Faculty of Education Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE)

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Faculty of Education

Table of Contents

1. Overview
    1.1. Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours)
2. Course objectives
3. Entry requirements
4. Enquiries
5. Concurrent diplomas
    5.1. Diploma in Arts
    5.2. Diploma in Creative Arts
    5.3. Diploma in Information Systems
    5.4. Diploma in Modern Languages
    5.5. Diploma in Music (Practical)
6. Course structure
    6.1. Overview
    6.2. Workload
    6.3. Credit
    6.4. Course outline
        6.4.1. Subject area information for Teaching and Professional Practice subjects
Subject Lists
    Subject descriptions: Parkville Program
        First year
        Second year
        Third Year
        Fourth Year

1. Overview

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECE) is a 400-point, four-year degree course designed to meet the growing demand for early childhood educators who can work in a range of settings including child-care, kindergarten and the early years of school and provides dual qualification for employment as early childhood educators in preschools and primary schools. The course will emphasise the developmental needs of young children and examine teaching and learning practices appropriate to children from birth to eight years across these settings.

The BECE course consists of six main areas of study.

• Teaching and professional practice comprises 115 days of supervised placement experience, 45 days in primary schools and 70 days in preschool settings. This strand will be closely linked to subjects in the Learning and Teaching Strand.

• Curriculum, learning and teaching strand concentrates on the role of educational theory and practice in early childhood education and emphasises the role of observation and reflective practice in the design and implementation of curriculum for young children.

• The child development strand provides a major study sequence of child development acrross the key domains of early childhood development from a cross-disciplinary perspective.

• The professional orientation strand concentrates on management theory and practice for early childhood professionals in early childhood and school settings.

• Learning area studies include early childhood curriculum and compulsory studies in the Curriculum and Standards Framework learning areas of levels one and two and an introduction to levels three and four, except the key learning area LOTE.

• A special research study in the final year is offered at both pass and ­honours level.

1.1. Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours)

To qualify for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Honours) award a student must satisfy the normal course requirements and they must:

• obtain an average mark of at least 75 in Practicum 1-4; and

• obtain a mark of 65 or more in the Project Design (Honours) and Project Report (Honours) subjects: and

• obtain an average mark of 75 or more in all other subjects in the course.

2. Course objectives

Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education will:

• have an understanding of the development of children in the age ranges of birth to eight years and the implications for the provision of care and educational services in childcare, kindergarten and primary school settings;

• demonstrate an understanding of current curriculum theories and pedagogy in the design and implementation of child-centred, play-based and developmentally appropriate curriculum and the implications of this for young children in childcare, kindergarten and primary school settings;

• be able to plan, implement and evaluate learning experiences across a range of learning areas for infants and children and show an awareness of development, individual needs and desired learning outcomes;

• demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of Australian society and the influence of culture, family circumstances, gender and disability on development and the influence of these on the education of young ­children;

• show an awareness of the importance of parent involvement in the education of young children and be able to form partnerships with parents concerning their child's care and education;

• understand basic principles of management, leadership, advocacy for collaborative work-based practices in children's services and in primary schools;

• understand the diverse roles of teachers in childcare, kindergarten and primary school settings;

• show an awareness of current issues in early childhood education and the need for continued reflection and research as a basis for examining the significance of these issues on educational practice; and

• have acquired the skills necessary to design research questions and conduct small-scale research.

3. Entry requirements

Applicants must have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or approved equivalent Year 12 certificate with a study score of at least 25 in VCE English (any) Units 3 and 4 and a satisfactory grade in Units 1 and 2 General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods. The 2005 clearly-in rank was an ENTER score of 75.40.

4. Enquiries

For further information about this course please contact the Melbourne Education Student Centre, (Tel: +61 3 8344 8285).

5. Concurrent diplomas

It is possible for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education also to enrol in a concurrent diploma. This will normally add one year to the duration of the degree course. Prospective students should note that timetabling difficulties may arise between subjects taught in different faculties.

5.1. Diploma in Arts

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students are eligible to apply for the Diploma of Arts offered by the Faculty of Arts. Enrolment must be approved by both the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education. Further details are available from the Arts Faculty Office (Tel: +61 3 8344 5235).

5.2. Diploma in Creative Arts

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Creative Arts offered by the Faculty of Arts. Enrolment must be approved by both the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education. Further details are available from the Arts Faculty Office (Tel: +61 3 8344 5235).

5.3. Diploma in Information Systems

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Information Systems offered by the Faculty of Science. Enrolment must be approved by both the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Education. Further details are available from the Science Faculty Office (Tel: +61 3 8344 6404).

5.4. Diploma in Modern Languages

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) offered by the Faculty of Arts. ­Enrolment must be approved by both the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education. Further details are available from the Arts Faculty Office (Tel: +61 3 8344 5235).

5.5. Diploma in Music (Practical)

Bachelor of Early Childhood Education students are eligible to apply for the Diploma in Music (Practical) offered by the Faculty of Music. Enrolment must be approved by the Faculty of Music and the Faculty of ­Education. ­Further details are available from the Music Faculty Office (Tel +61 3 8344 5256).

6. Course structure

6.1. Overview

The course can be completed in a minimum of four and a maximum of ten years.

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

• accumulate a total of 400 points; and

• complete child development studies of 62.5 points; and

• complete curriculum, learning and teaching studies of 50 points; and

• complete professional orientation studies of 50 points; and

• complete teaching and professional practice studies of 62.5 points; and

• complete learning area studies of 162.5 points; and

• complete the Project Design and Project Report or Project Design (­Honours) and Project Report (Honours) of 12.5 points

6.2. Workload

The standard workload for each year is 100 points. Special permission may be granted to enrol in 112.5 points in years other than the first year of the course.

6.3. Credit

Credit towards the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education may be granted for previous relevant tertiary studies. Credit is determined by the Faculty and awarded at the time of enrolment.

Credit is not normally granted for studies undertaken more than 10 years prior to the year of admission to the degree.

For further details a copy of the Faculty of Education Credit Policy is ­available from the Melbourne Education Student Centre.

6.4. Course outline

6.4.1. Subject area information for Teaching and Professional Practice subjects

This core component of the BECE course is offered in each year through placement with approved supervisors in designated schools and early childhood settings. All subjects are compulsory and offered at standard subject level.

The sequence is arranged within eight subjects: Teaching and Professional Practice 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. Normally these subjects are taken concurrently with the corequisite subjects of the designated year.

For detailed information on criteria for assessment and placement policies in the BECE course refer to the Professional Practice General Manual, BECE Manual or the website http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/faculty/profprac.

Subject descriptions: Parkville Program

First year

Second year

Third Year

Fourth Year

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