Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Education (Kew Campus) Bach. Early Childhood Studies : Next:B. Educn (Early Childhood) | Search | Help

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Pass and Honours)

Overview
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Course Objectives
Enquiries
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies
Diploma in Modern Languages
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Honours)
- Entry to Honours
- Course outline
Subject descriptions

Overview

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (BECS) is a seven-semester degree course designed to meet the growing demand for early childhood educators who can work across the diversity of early childhood services within Victoria. The general aim of the course is to educate students in early childhood studies and to provide liberal education and professional training for students.

The BECS course consists of four areas of study: Child Development Studies (at least 120 points), Professional Studies in Early Childhood Education (142 points); Foundation Studies (12.5 points); and Liberal Studies (at least 58 points).

Child Development Studies is the major study in the degree. Students gain a breadth of knowledge across a range of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary approaches and acquire an in-depth understanding of the literature in key aspects of the subject. The major includes both core and elective studies.
Professional Studies in Early Childhood Education is organised into two study sequences: (i) the Early Childhood Professional; and (ii) the Curriculum. Students undertake practicum in each year of the course with more substantial elements in the later part of the course. There is a total of 100 days of Practicum, integrated within sequences (i) and (ii) above.
Foundation Studies (in mathematics, science and language literacy) is undertaken in first year, and requires students to demonstrate a satisfactory level of knowledge and skills in these areas.
Liberal Studies is designed to enhance and extend the liberal education of the student. Students will undertake one liberal study comprising four or five semester subjects scheduled in the first and second years of the course. In the second year, students may elect to complete three semester subjects in Liberal Studies or may choose to undertake two semester subjects in Liberal Studies and one additional Child Development Studies elective (16.7 points).

Pathways Program

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies TAFE Pathways Program is designed to give holders of a TAFE associate diploma in child care the opportunity to upgrade their qualification to degree level by undertaking the BECS course on an external basis.

Students entering the Pathways Program receive 150 points credit towards the BECS course and complete the remaining 200 points externally, normally over three or four years.

Child Development Studies comprise the major study of the course and all students undertake a combination of core and elective subjects in this area. In the Liberal Studies component students are able to choose one of four disciplines areas to study in a three-semester sequence. These discipline areas are: Australia-Themes and Aspects, Biology, Interdisciplinary Arts, and Literature Studies. Curriculum and professional studies strand subjects are designed to meet the needs of the early childhood field.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Honours)

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Honours) (BECS (Hons)) course comprises an additional year (three semesters) of study following completion of the BECS course. It is designed to allow selected students the opportunity to develop their academic and research skills in the field of early childhood studies. The course comprises two components of study; advanced studies in Child Development, and Research Methodology including a supervised research project.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Course Objectives

On completion of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies graduates should:

understand the nature of the early childhood period, defined as 0-8 years;
understand the diverse roles of the early childhood educator;
have acquired the basic concepts, knowledge and analytical skills of the variety of disciplines which contribute to an understanding of the early childhood period;
have acquired specific skills, knowledge and concepts in an area of liberal education drawn from the humanities, the arts or the sciences;
be able to design integrated curricula for children in various settings;
be able to implement programs for a range of early childhood services;
be able to critically analyse and evaluate program effectiveness and professional performance;
understand the need for continued reflection and development as a basis for professional practice in early childhood settings; and
at Honours level, have extended knowledge and critical understandings in Child Development Studies and have acquired skills necessary to undertake research.

Enquiries

For further information about this course please contact the Faculty Office, Kew Campus, telephone: (03) 9854 3333.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies

Course structure

The course comprises seven semesters of study which can be completed in a minimum of three and maximum of ten years.

To qualify for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, you must satisfy the following requirements:

accumulate a total of 350 points;
complete Child Development Studies of at least 120 points including the subjects Child Development Studies 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A and 3A;
complete Professional Studies in Early Childhood Education amounting to at least 142 points;
complete Foundation Studies of 12.5 points; and
complete an approved sequence of Liberal Studies amounting to at least 58 points, drawn from the sequences listed in Table 1 or an approved equivalent sequence.

