Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education
Deakin course code	E334
Faculty	Faculty of Arts and Education
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	4-years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is 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	102807A 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

If you are passionate about children’s education, the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education opens the door to a range of inspiring career opportunities. Our dual-accredited degree focuses on contemporary issues in children’s learning and development, curriculum theories and pedagogies, discipline knowledge and the changing teaching and learning context within early childhood and primary education.

Through our Professional Experience Program you will develop practical knowledge and gain invaluable insight into classroom environments. With the option to combine your personal interests with a range of curriculum areas, you will undertake placements in early childhood and primary school settings that enrich and solidify your studies so that you graduate with the confidence and aptitude to meet the significant growth of the Australian early childhood education sector.

Are you ready to launch an exciting and rewarding career teaching children?

Deakin maintains close links with the education sector to ensure our courses are developed and reviewed with professional input. You will be taught by staff members 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.

In Australia, primary school teachers complete a specialisation in an area of expertise during their initial teacher education. Primary teaching specialisations include:

literacy
science
mathematics
language other than English.

The Professional Experience Program is a key part of every Deakin teaching student’s course experience. Working with more than 1400 schools and early childhood settings across Australia, we will arrange at least 115-days of placements for you in early childhood education and care settings, and schools where you will learn from experienced teachers.

Students also have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for teaching.

Choose to study via Deakin's 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.

Students may 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.

Additionally, the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education 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.

Before beginning your studies, prospective teaching students need to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.

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 course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) and Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as a nationally recognised primary and early childhood teaching qualification. 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. In both early childhood and primary school education settings there is a strong demand for qualified teachers and graduate starting salaries for teachers are high compared to the graduate average. As a graduate of this course you may find employment as a teacher within the private or public education sectors.

You might also find employment in a range of other education related fields including:

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. Some units will require students enrolled in online learning to attend on campus activities.

Mandatory student checks

Teacher Education Graduation requirements

Students undertaking an initial teacher education course must pass an approved literacy and numeracy test in order to be eligible to graduate and apply for teacher registration. Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test.

Working with Children Check

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 (or equivalent) are eligible to receive 8 Credit Points, gaining entry into the course in the second year.

Applicants who have completed at least 2 units in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (E333) at Deakin University are eligible to receive Credit for the units they have completed. Entry into the course is dependent on the following:

A minimum WAM of 65
Completion of an additional selection tool for non-academic attributes. Deakin University is using the Casper test. Casper is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education provides a pathway into the Graduate Certificate in Educational Research.

Guaranteed pathways

Entry is dependent on the completion of the Casper test. Casper is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching.

Alternative exits

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (E333)
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (E320)

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 and Primary Education students must pass 32 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
ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first year of study
ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first year of study
30 credit points of core units
2 credit points of Primary Teaching Specialisation in either: i) Science; or ii) Literacy, iii) Mathematics; iv) Languages
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 10 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.

Note:

This course includes 115-days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA)*. This must be complete in the final year of study.Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards.
Students who do not pass the DTPA must seek advice from the course director

Students are also required to complete 2 zero (0) credit point units ELN010 and ELN011 as part of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) in order to graduate from their course. Students are expected to attempt the tests within the first year of their course. Students who do not attempt the tests within their first year may be unable to progress with their studies until an attempt has been made.

Course structure

Year 1

ELN010

Australian Literacy Test

ELN011

Australian Numeracy Test

ECE110

Child Development 1

ECE111

Curriculum 1: Pedagogies and Play

ECE112

Curriculum 2: Planning and Assessment for Teaching and Learning

ECE116

Promoting Health, Wellbeing and Nutrition

ECE120

Contemporary Perspectives of Education

ECE130

Partnerships with Families and Communities

ECE140

Creative Arts 1: Young Children and the Arts

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

ECE380

Inquiry Into Science Curriculum

ECE404

Inclusive Education for Young Children

ECE420

Supporting Children Making Transitions

ECP703

Child Protection (replaces ECE360)

1 credit point from primary teaching specialisation (Unit 1)

*ECE360 Protective Education and Child Well-Being [no longer available]

Year 4

ECE340

Creative Learning Through the Arts

ECL310

Multiliterate Learners in Middle Years Environments

EEO410

Humanities Inquiry Pedagogy

ESM310

Teachers and Mathematics: Creating an Effective Classroom

EST400

Primary Technology Education: Creativity and Design

ETP400

Assessment: Ways of Knowing Learners

ETP403

University-To-Work Transition

1 credit point from primary teaching specialisation (Unit 2)

Primary Teaching Specialisations

Select one of the following four primary specialisations:

Primary Specialisation	Unit 1	Unit 2
Language	Completion of Diploma^	ETL710Teaching and Learning in Languages Classrooms
Literacy	ALL153Literature for Children and Young Adults OR ALL230Adapting Children's Texts Across Media	ECL351Diversity, Language and Literacy
Mathematics	SIT106Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics OR SIT176Mathematical Reasoning and Investigation	ESM303Primary Mathematics Lesson Study
Science	SLE123Physics for the Life Sciences OR SLE103Ecology and the Environment OR SLE133Chemistry in Our World	EES300Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education

^ Deakin has four options for languages study: Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish:
Concurrent enrolments in A221 Diploma of Arabic or A222 Diploma of Chinese, or A223 Diploma of Indonesian, or A224 Diploma of Spanish or equivalent with RPL given upon completion. Enrolment in one of A221, A222, A223 or A224 courses and one associated co-requisite unit are required for ETL710. The Diploma can be undertaken concurrently with another course and is of 3 years part-time duration with eight credit points.

There are two options for each Diploma:
i) for students with no background in the language; or
ii) an advanced study for those with Year 12 level (or equivalent) in the language.

Work experience

Professional Experience Placement

Students will satisfactorily complete 115-days of professional experience placement in a wide range of education and care settings, as outlined below:

Year 1: 5-days in infant and toddler education and care settings

Year 2: 2 x 20-days (40-days in total) in kindergarten settings

Year 3: 20-days in infant and toddler education and care settings and 15-days in kindergarten or foundation (primary school) settings

Year 4: 35-days in primary school settings

The School of Education Professional Experience Office makes all arrangements for PST placements. The number of professional experience days align with requirements of external regulatory authorities (VIT and ACECQA).

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.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.