Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education at Southern Cross Education Institute (Higher Education) is a four-year professional degree for people who want to teach children from birth to eight years old. It sits in the curriculum and instruction field, which means the focus is on how young children learn and how teachers plan, observe and assess that learning. You study child development, play-based learning, language and literacy, numeracy, the creative arts, health and wellbeing, and how to work with families and communities. Alongside the theory you learn the practical side of running a room: planning a day, managing behaviour, documenting children's progress against the Early Years Learning Framework, and meeting the National Quality Standard.

How the degree is structured

As an Australian bachelor degree, this course is normally four years of full-time study and sits at level 7 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is delivered in semesters or trimesters, depending on the teaching calendar, and you enrol in units of study each period. Each unit carries a set number of credit points, and you need to pass the required total to graduate. The early years of the degree build your knowledge of development and curriculum; later years move into leadership, inclusion, and working with children who need additional support. Because this is a teaching qualification, professional experience placements are built into the course. You spend time in early learning centres and schools under the supervision of a qualified teacher, starting with observation and building up to taking responsibility for planning and teaching. Most teaching degrees finish with a final professional experience block or a capstone unit that pulls together everything you have learned.

What you actually learn

You graduate able to plan a curriculum that fits the children in front of you, not one copied from a textbook. You learn to observe children and use those observations to decide what to teach next. You learn to teach reading and writing from the ground up, and to build early maths through play and everyday routines. You learn how to talk to parents about their child's progress, how to work in a team with other educators, and how to keep records that meet regulatory requirements. You also learn about the legal and ethical side of working with children, including child protection and inclusion of children with disability. Assessment is a mix of essays, reports, portfolios, presentations and practical teaching observations.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers who know they want to work with young children, and also mature-age students changing careers or moving up from a certificate or diploma in early childhood education. If you already hold a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, ask the institute about credit for prior study, because some units may be recognised. It is a good fit if you want a qualification that lets you work as a teacher rather than as an assistant, and if you are willing to do the placement hours, which are a real part of the workload. International students should confirm the English requirement for this course with the institute, because teaching courses often sit at a higher IELTS level than other degrees. While studying in Australia on a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during teaching periods. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream is worth checking if you want to stay and work. Always confirm fees, entry requirements, placement arrangements and registration details on the official CRICOS listing and the institute's own page before you apply.

• Early childhood teacher in long day care centres, preschools and kindergartens
• Kindergarten or preschool teacher in community-run and government-funded services
• Prep or junior primary teacher in schools, depending on state registration requirements
• Early childhood educator or room leader in centre-based care
• Family day care coordinator or educational leader supporting other educators
• Inclusion support educator working with children who need additional assistance
• Early intervention assistant in services supporting children with developmental needs

Graduates work across the Australian early childhood sector, which includes long day care, preschool and kindergarten services, occasional care, and the early years of primary school. Employers range from large national providers and not-for-profit organisations to community preschools, local councils and state education departments. Many graduates also move into educational leadership, service management, curriculum advisory roles or further study in education.