Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Early Childhood Education |
| Deakin course code | E333 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 3-years full-time or part-time equivalent Flexible employment-based pathway - 2.5 years to 4 years depending on study load’^ |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025: Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 102806B Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
If you are inspired to teach young children, Deakin’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education provides you with the opportunity to explore early childhood education curriculum theories and pedagogies. You will study areas including; child development, health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, professional studies as well as teaching and learning in discipline areas of literacy, mathematics, science, and the arts.
You will undertake professional placements through Deakin’s Professional Experience Program gaining both practical knowledge and skills to teach children aged birth to 5-years. By experiencing learning across a range of early childhood and education settings will ensure, you graduate confident and equipped with foundation knowledge to meet the significant growth of the Australian early childhood education sector.
Do you want to start your journey to becoming an early childhood educator?
Fast-track your way to becoming an early childhood teacher with this three-year degree. You may additionally be eligible for an attractive scholarship offered by the Victorian Department of Education and Training for pre-service teachers enrolled in early childhood teaching courses.
Deakin maintains close links with the education sector to ensure our courses are developed and reviewed with professional input. You will be taught by experts who have teaching experience and who are recognised as leaders and innovators in their fields. This means you can be confident that what you learn with us will be relevant to your future teaching career.
The Professional Experience Program is a key part of every Deakin teaching student’s course experience. Working with more than 1400 early childhood centres and schools across Australia, we’ll arrange at least 80-days of placements for you in early childhood education and care settings where you will learn from experienced early childhood teachers.
Choose to study via our premium online learning platform and have the additional flexibility to balance work, life, and study. Studying online is collaborative and engaging, while still allowing you to complete your studies when and where it suits you.
Additionally, the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education is approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an early childhood teaching qualification in Australia* and provides students with an approved pathway from the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (previously Diploma of Children’s Services) offered through TAFE. Eligible students may receive up to 8 credit points of recognition for prior learning towards their degree.
*This course is approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an early childhood teaching qualification in Australia. Graduates of this course who are intending to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate may be required to provide further information.
Indicative student workload
Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period for each credit point undertaking required teaching, learning and assessment activities.
Professional recognition
This program is approved by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an early childhood teaching qualification in Australia. Graduates of this course will be eligible to register with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). Graduates who are intending to apply for registration interstate may be required to provide further information. Interstate applicants are advised to check the registration requirements in their state or territory carefully.
Career opportunities
There is an increasing demand for qualified early childhood teachers, with the workforce set to double in the next 10-years. Graduates are qualified to work in early childhood settings as early childhood teachers, educational leaders, coordinators, or advisers. Graduates may also find employment opportunities in:
- consultancy
- NGOs
- policy
- research or community-based organisations (e.g. museums, outdoor education, arts institutions, etc)
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Professional Experience Placements are a compulsory component of the course and a requirement for registration as a graduate teacher. Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Students are required to check the placement calendars published on the Professional Experience Office website each year. Placement takes priority over employment and placement periods are generally block placements of 5 full-time days per week over 2-5 weeks.
Course delivery is blended and students are required to dedicate time to weekly engagement with located or online teaching and learning activities and resources. This is recommended at combined total 8-10 hours per week per unit including active learning/engagement either face to face or online, and independent study.
Some units will require students to attend early childhood settings or institutions for site-based learning and teaching experiences.
Mandatory student checks
Students will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.
Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.
Inherent requirements
It is expected that all students will be able to abide by, and ensure their behaviour is in accordance with the Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct.
Immunisations
Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.
For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience Office.
Pathways
Pathways for credit are available for this course. Details of institutional credit agreements are published in the RPL database. International students can apply for packaged offers for some of these pathways.
