Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education |
| Deakin course code | E334 |
| Course credit points | 32 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2021 to 2025 |
| Campus | Offered to continuing students only. |
| Final intake | The final intake to this course was in teaching period 2, 2025. Students should contact Student Central for course, course map and enrolment information. |
| Duration | 4-years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS code | 102807A Burwood (Melbourne) |
Course sub-headings
- Professional recognition
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
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.
Alternative exits
| Associate Degree of Educational Studies (E224) | |
| Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (E333) | |
| Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (E320) | |
| Bachelor of Educational Studies (E379) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| 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. |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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). |
| 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). |
| Actively and collaboratively participate in learning communities, involving learners, families, community members, colleagues and the broader profession. |
| 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
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Education you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period.
- ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first year of study.
- ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your 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.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Year 1
| ELN010 | Australian Literacy Test |
| ELN011 | Australian Numeracy Test |
| ECE103 | Early Years Learning Environments [replaces ECE140] |
| ECE110 | Children's Development |
| ECE111 | Curriculum, Play and Pedagogy |
| ECE112 | The Planning Cycle |
| ECE116 | Children's Health and Wellbeing |
| ECE120 | Introduction to the Teaching Profession |
| ECE130 | Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities |
| ECP128 | Introduction to Professional Practice |
ECE140 Creative Arts 1: Young Children and the Arts [No longer available for enrolment, ECE103 replaces this unit]
Year 2
| ECE211 | Mathematics in the Early Years |
| ECE220 | Science and Environment in the Early Years |
| ECE230 | Language and Literacy 1: Foundations |
| ECE241 | Creative Arts 1: Music and Movement |
| ECP252 | Professional Experience 1: Infant/Toddler Pedagogy [replaces ECE212] |
| ECL101 | Science of Reading |
| ECP228 | Professional Experience 2: Planning for Individual Children |
| IND202 | Decolonising Teaching and Learning: Recognition, Relationships and Reconciliation on Unceded Lands |
ECE212 Curriculum 3: Planning and Assessment for Teaching and Learning [No longer available for enrolment, ECP252 replaces this unit]
Year 3
| ECE330 | Multiliterate Learners in Early Years and School Environments |
| ECP305 | Professional Experience 3: Group Planning and Transitions [replaces ECE352] |
| ECE270 | Guiding Engaged Learners [replaces ECE370] |
| ECE380 | STEM Inquiry Learning |
| ECE344 | Inclusive Education for Young Children [replaces ECE404] |
| ECE420 | Supporting Children Making Transitions |
| ECP703 | Protective Education and Children's Wellbeing [replaces ECE360] |
1 credit point from primary teaching specialisation (Unit 1)
ECE360 Protective Education and Child Well-Being [No longer available for enrolment, ECP703 replaces this unit]
ECE352 Supporting Emerging Mathematical Skills for Infants and Toddlers [No longer available for enrolment, ECP305 replaces this unit]
ECE370 Guiding Engaged, Resilient Learners [No longer available for enrolment, ECE270 replaces this unit]
ECE404 Inclusive Education for Young Children [No longer available for enrolment, ECE344 replaces this unit]
Year 4
| ECE340 | Creative Arts 2: Visual Arts and Drama |
| ECL310 | Teaching Primary English and Literacy: 3-6 |
EEO410 Humanities Inquiry Pedagogy [No longer available for enrolment, EE0312 replaces this unit]
| ESM304 | Teaching Primary Mathematics and Numeracy: Years 3-6 [replaces ESM310] |
| EST400 | Primary Technology Education: Creativity and Design |
| EPR786 | Transition to the Profession 1 [replaces ETP400] |
| EPR787 | Transition to the Profession 2 [replaces ETP403] |
1 credit point from primary teaching specialisation (Unit 2)
ESM310 Teachers and Mathematics: Creating an Effective Classroom [No longer available for enrolment, ESM304 replaces this unit]
ETP400 Assessment: Ways of Knowing Learners [No longer available for enrolment, EPR786 replaces this unit]
ETP403 University-to-Work Transition [No longer available for enrolment, EPR787 replaces this unit]
Primary Teaching Specialisations
Select one of the following four primary specialisations:
| Primary Specialisation | Unit 1 | Unit 2 |
| Language | Completion of Diploma^ | ETL710 Theory and Practice of Languages Teaching [No longer available for enrolment] From 2026: ETP405Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
| Literacy | ALL153Literature for Children and Young Adults OR ALL230Adapting Children's Texts Across Media | ECL351 Diversity, Language and Literacy [No longer available for enrolment] From 2026: ETP405Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
| Mathematics | SIT190Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs | ESM303 Primary Mathematics Lesson Study [No longer available for enrolment] From 2026: ETP405Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
| Science | SLE123Physics for the Life Sciences OR SLE103Ecology and the Environment OR SLE133Chemistry in Our World | EES300 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education [No longer available for enrolment] From 2026: ETP405Primary Specialisation Pathway: Pedagogical Content Knowledge |
SIT176 Mathematical Reasoning and Investigation [No longer available for enrolment]
^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.
Diploma of Languages is only available to domestic students
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
Professional Experience Placement
Students will satisfactorily complete between 115-120 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 (students who have completed the Diploma of Early Childhood Education will not be required to complete this placement).
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 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
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Commonwealth Prac Payment - Domestic students only
If you're eligible, the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) can help with the costs of completing a mandatory placement as part of your course. To find out if you're eligible and learn how to apply, visit Deakin’s Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) website.