Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

• Important information
• The course
• Objectives
• Selection
  • Pathways from TAFE
• Course outline
• Further information

Important information

Peninsula campus

Course code: 1515

Contact: Ms Jill Robbins (course leader)

The course

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree is a four-year full-time course. On completion of this degree graduates may seek employment in preschools, childcare centres, junior primary grades, and other children's services and specialist early childhood settings.

Objectives

In keeping with the mission statement of Monash University, the major objectives of the course are to provide students with a program of studies and experiences which should enable them to:

• develop knowledge of, and critically reflect on, the theoretical foundations of human development and of education, especially those relevant to early childhood education;
• relate their own views and experiences in education, family and society to those of others and critically reflect on these;
• appreciate the implications the family, social, cultural and political contexts have for children's development and learning, and how they impact on early childhood services;
• understand the professional role of the early childhood educator in a diverse and complex society which is undergoing rapid and continuous social and technological change;
• develop skills that will enable them to instigate and respond to change and to advocate effectively for young children, families and the early childhood profession;
• demonstrate competence in general care, appropriate curriculum planning and teaching skills, as well as administration and management across a range of children's services;
• develop effective communication and interpersonal skills;
• have the skills and attitudes that foster a positive view of continued personal and professional development.

Selection

Applicants must have satisfactorily completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or its equivalent. Within the Victorian Certificate of Education, English must be included in the applicant's `best four' subjects and applicants must have satisfactorily completed any two VCE mathematics units (or their equivalent).

Pathways from TAFE

Students who have completed an Associate Diploma in Social Science - Child Care (or equivalent) and have achieved an average of at least credit level across all subjects studied may be considered for admission to the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Students should note that they have no automatic right of transfer into the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education program offered by Monash University. Students with an Associate Diploma in Social Science - Child Care, who are successful in gaining entry into the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, may expect to receive up to one year credit transfer of the four-year course.

Course outline

The degree consists of three groups of studies:

1 teaching and curriculum studies, including a teaching practicum, totalling sixty-eight points;

2 education studies, concerned with major issues in education, totalling sixty points;

3 general studies electives which allow students to enhance their personal development by pursuing a discipline area of study in the sciences, humanities or expressive arts (fifty-six points).

Students are required to undertake studies drawn from (1) and (2) (above) in each of the four years of the degree. General studies are undertaken only in years one to three.

The first-year program consists of:

• EDP1101 English and studies of society and environment (6 points)
• EDP1102 Science health and physical education (6 points)
• EDP1103 Images of education (6 points)
• EDP1104 Education and the individual (6 points)

Education subjects beyond the first year have not yet been developed.

Further information

Students are referred to the subject descriptions following the course information in this handbook for details of the subjects offered in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree.

Further information regarding this course may be obtained from the administrative officer, Peninsula School of Education (telephone 9904 4291).

Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168 Copyright © Monash University 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Caution Authorised by the Academic Registrar December 1996