Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
UndergraduateCUR-ECE-DEG2019
Course information for 2019 intake View information for 2025 course intake
Comprehensive pre-service teaching preparation
Enter the valued profession of early childhood teaching and child care. Study core subjects, professional studies and electives to be qualified to teach children aged 0-8 years in early learning centres and in junior school settings.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
Entry pathways available with no entry requirements
- Study method
- 100% online study with practicum placement
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 29
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
About this degree
On completion of the degree students will be able to:
apply high-level discipline knowledge, principles and concepts associated with effective teaching of children from birth to 8 years
draw from theory and research to apply knowledge of the needs of students from diverse backgrounds and across the full range of abilities to enhance learning
assess student learning and analyse diverse sources of data to support valid judgements of student learning
plan and deliver effective teaching and learning experiences with demonstrated impact
use technologies appropriately for learning and teaching
engage in professional learning and demonstrate capacity for leadership; demonstrate personal literacy and numeracy competencies to the required accreditation standard
engage in critical and reflective practice based on local, national and international research
create and manage positive learning environments for all students, including those from diverse cultural backgrounds.
This degree is designed for people seeking to attain an Initial Teacher Education qualification in order to register as a teacher in Australia and any other countries that recognise an Australian teaching qualification. Specifically, this degree provides a qualification for those intending to teach children birth to eight years of age at the early childhood level of education. Students will develop advanced critical skills, knowledge and understanding concerning best practice in education and in meeting the needs of children. Students will have four opportunities to engage in professional experience in schools, culminating in a final professional placement of a minimum of 10 continuous weeks.
This degree includes core studies, professional experience and option subjects. Subjects cater for the different needs of early childhood education pre-service teachers. Pre-service teachers are able to undertake options to specialise in an area of interest.
Recommended study pattern
This degree is an OUA Pathways degree, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the Pathway for this degree, simply select subjects from the Pathway stream below.
If you do not choose the OUA Pathways, Students can instead follow the study pattern below:
Students are required to complete all the subjects in each year of the degree before progressing to the subjects of the subsequent year. For example, all first year subjects should be completed prior to enrolling in a second year subject. Students must complete any prerequisite subjects required. The standard full-time study load is two subjects per study period.
Students must complete allfirst, second and third year core subjects prior to enrolling in any fourth year subjects.
All core and elective subjects must be completed before enrolling in Professional Experience 4: The Internship and all students will need specific clearance from Curtin University’s School of Education prior to enrolment in this subject.
See the suggested study plan below.
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) enrolment planner (PDF, 162 Kb)
Award requirements
Students must complete all subjects. There are 29 subjects in the Bachelor of Education (ECE). These are comprised of:
- coursework subjects
- subjects requiring professional experience block placements in a variety of settings, including a final Internship placement of at least 50 consecutive days (1 full term) in a school context
- option subjects
Students must successfully complete all required subjects in the degree prior to undertaking the Internship.
Please note that students can be terminated from this degree if they fail to make satisfactory progress.
LANTITE Completion Requirement
Students are also required to provide evidence of successful completion of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students (LANTITE) prior to graduation. The test is managed by ACER and details of the test (for example, sample questions, the Test Window dates, and registration) can be found at: https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/. Students are responsible for meeting the costs associated with taking these tests, which are a national requirement applicable to all teaching graduates.
Students must successfully complete all required subjects in the degree and the LANTITE prior to enrolling in the final professional experience subject. The successful completion of LANTITE is a degree completion requirement.
Choose your subjects
Electives
Students completing the new degree structure i.e. starting from Study Period 1 2019 onwards, will complete two specified electives. These subjects must be selected from the list of Elective subjects specified by Curtin University’s School of Education.
Students admitted to the degree up to and including Study Period 4 2018, will complete threeunspecified electives. Students can select elective subjects in this degree from any subject offered through Open Universities Australia. We recommend that students consider taking subjects from the list of Elective subjects specified by Curtin University’s School of Education.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) has undergone a major change.
From 2019 a new version of the degree will be implemented which includes several new subjects, a number of updated subjects (which may have changed titles and/or new subject codes) and the relocation of a subject from fourth year to third year.
Students currently admitted to previous versions of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) will be able to complete their degree within four years full-time or equivalent part-time study. Where new subjects are to be undertaken by existing students, to enable them to meet new registration requirements, we will deliver the required content without disadvantaging students or lengthening their degree.
Students completing the new degree structure i.e. starting from Study Period 1 2019 onwards, will complete two options. These sujbects must be selected from the list of Optional subjects specified by Curtin University’s School of Education.
