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Early Childhood Education

• ECE Home
• Course Introduction
• Career Pathways
• Course Structure
• Professional Experience
• Attendance Requirements
• Working With Children Check
• Fees
• Admission Requirements
• How to Apply
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Further Information and Contacts

Course structure*

* Approved for employment in Victorian child care centres and Kindergartens

Deakin University’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education enables participants to complete the course requirements in a minimum of 2 years of full time study, inclusive of professional experience. (Refer to course structure grid below)

Course content covers all areas of program preparation, professional understandings, experience and skills required of Early Childhood educators. Level 3 students complete a minimum of 45 days of supervised professional experience in a range of early childhood settings, possibly including some time in their own workplace.  

Our aim in the BECE is to integrate theory and practice through experiential learning. Teaching, learning and assignment activities will require an integration of practical and theoretical experience. Curriculum and pedagogy units will be paired with professional units in each semester of the course. This pairing of units is indicated in the table below.

LEVEL	SEMESTER 1			SEMESTER 2
3	ECE300 Language and Literacy Development	ECE301 Understanding Early Childhood Education & Learning Environments	ECP331 Professional Experience 3A	ECE306 Young Children’s Art and Drama	ECE307 Program Planning and Evaluation^	ECP333 Professional Experience 3C
	ECE302 Children's Mathematical Development	ECE303 Children as Individuals	ECP332 Professional Experience 3B	ECE308 Young Children’s Movement and Music	ECE309 Critical Issues in Safety and Child Protection	ECP334 Professional Experience 3D
SUMMER SEMESTER	ECE310 Transition Case Study*
4	ECE400 Cultural Perspectives Through Dance	ECE401 Advanced Management of Young Children's Behaviour	ECE410 Valuing Experience - Early Childhood Management and Leadership @	ECE405 Inquiry into Social and Cultural Development	ECE406 Research on Organisation of Early Childhood Settings ^	ECE411 Valuing Experience - Professional Advocacy @
	ECE402 Promoting Science and Enviornmental Awareness	ECE403 Developing Partnerships		ECE407 Child, Family and Community Health and Physical Development	ESE499 Independent Project ^

* Students complete ECE310 Transition Case Study in the Summer Semester over the summer between Level 3 and Level 4
^ECE307, ECE406 and ESE499 are wholly online units with no attendance requirement
@ Work experience in industry units - 35 hour placement required

Full-time students in Level 3 will undertake the 4 coursework units and 1 professional experience placement each semester.
Part-time students undertake 2 coursework units each semester and 1 professional experience placement over the academic year.

A full course outline and listing of unit descriptions for the BECE is available on the University Handbook/Course summary .

 

Experience-based pathways

The program is offered in two experience-based pathways:

Rural Program - Geelong and Warrnambool

Full time Level 3 students in the rural program spend 2 days per week in kindergartens and childcare centres, assisting the pre-school teacher and undertaking supervised teaching and other professional activities.

They participate in 3 two-day intensive programs at regular intervals each semester which complement the community seminars, online discussions, and assignment work.

Two 5-day professional experience blocks are undertaken each semester.

Semester timetables - Geelong ( - 45k) or Warrnambool ( - 48k).

City Program - Melbourne

The city program has the same features as the rural program, including the professional experience placements in kindergartens and childcare centres, and offers community seminars. It also has on-campus classes 2 days per week throughout each semester. The city program is suitable for domestic and international students living in the Melbourne area.

City Program ( - 43k) semester timetable.

Professional Experience

All students will be required to undertake professional experience placements in a range of early childhood settings. Click here to view details of the Professional Experience program.

 

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