Applicants who have completed a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or equivalent) are eligible to receive 8 Credit Points, gaining entry into the course in the second year.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Analyse and apply principles and practices relevant to curriculum, policy and regulations in early childhood and primary school education with in-depth knowledge and evaluation of theoretical underpinning. |
| Communication | Effectively evaluate and select communication skills (oral, written, digital and nonverbal) to professionally transmit knowledge and ideas with diverse individuals and groups (such as children, families, parents and caregivers, colleagues and other professionals, community organisations). |
| Digital literacy | Critically evaluate and apply a range of technologies to collect, analyse, synthesise, evaluate, generate and transmit information for the purposes of appropriate teaching and learning in a rapidly changing global environment. |
| Critical thinking | Analyse and evaluate contemporary issues, policies and research in educational and societal contexts to generate and transmit informed judgements to complex situations relating to teaching and learning. |
| Problem solving | Use analytical and practical skills to make well developed judgements, generate and transmit creative, innovative and authentic solutions to real-life and complex problems encountered when working with diverse individuals and groups (such as children, families, parents and caregivers, colleagues and other professionals, community organisations). |
| Self-management | Critically reflect on planning, problem-solving and decision making in teaching and learning contexts. Use initiative and autonomy to apply analytic knowledge and critical reflective skills to demonstrate responsibility for own learning and professional practice (and in collaboration with others). |
| Teamwork | Actively and collaboratively participate in learning communities, involving learners, families, community members, colleagues and the broader profession. |
| Global citizenship | Adapt and apply knowledge and skills that support the diversity of Australian society in the professional context. This includes influences of Indigenous and intercultural issues, family contexts, gender and disability on development, learning and teaching. |
Approved at Faculty Board 2020
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students must pass 24 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 24 credit points of core units
- a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
- a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3 or above
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Course structure
Year 1
| ECE110 | Child Development 1 |
| ECE111 | Curriculum 1: Pedagogies and Play |
| ECE120 | Contemporary Perspectives of Education |
| ECE140 | Creative Arts 1: Young Children and the Arts |
| ECE112 | Curriculum 2: Planning and Assessment for Teaching and Learning |
| ECE116 | Promoting Health, Wellbeing and Nutrition |
| ECE130 | Partnerships with Families and Communities |
| ECP128 | Professional Knowledge (0-2 Years) |
Year 2
| ECE211 | Mathematical Learning in the Early Years |
| ECE212 | Curriculum 3: Planning and Assessment for Teaching and Learning |
| ECE220 | Science 1: Science and Environmental Awareness for Young Children |
| ECE230 | Language and Literacy Development in Early Childhood |
| ECE241 | Creative Arts 2: Music and Visual Arts |
| ECL101 | Understanding Early Reading Development |
| ECP228 | Professional Practice 2 (3-5 Years) |
| IND202 | Australian Indigenous Education: Recognition, Relationships and Reconciliation |
Year 3
| ECE330 | Multiliterate Learners in Early Years and School Environments |
| ECE352 | Supporting Emerging Mathematical Skills for Infants and Toddlers |
| ECE370 | Guiding Engaged, Resilient Learners |
| ECE340 | Creative Learning Through the Arts |
| ECE380 | Inquiry Into Science Curriculum |
| ECE404 | Inclusive Education for Young Children |
| ECE420 | Supporting Children Making Transitions |
| ECP703 | Child Protection (replaces ECE360) |
ECE360 Protective Education and Child Well-Being [no longer available]
Work experience
Professional Experience Placement
Students will satisfactorily complete 80-days of supervised professional experience placement in a wide range of education and care settings and a 5-day observational experience in infant and toddler education and care settings across their degree, as outlined below:
Year 1: 5-days in infant and toddler education and care settings (observational)
Year 2: 1 x 20 and 1 x 25 (45-days) in kindergarten settings
Year 3: 20-days in infant and toddler education and care settings, 15-days in kindergarten or foundation (primary school) settings
The School of Education Professional Experience Office makes all arrangements for students’ placements.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
International student requirements
International students are required to study full-time to complete their course within the duration registered on CRICOS.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.