Students admitted to the degree up to and including Study Period 4 2018, will complete three electives. Students can select elective subjects in this degree from any subject offered through Open Universities Australia. We recommend that students consider taking subjects from the list of Optional subjects specified by Curtin University’s School of Education.
For further information/advice regarding this change, please contact Curtin University at OpenCurtin@curtin.edu.au.
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) Recoded Subjects 2019 (PDF, 45KB)
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $26,240
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
Explore Curtin courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
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- 14
Entry requirements
Start small with no entry requirements
Yes, you can get into this degree!
Start with an undergraduate certificate regardless of your ATAR or study history. Here’s how:
Undergraduate certificate
Start with a certificate
Complete an undergraduate certificate in as little as six months. You'll gain a recognised qualification and credit to bring to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education).
View certificate detailsContinue to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
Enter the degree with full credit from your certificate. You'll study for the same amount of time as students who go straight into the degree.
Alternate entry requirements
Want to apply for the degree straight away?
To gain direct entry into this degree, you need to meet ONE of the following requirements:
- Complete and pass 4 degree level subjects at an Australian university
- Have a Diploma or Advanced Diploma from an Australian provider
- Have a Certificate IV from an Australian provider AND show evidence of English language proficiency
- Have an ATAR of 70 (or equivalent), with at least Mathematics Applications ATAR (desirable)
- Complete and pass the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) with both Written English (WE) and Verbal and Quantitative (MC) OR a university preparation program from any Australian university.
With the exception of eight open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
There are eight open enrolment subjects in this degree. Students do not have to submit an Application Form for open enrolment subjects, and can enrol in EDC135, EDC153, EDC121, EDC105, EDC163, EDC145, EDC175 and EDC140 through Open Universities Australia.
Students who successfully complete two from these eight open enrolment subjects may apply under the Academic Eligibility category for admission to the restricted Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) program provided they have satisfied other eligibility criteria.
Open enrolment subjects 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 subjects 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.
- Successful completion of one full time semester (four standard subjects) towards an Undergraduate or higher level of study at an Australian University (separate evidence of English proficiency is not required).
- Successful study through OUA – either:
- Successful completion of two of the eight OUA open enrolment subjects: EDC135, EDC153, EDC121, EDC105, EDC163, EDC145, EDC175 and EDC140 and separate evidence of English proficiency is required OR
- Successful completion of four OUA degree level subjects at pass level. (This satisfies English language proficiency requirement.)
- Successful study through OUA – either:
- Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) 70 or equivalent. English ATAR, Literature ATAR or English as an Additional Language/Dialect ATAR. Desirable WACE course: At least Mathematics Applications ATAR. To determine your eligibility for entry please refer to Interstate Year 12 and IB Students, TISC Tertiary Institutions Service Centre link http://www.tisc.edu.au/static/guide/prerequisites-comparison.tisc
- Completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma or Advanced Diploma or Associate Diploma. You may also be eligible for credit toward your university study.
- Completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate IV and evidence of English proficiency.
- Successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). (Please note this test is valid for two years.) The STAT elements considered are E, V and Q.
- Bridging and enabling degree entry
- Curtin Enabling Program: UniReady - https://www.open.edu.au/degrees/uniready-enabling-subjects-curtin-university-cur-unr-deg
- Enabling degrees completed through other Australian Universities which meet minimum entry requirements for that institution will be accepted as minimum entry requirements for this degree.
Additional information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Centre for Aboriginal Studies - http://karda.curtin.edu.au/
- Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications - https://courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/admission-requirements/
Applicants need to meet Curtin's English Language requirements. You normally need ONE of the following:
- Must have a 50% minimum in English ATAR (or equivalent)
- Completion of at least one full time semester (or equivalent) of Undergraduate level studies at an Australian university
- Completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Diploma
- Successful completion of two degree level subjects via Open Universities Australia (OUA) and English proficiency
- Successful completion of two degree level subjects at an Australian university and English proficiency
- Successful completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)*
- International English Language Testing System (Academic)* Overall 7.5 with a score no less than 7.0 in Writing and Reading and a score no less than 8.0 in Speaking and Listening.
*Please note these tests are only valid for two years.
Please refer to the 'Minimum English Language Proficiency Requirements' document at http://students.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/English_List.pdf.
*** Please Note: If any academic or legal document is not in English, you must provide a colour scan of the non-English documents, including a colour scan of the official English translations of these documents. This is for comparison purposes. ***
Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) is assessed on individual merit and is awarded for different types of learning, for example, studies you have previously completed or for relevant work experience.
