Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Box Hill Institute is a four-year degree that prepares you to work as an early childhood teacher in Australia. It sits on the Australian Qualifications Framework at bachelor level, which means it is a full degree in its own right. You will study how children from birth to eight years learn, how to plan and run a curriculum that suits them, and how to work with families and communities. The course covers child development, play-based learning, literacy and numeracy in the early years, inclusion and diversity, and the professional and legal side of working in children's services. You will also learn how to observe children, document their learning and use that evidence to plan what comes next.

The degree is structured the way Australian bachelor degrees usually are: full-time study over four years, made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required number of credit points to graduate. Teaching degrees in Australia normally include professional experience placements in early childhood settings, and this one is no exception. Placements are where you put the theory to work under the supervision of a qualified teacher, in long day care, kindergarten or preschool settings. The exact placement pattern, unit sequence and any capstone or final-year project are set by Box Hill Institute, so check the official course page for the current structure.

Skills you build along the way include planning and delivering learning experiences, assessing children's progress, managing a room, communicating with parents, and understanding the regulatory framework that early childhood services operate under in Australia. You also learn to work as part of a team and to keep your own professional knowledge up to date. These are the things employers look for when they hire early childhood teachers.

This course suits people who want to teach young children and are ready to study for four years to get there. It is a good fit if you enjoy working with children, are patient, and want a qualification that lets you work in early childhood services across Australia. If you are an international student, you will need to meet the English requirement, and remember that while you study you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight once your course has started. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on the rules at the time. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm all details on the official Box Hill Institute page before you apply.

• Early childhood teacher in long day care, kindergarten or preschool services
• Early years educator in community and not-for-profit organisations
• Family day care educator or coordinator
• Early childhood service director or educational leader (with experience)
• Integration aide or early intervention assistant in schools and support services
• Roles in Australian state and territory education departments and early childhood agencies