Undergraduate - Course4223 - Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)

This course qualifies students to be early childhood educators in a range of child care and pre-school settings. The course provides a deep understanding of childhood development, educational theories and practice and how to involve children in engaging, innovative and purposeful learning in the early years. Graduates of this course will be equipped to provide leadership and management in a range of early childhood settings.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• understand early childhood (birth to age eight) as a complex, critical period of learning and development for children
• draw on a range of current education theories to inform the development of their early childhood practices
• work in partnership with families and communities to support children's learning and to develop respectful and inclusive practices in early childhood education
• critically consider a range of perspectives, including spatial, temporal and sociological views, and respond to diversity in local, regional and global contexts
• work reflexively and critically with a range of contemporary education theories and practices within early childhood education to engage young children in constructive, playful and contextually relevant learning
• engage with the early childhood profession as ethical leaders and practitioners who can develop curriculum, pedagogy and programs that meet diverse learners' needs
• advocate for children, their families and the early childhood profession at the local, regional or international level
• contribute to a multidisciplinary team approach to support children's development and learning.

Students are awarded one full year (48 credit points) of credit towards the first year of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) on the successful completion of the Diploma of Children's Services or equivalent as determined by the faculty. Alternatively students are awarded three full years (144 credit points) of credit towards the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) on successful completion of a three year Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) accredited program or equivalent as determined by the faculty. Where the faculty has an articulation agreement with an institution, credit for prior studies as outlined in the agreement will be honoured.

Mandatory checks and security clearances

Before participating in a professional placement in any educational setting students must meet specific security clearancessecurity clearances (http://www.education.monash.edu.au/placements/clearances/) that apply to the state or territory where the placement is being undertaken.

Students must complete teaching practice which consists of a minimum of 80 days of satisfactory supervised placement experience. Students will only be given permission to complete a placement in their place of employment in exceptional circumstances and if they will receive the required level of supervision. Where permission is granted, students will not be permitted to undertake more than 50 per cent of the placement in their place of employment. Students must be available to undertake placements on a full-time basis and attend their placement at times determined by the faculty.

Graduates will be qualified for employment as kindergarten teachers in pre-schools or childcare centres in Victoria. For interstate and overseas positions applicants are advised to check with local authorities.

This course consists of core, educational leadership, elective and professional experience units.

• Education - Early childhood and early childhood-primary

Students must complete:

(a.) education major (60 points)

(b.) curriculum major (72 points)

(c.) educational leadership units (48 points)

(d.) education electives (12 points)

(e.) professional experience units to complete 80 days of teaching practice (0 points)

For details of the units required, refer to the link under 'Areas of study'.

Refer to the course mapcourse map (http://education.monash.edu/students/current/coursemaps/2014/4223.html) for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) for course progression advice.

An honourshonours (http://www.edu.monash.edu/courses/honours/) program may be undertaken by graduates of this course who achieve a distinction average in their final two years of study.

Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)