Overview

Course Objectives

On completion of the course students will be able to:

• Make informed decisions regarding teaching and learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the learner and curriculum in a 0-8 years of age context
• Reflect, create and manage learning environments and be self-motivated and critical in the approach to teaching learning
• Plan, implement, analyse and evaluate a range of teaching, learning and assessment practices

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs - Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) (PDF, 19KB)

Career Outcomes

After registration, graduates will have the skills, knowledge and experience required to teach in early childhood education. Additional careers include Child Care Coordinator, education administrator or policy development officer.

Professional Recognition

Graduates will be eligible for registration with the Western Australian College of Teachers (WACOT). Registration will be recognised by all national teacher accreditation authorities. However, it is the responsibility of graduates to ensure they consult with the regulatory body in the state they wish to register as a qualified educator regarding registration requirements.

Eligibility

If you are a Commonwealth supported student and would like to apply for this course, please refer to the Commonwealth supported places link for information on the conditions and course admission eligibility criteria.

With the exception of seven open enrolment first year units, this is a restricted course. Continuing enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this program. Please refer to Application Process for more information.

Students must satisfy the following requirements in order to be eligible for entry into the degree:

• Academic
• English Language Competence
• Police Clearance/Working with Children (WWC)
• Practicum Requirements
• First Aid Certificate

Academic Requirements

Applicants have a choice of two academic entrance pathways into this program:

1. Tertiary Entrance Ranking (TER or ATAR) entrance

Tertiary Entrance Ranking 70 (TER, ATAR, ENTER, UAI, OP or equivalent)  Students must have a 50% minimum in TER English (or equivalent)

2. Alternative academic entrance

(a) Special Tertiary Admissions Test  (STAT)

You must achieve a minimum of 145 in all sections of the STAT (Multiple Choice and Written English) to gain entry to the course.

(b)  Successful study through OUA

• Completion of 2 of the 7 OUA open enrolment units: EDE101, EDE102, EDE103, EDE104, EDE105, EDE106 and EDP130 and separate English language competency is needed

OR

• Completion of four units at pass level (including 2 of 7 open enrolment units: EDE101, EDE102, EDE103, EDE104, EDE105, EDE106 and EDP130). (This satisfies English language competency requirements).

 (c) Tertiary Study

Successful completion of a full semester (four standard units) towards an undergraduate degree at an Australian University and English language competency is not needed.

 (d) Enabling courses

Enabling courses completed through other Australian Universities which meet minimum entry requirements for that institution will be accepted as minimum entry requirements for this course.

TAFE

On completion of certain TAFE studies (or equivalent study recognised by the Australian Qualifications Framework- AQF), matriculation status may be granted and a Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER or ATAR) may be assigned. The minimum entry requirements for TAFE students are:

• _{Diploma, Associate Diploma or Advanced Diploma (no additional English competency needed)}
• _{Certificate IV + English competency}
• _{Note- Certificate II or III are not acceptable.}

English Language Competency 

Applicants need to meet Curtin’s English Language requirement:

• _{TER or ATAR - A minimum Tertiary Entrance Ranking (TER or ATAR) score of 50 % for English (or equivalent).} 
• _{Successful completion of one semester of full time study of a Bachelor degree course at an Australian university*}
• _{IELTS competency level 7.0 (compulsory for international students)} 

*Equivalent to completion of four first year Curtin Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)

How to Apply

With the exception of seven open enrolment first year units, this is a restricted course. Continuing enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this degree. Students are required to apply and be approved by Curtin University before they can enrol in restricted units through OUA.

Applicants for admission must be able to commit to the block teaching practicums that are integral to the degree in Years 1, 2, 3 & 4 in a school in which English is the language of instruction either in Australia or overseas. Year 1 currently has a 4 week block teaching practicum in an accredited early learning centre. Year 2 currently has a 5 week block teaching practicum in a school context. Please note this placement cannot be completed in long day care settings in a school context. Year 3 currently has a 3-week block teaching practicum and Year 4 has a 10 week internship.

Applications for Bachelor of Education (ECE) are due 2 weeks prior to the close of enrolment.