Students must be admitted in an award degree of study before lodging their completed CRL application, along with all required supporting documentation for a formal assessment.
To apply for CRL, please visit the Curtin University website: https://study.curtin.edu.au/credit/
It is important to note accepted documentation includes scans of the original Transcripts and/or Award Certificate; front and back; in colour; and original size. For further information see the scanned documents and certification requirements and guidelines.
More information about the policies and procedures related to CRL assessment and appealing a CRL assessment outcome can be found in the Credit for Recognised Learning manual (PDF).
If you have any questions, please contact opencurtin@curtin.edu.au
Study method requirements
Professional Experience Placements
Students are required to complete compulsory professional experience placements as part of designated subjects in the second, third and fourth year of the degree. All professional experience placements must be in an accredited early learning centre or registered school where the language of instruction is English. Students must hold and provide a valid Working with Children Check (WWC) and other relevant State requirements prior to undertaking any subjects which require placement in a school or early learning centre on a volunteer or scheduled basis.
Placements are undertaken on a full-time basis for the number of days shown in a continuous block and students need to plan carefully to ensure they are able to meet this commitment. Students are not permitted to be paid for a professional experience placement. There is a total of 105 days of professional experience in the degree, which satisfies all states' requirements for teacher registration.
Students being admitted to the degree after 1 January 2017, can complete no more than 25% of professional experience days in schools outside Australia. Therefore, students will only be able to complete one 3 week placement outside Australia and will be required to complete all other placements within Australia.
Note: The third year of the degree includes two professional experience subjects that require a placement in an accredited Early Learning Centre with infants, toddlers and young children (Birth-5 years of age) of 20 days and placement in a school of 20 consecutive days. The Early Learning Centre placement will comprise of a 1 day visit for 5 weeks immediately followed by a block of 15 consecutive days.
Students require access to one accredited Early Learning Centre with infants and toddlers (Birth-2 years of age) and three different schools in which to undertake the professional experience placements (and be able to travel to these educational settings). The final placement of 5 pre-visits and one full school term is the final subject in the degree and cannot be undertaken until all other subjects have been successfully completed. Clearance will be given to enrol in the internship subject pending results of final subjects.
None of the four professional experience placements can be broken or split into shorter periods. The professional experience must be conducted as a full time block placement at the specified time.
In those circumstances where the student is having difficulty securing a placement, Curtin University staff will assist and will seek input from the student to identify possibilities before making direct contact with the school or centre. Students having difficulty should contact Curtin in sufficient time to ensure that they are not disadvantaged due to their personal inability to identify a site for professional experience.
Please note that professional experience cannot be conducted in an education setting where there exists a conflict of interest such as the student conducts paid employment at this setting, the student has close family members employed as staff, and/or the student's siblings or own children attend this setting.
Further information about the professional experience placement requirements will be provided to students who have been admitted to the degree. Students who may seek to vary any of the stated conditions and requirements in the various professional experience subject handbooks must contact hum-ed-ouaprac@curtin.edu.au prior to enrolling in the subject.
To view the Practicum Calendar, please see below:
EDE220, EDE310, EDE360 Placement Calendar 2019 (PDF, 42KB)
Working with Children Check
A Working with Children Check (as required in the state or country of residence) is compulsory.
Due to the specialist nature of the teaching profession, and the professional experience practicum placement component of this degree, all successful applicants will be required to have a current Working with Children Check and any other relevant State requirements at the beginning of the degree and before engaging in any assessment task in a subject that involves child-related work or professional experience placement. If students have any doubt about their eligibility to acquire these clearances they should contact the local Teacher Registration Authority.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this degree will have the skills, knowledge and experience required to teach in early childhood education and care settings. Upon graduating with this degree you will be qualified to teach children from birth to eight years of age. Additional careers include Child Care Coordinator, education administrator or policy development officer.
Professional recognition
This degree is recognised nationally as an initial pre-service teaching qualification. Initial Teacher Education degrees in Australia are accredited by the relevant authority in the state or territory in which the institution providing the qualification is based.
Accordingly, the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) degrees provided by Curtin University are fully accredited by the Teachers Registration Board of WA (TRBWA) graduates of the degrees are able to register as practising teachers with the registration body in their home state or territory, based on the degree accreditation provided by the TRBWA.
The degree is also recognised by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an approved early childhood teacher qualification.
Below is link to the list of state-based teacher registration bodies for reference. State-based Teacher Registration Bodies (PDF, 30Kb)
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care Centre Managers | $75K to $93K | Up 12.7% |
| Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers | $75K to $93K | Up 41.3% |
Degree FAQs
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That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
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