Workload

The standard workload for each year other than the Honours year is 116.7 points but special approval may be granted to enrol for subjects totalling up to 120 points in one year. The standard workload for the Honours year is 100 points.

Credit

Credit towards the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies may be granted for previous tertiary study and experience to a maximum of 250 points. Credit is determined by the Faculty and awarded at the time of enrolment.

Course outline

The normal pattern of study for a full-time student is as follows:

First year

466-107         CDS 1A: Perspectives on Development            12.5 points
466-108         CDS 1B: Dimensions of Development              12.5
466-109         CDS 1C: Theories of Play &  Development         12.5
466-110         Curriculum Theory 1A                           12.5
466-111         Curriculum Practice 1B: Applying Theory to     16.7
                Practice
466-117         The Early Childhood Professional 1             12.5
466-114         Foundation Studies                             12.5
                A-Level Liberal Studies                        25.0
                                                               116.7

Second year

466-201         CDS 2A: Aspects of Development                 16.7
466-275         Curriculum 2                                   16.7
466-276         The Early Childhood Professional 2             16.7
                B-Level Liberal Studies                        33.4
                Two Electives from the following:
466-202         CDS 2B: Theories &  Models of Early Childhood   16.7
                Development
466-203         CDS 2C: Sensory Motor Development              16.7
466-204         CDS 2D: Language and Literacy                  16.7
466-205         CDS 2E: Concepts of Childhood                  16.7
466-206         CDS 2F: Socialization                          16.7
466-209         Australia 2C: Interpretation and Research      16.7
466-212         Biology 2C: Humans in the Environment          16.7
466-259         Dance 2C: The Expressionists                   16.7
466-262         ID Arts 2C: The Arts in Theatre 5              16.7
466-265         Literature Studies 2C: Creative Writing        16.7
466-268         Music 2C: Aspects of World Music               16.7
466-274         Two-Dimensional Art 2C                         16.7
                                                               116.9

Not all electives may be offered in any one year.

Third year

466-353         CDS 3A: Diversity and Development              16.7
466-364         Curriculum 3A                                  16.7
466-365         Curriculum 3B                                  16.7
466-362         The Early Childhood Professional 3A            16.7
466-363         The Early Childhood Professional 3B            16.7
                TWO CDS Electives from the following:
466-354         CDS 3B: Gender Development                     16.7
466-355         CDS 3C: Personality Development                16.7
466-356         CDS 3D: Cross-Cultural Studies                 16.7
466-357         CDS 3E: Social Inequality                      16.7
466-358         CDS 3F: Development Assessment and Practice    16.7
466-359         CDS 3G: Ethical Issues in Child-rearing        16.7
466-360         CDS 3H: Atypicality                            16.7
466-361         CDS 3J: Moral Development and Education        16.7
                                                               116.9

Not all electives may be offered in any one year.

In addition the following subjects may be offered to students who enter with credit:

466-222         Reading Study 2A                               16.7
466-223         Reading Study 2B                               16.7

Table 1: Liberal Studies subjects

First year (A-Level)

466-103         Australia 1A: Environment and People           12.5 points
466-104         Australia 1B: Aspects of Immigration           12.5
466-185         Australia 1C: Immigrant Australians *           8.3
466-105         Biology 1A: Animal Biology                     12.5
466-106         Biology 1B: Plant Biology                      12.5
466-188         Biology 1C: Plant and Animal Biology*           8.3
466-112         Dance 1A                                       12.5
466-113         Dance 1B                                       12.5
466-115         ID Arts 1A: The Arts in Theatre 1              12.5
466-116         ID Arts 1B: The Arts in Theatre 2              12.5
466-186         ID Arts 1C: The Arts in Performance*            8.3
466-126         Literature Studies 1A: Literature for the      12.5
                Young Child 1
466-127         Literature Studies 1B: Literature for the      12.5
                Young Child 2
466-187         Literature Studies 1C: Children's               8.3
                Literature*
466-128         Music 1A: The Materials of Music 1             12.5
466-129         Music 1B: The Materials of Music 2             12.5
466-132         Two-Dimensional Art 1A                         12.5
466-133         Two-Dimensional Art 1B                         12.5

*               available only to students enrolled in TAFE
                Pathways Program.

