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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Education : 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 semester subjects scheduled in the first and second years of the course.
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Honours) 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.
The Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies TAFE Pathways Program is designed to give holders of a TAFE Diploma of Community Services (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 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 two disciplines areas to study in a three-semester sequence. These discipline areas are: Biology and Literature Studies. Curriculum and professional studies strand subjects are designed to meet the needs of the early childhood field.
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.
For further information about this course please contact the Faculty Office, Kew Campus, telephone: (03) 9854 3340 until June 1997, and telephone (03) 9344-8285 from June 1997.
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 Liberal Studies subjects (1) or an approved equivalent sequence.
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 towards the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies may be granted for previous tertiary study and experience to a maximum of 233 points. Credit is determined by the Faculty and awarded at the time of enrolment.
Note that not all electives may be offered in any one year; only those offered in 1997 are listed in this handbook.
The normal pattern of study for a full-time student is as follows:
First year
466-107 CDS 1A: Perspectives on Development 12.5 466-108 CDS 1B: Dimensions of Development 12.5 466-109 CDS 1C: Theories of Play and Development 12.5 466-110 Curriculum Theory 1A 12.5 466-111 Curriculum Practice 1B: Applying Theory to Practice 16.7 466-117 The Early Childhood Professional 1 12.5 A-level Liberal Studies from Liberal Studies subjects (1) 33.4 Total points 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 from Liberal Studies subjects (1) 33.4 TWO CDS Electives from the following: 466-202 CDS 2B: Theories and Models of Early Childhood Cognitive Development 16.7 466-203 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 Total points 116.7
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: Developmental 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 Total points 116.7
Liberal Studies subjects (1)
To be eligible for admission to the honours degree you must have:
satisfied the requirements of the pass degree; and
achieved an H2A grade or above in the core Year 3 Child Development subject CDS 3A, and an average H2A grade in any additional three Year 3 subjects, excluding Curriculum 3B; 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.
Fourth year 466-415 CDS 4A: Evaluating Developmental Theories 16.7 466-419 Research Methods A: Introduction to Research Methods 16.7 466-484 Research Methods B: 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 One of these electives may be withdrawn if demand is insufficient. Total points 100.0
Note that not all electives may be offered in any one year.
The normal pattern of study is as follows:
Course outline
Liberal Studies Subjects (2)
Year One (A-level) 466-188 Biology 1C: Plant and Animal Biology 8.3 466-187 Literature Studies 1C: Children's Literature (External) 8.3 466-186 ID Arts 1C: the Arts in Performance 466-176 Australia 1C: Immigrant Australians (External) Year Two (B-level) 466-278 Australia 2A: Urban Development (External) 16.7 466-279 Australia 2B: Decades of Contrast (External) 16.7 466-280 Literature Studies 2A: Traditions (External) 16.7 466-281 Literature Studies 2B: Using Traditions (External) 16.7
Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies students are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Modern Languages offered by the Faculty of Arts (Diploma in Modern Languages). Enrolment must be approved by both the Arts Faculty and the Faculty of Education.
Further details are available from the Arts Faculty Office.
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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Education : Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies
Status: OFFICIAL 1997 Last Modified: Wednesday March 12 3:36 pm SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.