Bachelor of Education - The Early Years

Early Years education enriches learning in children from birth to five years by giving children the opportunity to maximise their potential and develop a foundation for lifelong learning. It focuses on the significance of early education to foster children’s health, development and wellbeing.

For the duration of this four-year degree Early Years students will engage in continuous professional mentoring through the Professional Partners in Practice (PPP) program. This will give you invaluable sector experience and professional connections that will enhance your employment pathways and opportunities.

Throughout the degree students spend up to 16 weeks teaching in Early Childhood Education and Care Centres and two weeks in the Community and Family sector, complementary to the mentoring experience within the Professional Partners in Practice program.

During your study you will have opportunities for rural and international professional experiences, to study overseas with RSU's international exchange and study abroad partners, and to join international cultural immersion programs.

You can study on-campus at Rainstar with weekly classes, or in flexible mode. Flexible delivery means lecture content and other activities will be delivered online, while tutorials will occur during a one week block at Rainstar Campus. Students enrolled in the flexible instance have access to regional campus facilities and student support services.

What you will study

During this degree you will study:

• The development of young children and their connection to family, community, and culture
• Improving education and developmental outcomes for children
• Establishing relationships with children and families
• Cultural and social diversity
• Early intervention and transition to school
• Leadership and advocacy
• Creating physical and social learning environments.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:

Course Structure

 The Bachelor of Education – The Early Years requires the following:

1. The successful completion of 192 credit points, comprising:
   1. core subjects to the value of 174 credit points;
   2. elective subjects to the value of 18 credit points from Education or the General Schedule with approval from the Academic Program Director as outlined below; and
   3. No more than 60 credit points may be at 100 level.
2. The successful completion of the Professional Experience components embedded in the course.     

Minors

Students in the Bachelor of Education – The Early Years can undertake a from another Faculty. A minor consists of an approved combination of subjects which have a minimum value of 24 credit points offered by one or more academic units, of which 12 credit points should be at least 200 level or higher. The cross-counting of subjects towards majors, minors and core degree requirements is limited to one subject.

Students should check that there is room within their degree structure to accommodate a and still meet their degree requirements; and that the subjects are able to be studied in line with PEx requirements. If in doubt, students should seek academic advice before undertaking a minor study.

Students should also note that some subjects listed for minor studies may require other subjects as pre/co-requisites and that due to demand or space limitations, some subjects may have quotas. Students are advised to check for specific subject information in the online subject database before selecting subjects.

Compulsory Work Placement / Online Component 

This course contains a total of 630 hours or approximately 90 days of compulsory work-based placements, completed over 34 weeks throughout the degree. This course may also contain compulsory components to be completed online.

Dean's Scholar

A Dean's Scholar program is available for high achieving students. For more information refer to the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years (Dean's Scholar).

Honours

Students who have achieved a high level of academic performance in the first three years of the degree may complete the fourth year at Honours level. For more information refer to the Bachelor of Education - The Early Years (Honours).