Before you start:

1. Read information requirements

   • Select to apply for one or more courses listed on the application form, taking note of the eligibility criteria for each course. If you want to apply for a (restricted) course with a different university, you'll need to submit a separate application from the relevant course page.

   • Read all parts of the application form in advance:

     Receive a faster response by ensuring you have all the required information ready before you start. If you have a web account, sign in first to pre-fill personal details we already have for you on record.

     General applicants: If you do not have a web account, you'll need to register one within the application form. Once you've registered an account, you'll then be signed in. From here you can choose to complete your application and submit it, or save and return to it later.

     Completing this application should take 15 to 20 minutes.

     Commonwealth support/HECS-HELP applicants: Application forms can be partially filled and saved for completion at a later time. This is currently ONLY available for Commonwealth support/HECS-HELP applicants. To access your partially completed forms, go to the Manage Applications section of My study centre and click on the applications link.

   • Need help completing your application? Contact us:

     If in doubt about any of the information required to support your application, the more information you can provide the better. If you have any academic queries including how to request credit transfer, contact Curtin University directly. For all other enquiries, contact us.

   • Next steps:

     General applicants: After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email containing a copy of your application for your records.

     Your application will be assessed within 2-4 weeks, and if further information is required, we will contact you. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch via email to notify you of the outcome. At the latest this will be one week after the closing date for applications.

     If, after submitting your application, you wish to change your preferences or submit an additional document, please email apply@open.edu.au. Include your full name as it appeared on the application.

     Commonwealth support/HECS-HELP applicants: Please read the Commonwealth supported student page for details of next steps on the application process.

2. Prepare supporting documents

   • Check that you have all the required documents, according to individual course requirements and your personal circumstances, specifically:

     1. Your curriculum vitae - required for entry into postgraduate courses only.
     2. Scanned colour copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.
     3. A letter of recommendation from your employer on company letterhead - recommended for entry using work experience.
     4. Certified legal documentation - if you have changed your name e.g. a marriage certificate, deed poll name change certificate.
     5. Certified legal documentation - if you need to correct an error in your date of birth e.g. a birth certificate.
     6. English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
     7. Official translations of any documents not in English.

   • Please provide scanned copies of all original academic documents. Only include supporting documentation if you have undertaken studies/qualifications at institutions other than OUA. This application will become the Property of Open Universities Australia and Curtin University and will not be returned. Applications will only be considered if academic records for all courses attempted or completed are included along with the certificate of award conferred.

   • Requirements of scanned documents:

     1. Documents must be scanned from the original documents. Scans from a photocopy or a faxed copy are not acceptable
     2. Documents must be scanned in colour
     3. Applicants must ensure no portion of the document is missing (look out for page numbers)
     4. Documents must be scanned at the original size. If the document is larger than A4 then the document should be scanned in A4 sized portions without size reduction
     5. If the document has markings or text on both sides e.g. a registration number then both sides must be scanned
     6. Scanned documents must be between 125 and 150 dots per inch
     7. File size of any single document should not exceed 3MB"

   • Do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

Open Enrolment Units

There are seven open enrolment units in this course. Student do not have to submit an Application Form for open enrolment units, and can enrol in EDE101, EDE102, EDE103, EDE104, EDE105, EDE106 and EDP130 through Open Universities Australia.

Students who successfully complete two from these seven open enrolment units may apply under the Academic Eligibility category for admission to the restricted Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) program provided they have satisfied other eligibility criteria. Please read Planning your application (PDF, 18 KB).

Open enrolment units as electives

Students who do not satisfy all of the Eligibility requirements for this degree, or students who do not intend to apply for admission to this degree, may study the Open enrolment units as electives. Please refer to the Award Requirements or Electives sections on your degree page for information about the maximum number of level 1 electives you may include in your degree.

Special Requirements

Working with Children Check and Police Clearance

A Working with Children Check and Police Clearance (as required in the state or country of residence) is compulsory.

Due to the specialist nature of the teaching profession, and the practicum placement component of this course, all successful applicants will be required to complete a Working with Children Check and Police Clearance before engaging in any observation or practicum placement. If students have any doubt about their eligibility to acquire these clearances they should contact the local Teacher Registration Authority.

