The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Arts may be taken as a double degree program in four years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). Students who study part-time would normally be expected to complete the double degree program within eight years.
The course is offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.
The double degree program of Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Arts requires completion of a total of 144 units.
A Lutheran pathway is available for students wishing to teach in that system (see BEd(ECh)BA Handbook for details). Specialist language education topics are available for those students who wish to teach a language(s).
Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete, either the full double degree program or the professional experience component of the double degree program may be eligible to:
- transfer into the four year Bachelor of Education Studies, Bachelor of Arts double degree after at least 72 units of study have been attempted (excluding topics for which a Withdraw, Not Fail (WN) has been recorded); or
- exit after successful completion of 108 units with either the Bachelor of Education Studies or Bachelor of Arts, provided they have met the course rule requirements for the relevant award.
Admission requirements
The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.
Applicants must complete a non-academic capabilities assessment task that is based on the Australian Institute for Teaching and school Leadership Initial Teacher Education standards.
Limited credit may be granted for relevant topics taken at the University or other institutions.
Course aims
The course aims to produce graduates who:
- use understandings of how children learn and develop to co-construct inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum for children from birth to age 8
- demonstrate the capacity to form and sustain effective relationships with children, colleagues, parents and community members
- use critical reflection and understandings of theoretical knowledge to inform their future practice
- actively promote and support policies and practices that take account of social and individual differences and ensure that all children learn and develop
- demonstrate a commitment to social justice in our democratic society, acting powerfully in their centres, classrooms, schools and communities
- use an effective repertoire of information and communication technologies.
Learning outcomes
It is anticipated that on completion of the double degree program graduate students will:
- foreground equity considerations in all facets of their professional work
- relate to children as competent and active social participants within the contexts of their diverse families, local and global environments
- use understandings of how children develop and processes of learning to co-construct inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum for children from birth to age 8
- utilise a range of technologies, pedagogical approaches and techniques that enhance, sustain and extend children's learning and development from birth to age 8
- enhance the connections between early childhood programs and other services that support the learning and wellbeing of children and communities
- sustain relationships based on trust, respect, integrity, and reciprocity in order to achieve high quality, equitable outcomes for young children, families, colleagues and the wider community
- work collaboratively and collectively as members of inter-disciplinary teams to ensure that all children have opportunities to access and participate in high quality and inclusive Early Childhood services
- communicate effectively with a variety of audiences for a range of purposes
- critically analyse the relationship between research, practice and theory as an impetus for transformational, innovative and creative work in early childhood education
- recognise the effects of history, culture and politics on their identities and work as professional early childhood educators in a multi-service environment
- demonstrate a commitment to the scholarship of teaching and learning through a continuous process of reflexive inquiry
- draw on a multi-disciplinary knowledge base to make ethically informed decisions that are in the best interests of children, families and colleagues
- in partnership with families, lead, negotiate and advocate for change through policy activism which contributes to a democratic society.
Credit
Limited credit may be granted for recognition of prior studies undertaken at the University or other approved tertiary institutions. Further information is available on this page.
Program of study
To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), Bachelor of Arts, a student must:
- complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, consisting of 72 units in the Bachelor of Education component and 72 units in the Bachelor of Arts component, according to the program of study below; and
- meet the required benchmark in the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to commencing the professional experience topics. Students must normally meet the benchmark within two attempts. Further attempts may be recommended by the Dean (Education) under exceptional circumstances.
A student whose Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 5.00 after attempting the first 72 units of study (excluding topics for which a Withdraw, Not Fail (WN) has been recorded) will normally be required to enter into a counselling process with the College to demonstrate their capacity to achieve the range of attributes and motivations that have been determined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as being common to effective teachers. As part of this process students who are unable to satisfactorily demonstrate their capacity to achieve the range of attributes and motivations before graduation will be supported through a range of options appropriate to their circumstances.
The Bachelor of Education component must include:
- 9 units of Education topics at First Year level
- 9 units of Education topics at Second Year level including professional experience
- 27 units of Education topics at Third Year level including professional experience
- 27 units of Education topics at Fourth Year level including professional experience.
The Bachelor of Arts component must include:
- 36 units of one BA major sequence
- 22.5 units of one BA minor sequence
- EDUC2420 Teaching Indigenous Australian Students (4.5 units)
- 9 units of prescribed BA electives which can be selected from any of the BA majors/minors at any level provided the entry requirements are met.
Except with the permission of the Dean (Education):
- no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice
- professional experience topics may not be attempted more than once
- students must complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to commencing the professional experience topics.
Students should note that professional experience topics require full-time commitment for their duration.
LIST OF TOPICS
The BA major, minor and electives may be chosen from topics and topic sequences listed in the BA handbook.
Year 1 topics
36 units comprising
EDUC1120 Teaching and Educational Contexts (4.5 units)
EDUC1221 Play, Learning and Development (4.5 units)
EDUC1225 Professional Experience: Year 1 (Early Childhood) (0 units)
plus 9 units of BA major topics
plus 9 units of BA minor topics
plus 9 units of BA Elective topics
Year 2 topics
36 units comprising
EDUC2321 The Expressive Arts in Early Childhood (4.5 units)
EDUC2420 Teaching Indigenous Australian Students (4.5 units)
EDUC2421 Literacy and Numeracy: Birth-4 (4.5 units)
EDUC2324 Professional Experience: Year 2A (Early Childhood) (0 units)
EDUC2424 Professional Experience: Year 2B (Early Childhood) (0 units)
plus 18 units of BA major topics
plus 4.5 units of BA minor topics
Year 3 topics
36 units comprising
EDUC3521 Language, Literature and Literacies 4-8 (4.5 units)
EDUC3522 Pedagogies of Belonging (4.5 units)
EDUC3528 Professional Experience: Year 3A (Early Childhood) (0 units)
EDUC3618 Numeracy and Multiliteracies in Design and Technology (4.5 units)
EDUC3622 Thinking and Working Mathematically (4.5 units)
EDUC3623 Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood (4.5 units)
EDUC3640 Professional Experience: Year 3B (Early Childhood) (4.5 units)
plus 4.5 units of BA major topics
plus 4.5 units of BA minor topics
Year 4 topics
36 units comprising
EDUC4722 Critical Pedagogies for a Changing World (4.5 units)
EDUC4723 Investigating Early Years Curriculum and Pedagogy (4.5 units)
EDUC4724 Thinking and Working Scientifically in the Early Years (4.5 units)
EDUC4740 Professional Experience: Final Assessment (Early Childhood) (4.5 units)
EDUC4820 The Professional Educator (4.5 units)
plus 4.5 units of BA major topics
plus 4.5 units of BA minor topics
plus 4.5 units of Education Elective topics
The following majors or minors can be studied within the Bachelor of Arts component of the double degree:
# Chinese, German and Japanese are available cross-institutionally at the University of Adelaide. Please visit the University of Adelaide webpage for topic information.
**Students may only study a BA major or a BA minor cross-institutionally at the University of Adelaide, but not both.
