Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching at Victoria University is a 3-year program designed for individuals with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care to upgrade their qualifications. Delivered through a hybrid approach of online evening classes and monthly in-person sessions, the program prepares students to become registered early childhood teachers, specializing in nurturing children from birth to five years of age. Graduates are equipped with expertise in teaching methods, early childhood learning theories, and best practices, and are well-positioned for careers in various early childhood settings.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching at Victoria University is a 3-year full-time program designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to become early childhood teachers. The program is suitable for individuals who hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care and wish to upgrade their qualifications to a bachelor's degree in just two years. Students will primarily study online in the evenings while continuing to work in the early childhood sector. In-person classes will be held at VU's City Campus one Saturday per month to foster networking opportunities and support throughout the program. The program's objectives include:

• Preparing participants to meet the requirements for registration as an early childhood teacher with the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the Victorian Institute for Teaching (VIT).
• Developing participants' expertise in nurturing children from birth to five years of age.
• Providing a solid foundation in teaching methods, early childhood learning theories, cultural competency (including Indigenous perspectives), and best practices in early childhood education settings.
• Encouraging participants to draw upon their practical experience in the field to complete assignments, such as creating art-based responses, designing learning opportunities, and reflecting on workplace documentation.

Outline:

Year 1

• Reconciling Australian Humanities Education
• Personal and Professional Learning
• Human Development, Sustainability, and Wellbeing
• Creativity and the Arts in Education
• Playing with Play
• Professional Understandings of Quality Frameworks in Early Childhood
• Educational Programs and Practice
• Safe, Secure, and Supportive Relationships and Environments

Year 2

• Practice in Partnership 1
• Practice in Partnership 2
• History, Philosophy, and Early Childhood Education
• Engaging with Place through Rethinking Childhoods and Development
• Engaging with Place through Play
• Materiality in Early Childhood: Visual and Creative Arts
• Moving with Young Children
• Music, Movement, and Dramatic Arts

Year 3

• Thinking with Young Children: Language and Literacy
• Advocacy in Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Education
• Practice in Partnership 3
• Critical and Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Education
• Equity, Social Justice, and Diversity in Early Childhood Education
• Thinking with Young Children: Science, Maths, and Technology

Teaching:

The program delivery includes a hybrid approach with online evening classes and in-person classes on select Saturdays. The program emphasizes reflective practice and encourages participants to draw upon their practical work experience in early childhood settings to enhance their learning.

Careers:

Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching will be prepared for careers as early childhood teachers in various settings, including kindergartens, childcare centers, and community organizations. The program aligns with the high demand for qualified early childhood teachers in Victoria, particularly with the government's initiative to provide subsidized three-year-old kindergarten programs. Graduates can expect to earn above-average wages and have the opportunity to play a significant role in nurturing the next generation of learners.