Second year (B-Level)

466-207         Australia 2A: Urban Development                16.7
466-208         Australia 2B: Decades of Contrast              16.7
466-209         Australia 2C: Interpretation and Research*     16.7
466-210         Biology 2A: Ecology and Behaviour              16.7
466-211         Biology 2B: Genetics and Evolution             16.7
466-212         Biology 2C: Humans in the Environment*         16.7
466-257         Dance 2A: Cultural and Historical Context      16.7
466-258         Dance 2B: Contemporary Dance                   16.7
466-259         Dance 2C: The Expressionists*                  16.7
466-260         ID Arts 2A: The Arts in Theatre 3              16.7
466-261         ID Arts 2B: The Arts in Theatre 4              16.7
466-262         ID Arts 2C: The Arts in Theatre 5*             16.7
466-263         Literature Studies 2A: Traditions              16.7
466-264         Literature Studies 2B: Using Traditions        16.7
466-265         Literature Studies 2C: Creative Writing*       16.7
466-266         Music 2A: Music Theatre 1                      16.7
466-267         Music 2B: Music Theatre 2                      16.7
466-268         Music 2C: Aspects of World Music*              16.7
466-272         Two-Dimensional Art 2A                         16.7
466-273         Two-Dimensional Art 2B                         16.7
466-274         Two-Dimensional Art 2C*                        16.7

Not all these subjects may be offered in any one year.

Diploma in Modern Languages

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies students are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Modern Languages offered by the Faculty of Arts. Enrolment must be approved by both the Arts Faculty and the Faculty of Education.

Further details are available from the Arts Faculty Office.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Honours)

Entry to Honours

To be eligible for admission to the honours degree you must have:

satisfied the requirements of the pass degree; and
achieved an H2A average in all three Year 3 Child Development Studies subjects; or have other qualifications deemed by the Faculty Board to be equivalent.

Entry to the Honours program must be approved by the Faculty Board.

Leave of absence is not normally available to Honours students who have commenced their fourth year studies. However, subject to Faculty Office approval, it is possible for students to take a maximum of 12 months leave of absence before commencing their fourth year.

To qualify for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Honours), you must:

complete an additional 100 points; including 50 points in Child Development Studies or approved equivalent studies, and at least 50 points in Research Methodology Studies and an individual project.

Course outline

Fourth year

477-415         CDS 4A: Evaluating Developmental Theories      16.7
466-419         RMA: Introduction to Research Methods          16.7
466-484         RMB: Individual Project                        33.4
                Plus two Electives from the following:*
466-416         CDS 4B: Brain and Development                  16.7
466-417         CDS 4C: Infancy                                16.7
466-418         CDS 4D: Family Studies: Parenting              16.7
                                                               100.0
*               other subjects offered by the University may
                be taken with the approval of the Faculty.

Subject descriptions

Reading Study

466-222 Reading Study 2A (First or second semester.)
466-223 Reading Study 2B (First or second semester.)

Research Methods

466-419 Research Methods A: Introduction To Research Methods (Summer semester)
466-484 Research Methods B: Individual Project (Double semester.)

Two Dimensional Art

466-132 Two Dimensional Art 1A (First semester.)
466-133 Two Dimensional Art 1B (Second semester.)
466-272 Two Dimensional Art 2A (First semester.)
466-273 Two Dimensional Art 2B (Second semester.)
466-274 Two Dimensional Art 2C (Second semester.)

Bach. Early Childhood Studies : Next:B. Educn (Early Childhood) | Search | Help Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Education (Kew Campus)

Status:          Official 1996
Date created:    Oct 10 1995
Last modified:   Oct 10 1995
Authorised by:   Academic Registrar
Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au

Maintained by:   Faculty of Education (Kew Campus)