.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Teacher Education courses at The University of Notre Dame Australia.
93.5%
Overall satisfaction
90.8%
Skill scale
84.3%
Teaching scale
78.5%
Employed full-time
$68k
Average salary
Data source

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