Practicum Placement 

Students must have access to more than one school in which to undertake the professional experience placements (and be able to travel to these schools). Normally access to 1 accredited Early Learning Centre with infants and toddlers (birth- 2 years of age) is required for the first year practicum placement and 3 schools are required – one for each of the practicum placements in Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4. Students also need to complete a 4 week block placement in an Early Learning Centre in Year 1. 

First Aid 

Students must be able to supply a Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) first aid certificate. Students must ensure that the certificate is valid at the time of undertaking practicum units. 

Practicum Placements

There are four units requiring professional experience within an early learning centre or school. Applicants must be able to obtain a Police Clearance and Working With Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking any units which require placement in a school or early learning centre on a volunteer or scheduled basis. Students will be required to complete 110 days of placements during the course.

All students must obtain these clearances prior to undertaking EDE107 Professional Practice in Early Learning Centres.

Further information about the Practicum Placements will be provided to students who have been admitted to the degree including the compulsory Literacy and Mathematical Competency tests to be completed before the final internship.. Most states now require pre-service teachers to show evidence that they have achieved competence in both of those areas. These compulsory tests will be offered to students within specific units through the Pearson My Education Lab materials. The charge for these materials will be  $27.95 for MyWritingLab and $19.95 for MyMathTest.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (ECE) students must complete the following units:

• 22 coursework units
• 4 units requiring professional experience within an early learning centre or school
• 3 elective units
• Students must successfully complete all required units in the degree prior to undertaking the Internship
• Students who fail a core unit twice are terminated from the course

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

Assessed on an individual basis. Students with a TAFE Diploma may be credited with the equivalent of one year of study. Students may apply for credit (or RPL) towards the degree for previous studies successfully completed at other institutions. Students must lodge their completed RPL application, along with necessary documentation, when they apply for a place in the BEd (ECE) course. Certified copies of all official transcripts and other documentation eg. unit outlines/syllabus must be provided at this time. For forms and further information, please visit futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/mature/rpl.cfm

Recommended Study Pattern

Within the particular years of the course there is flexibility in the sequencing of units. Students must complete all units in a particular year of the course prior to commencing units in the subsequent year. Students must complete any prerequisite units required.

Course Admission Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) in this course, students must meet the following requirements:

• 4 OUA Undergraduate units at pass level OR equivalent OR 2 units plus English AND the restricted criteria (please ensure you have read the restricted criteria in the Course Requirements tab)

To learn more about Commonwealth supported places, please see Commonwealth supported places.

About Commonwealth supported places

A Commonwealth supported place is a higher education place for which the Australian Government provides funding to the university towards the cost of your education. Commonwealth supported places are only available for students who wish to enrol in a full course of study and are required to contribute to the cost of their higher education through a student contribution. Eligible students in Commonwealth supported places can also receive assistance with their student contribution in the form of HECS-HELP.

To be eligible for Commonwealth support, you must be:

• An Australian citizen OR;
• A New Zealand citizen who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your study OR;
• The holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your study.

For more information and to download an information booklet on the eligibility requirements and the payment options available including the process for applying for HECS-HELP assistance, please visit http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/StudyAssist/

Alternatively if you do not wish to apply as a Commonwealth supported place student or are not eligible, you can still apply to study this course or units within this course. Click on the Course units tab above to find out more.

Please note that depending on the course eligibility requirements, you may be required to provide scanned and certified copies of the following supporting documents:

• Certified copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.(Please ensure you attach all pages of your academic transcript including both the front and back pages)

A “certified copy” is a copy of an original document which has been certified as being a true copy by an authorised person. These include a justice of the peace, lawyer, medical practitioner, pharmacist, accountant, school principal or minister of religion.

• English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
• IMPORTANT:  Please do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

Pricing and Payment Options

The total cost of completing a degree will vary depending on the course you have chosen to study.

Fees can also vary according to the type of unit you enrol in and the applicable fee band. Below is a guide to help you find the fees applicable for your own study path.

Please also note that the fees listed here are only indicative costs for new students in 2012. These fees may vary depending on the units you choose and do not include incidental fees (such as lab coats or art supplies) or the cost of your textbooks.

Course Structure

Electives