Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Studies)

Effective from 01-JAN-2019 : Code Y42

This course is dedicated to producing quality graduates ready to take up employment across the early childhood education sector, including teaching children aged 0-3 years, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, pre-primary and years 1-3 in a primary school. Dealing specifically with children aged 0-8 years, Early Childhood Studies focuses on the care and education of children in this age group in partnership with families and communities. A variety of flexible admission options is available to suit applicants with different needs, all of which are required to demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy, as teachers require these skills to support the development of students. The course also includes the opportunity to complete a fast tracked final year and achieve eligibility for employment in schools from term 4 of that year. A key feature of this course is the equal emphasis given to both the theoretical groundings of early childhood education and the practical application of knowledge and skills in a wide range of early childhood settings. A coordinated program of professional practice experiences at key points throughout the course allow students to make the connection between theory and practice, while building both professional and generic employability skills in real care and education environments. In addition, students have the opportunity to tailor their learning experience by specialising in curriculum areas of particular interest.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Practicum Requirement

In each year of the program, students undertake compulsory Professional Practice and in the final year, students undertake an Assistant Teacher Program (ATP) comprising of one term of approximately 10 weeks of continuous teaching practice. The Assistant Teacher Program is conducted during the final year of the course in the second term of the school year.

Duty of care

To undertake a Professional Practice in a school or childcare setting, all pre-service teacher education students over the age of 18 must have supplied ECU with evidence of the following two clearances: A valid Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) from the Department of Education WA. A valid Working with Children Check from the Department for Child Protection and Family Support WA. Further information can be found at http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/education/professional-practice/clearances

Attendance requirements

All Professional Practices are undertaken on a full-time basis and teaching students are required to give a full-time commitment to the school during the scheduled Professional Practice periods.

Professional practice rules

Students on practicum must conduct themselves according to the standards in the Student Charter for ECU and the guidelines for Professional Practice.

Implications of failing

The practicum units are designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners. Failure to pass these units may result in exclusion from the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Apply broad discipline knowledge to a range of theoretical and practical early childhood situations.
2. Communicate early childhood knowledge and values in professional and public contexts.
3. Demonstrate a global outlook with respect for cultural diversity, including Indigenous cultural competence.
4. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and judgement for own learning and professional practice.
5. Think creatively to anticipate challenges and generate discipline specific solutions/responses.
6. Think critically to analyse, interpret and conceptualise complex early childhood problems.
7. Use digital technologies and literacies to access, evaluate and synthesise relevant information from multiple sources.
8. Work collaboratively and demonstrate initiative to implement social, sustainable, and ethical values.

Professional Recognition

Course

This course has been Accredited by: Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

This course has been Accredited by: Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA).

Registration

Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA). Registration with the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) is required to practice in the profession.

Graduates must meet the Teacher Registration Board of WA (TRBWA) literacy and numeracy proficiency requirements prior to graduation for teacher registration in Western Australia. Further information is available at http://www.trb.wa.gov.au

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 3)

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• AQF Cert IV;
• Successfully completed 0.25 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;
• Aboriginal Student Intake Test; or
• Experience Based Entry Scheme.

English Language requirement (Band 5)

International  students must attain an IELTS Academic with an average level of 7.5 or more, across the four components of listening, speaking, reading and writing; no score below level 7.0 in any of these components; and, a score of 8.0 or more in the components of speaking and listening.  Internationally schooled applicants may also be required to meet this requirement.

Minimum English standard requirements for this course may also be satisfied with one of the following:

• Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
• Special Tertiary Admissions Test;*
• Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
• University Preparation Course;
• Indigenous University Orientation Course;*
• Aboriginal Student Intake Test;*
• AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree; or
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).

Note:
If secondary education and degree studies were completed within a period of 2 years before applying for registration in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA, applicants do not need to provide proof of English competency. 

Applicants who have completed their secondary education in South Africa in English and have an undergraduate degree taught in English from a South African University are deemed to have met English language requirements.

Applicants from the Seychelles:

Successful completion of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) grade C or above, PLUS a completed 4 year National Diploma.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to provide a personal statement. In addition to satisfying academic entry criteria, applicants for pre-service teacher education courses at Edith Cowan University must also satisfy non-academic criteria. At Edith Cowan University, applicants' non-academic capabilities will be judged based on the submission of a 500 word personal statement. In this statement applicants will outline why they wish to become a teacher.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 4 Years
• Part Time: 8 Years

Course Delivery

• Joondalup: Full Time, Part Time
• Mount Lawley: Full Time, Part Time
• South West (Bunbury): Full Time, Part Time
• Online: Part Time, Full Time

Non standard timetable requirements

Students have the opportunity to complete a fast-tracked final year and achieve eligibility for employment in schools from Term 4 during the same year.

Course Coordinator

A/Prof Lennie BARBLETT

Course Structure

Students must complete the above two units LIT1200 (Personal Literacy) and NUM1200 (Personal Numeracy) to satisfy the requirements of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). All students who enrol in an accredited pre-service teacher education course (undergraduate and graduate) from 1 January 2017 will have to successfully complete tests about their personal levels of literacy and numeracy to graduate.

Year 4 - Semester 2

Students are required to select one of the following four options:

# Designated Unit - a Unit or Unit of Competency which a School has designated as a fundamental course requirement and may only be attempted once unless otherwise determined by Board of Examiners.

Unit sets that can be studied as part of this course