Make a life-long difference to children and their futures.
The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care extends children’s sense of agency, learning and active citizenship. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight years) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including Childcare, Kindergarten and Primary school, with a focus on Prep to Year 3.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2023 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- † Semester 2 intake not available at Gympie.
- † Semester 2 intake not available at Gympie.
The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care extends children’s sense of agency, learning and active citizenship. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight years) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including Childcare, Kindergarten and Primary school, with a focus on Prep to Year 3.
You’ll learn about the importance of wellbeing, play and supportive environments in early learning. Benefit from Supervised Professional Experiences in a range of early childhood settings that link knowledge and practice. You’ll also gain valuable and rewarding Wider Field Experiences where you engage with community projects and work with children, families and communities.
Our program has been developed in partnership with leading educational bodies. As a graduate, you are eligible to register with the Queensland College of Teachers.
Personal statement requirement
As part of your application, you will need to write a 1000-word personal statement on why you think you would make a great teacher, and why influencing the future appeals to you.
After you have submitted an application for this program, you will be contacted with further information about the written statement and how to complete your application.
More information is on the QTAC website.
Post-admission requirements
Students must complete 95 days of Supervised Professional Experience, 20 days of an internship and 75 hours of Wider Field Experience. Students must obtain a Blue Card (or link their existing Blue Card to USC) prior to commencing SPE. Blue Card applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the SPE start date. View the Blue Card Fact Sheet for further information. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when applying through the School of Education at USC.
Students will also need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students. For more information on this Government initiative please visit the Students First website. Further information on the test, including sample test questions and registration information, please visit the Australian Council of Educational Research website.
Career opportunities
Early Childhood teacher, primary school teacher, Manager of Early Childhood centre, private practice tutor, education consultant, community education centre leader, College/University lecturer, zoo education officer, education exhibition organiser, Education Policy Analyst, children’s television presenter, youth support worker, teacher of English overseas, children’s advocate leader.
Membership
Early Childhood Australia.
Registration
Queensland College of Teachers.
Program structure
Introductory courses (8)
COR109 Communication and Thought
EDU101 Human Development and Learning
EDU103 Integrating ICT into Learning
EDU104 Foundations of Literacy and Numeracy
EDU109 Professional Experience: Play and Pedagogy in Early Learning
EDU110 Engagement and Behaviour in Early Learning
EDU112 Professional Experience: Communities and Partnerships
EDU115 Creative Expression and Play through the Arts
Advanced courses (24)
EDU206 Sustainability Through Play and Pedagogy
EDU208 Professional Experience: Learning Theories in Early Learning
EDU209 Teaching Mathematics in the Early Years
EDU212 Teaching Science in the Early Years
EDU213 Teaching English: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDU214 Teaching Arts in the Early Years
EDU216 Teaching HPE in the Early Years
EDU217 Professional Experience: Evidence Based Decision Making in Early Learning
EDU218 Inclusive Practices and Intervention in Early Learning
EDU300 Assessing Learning
EDU308 Professional Experience: Differentiated Practice
EDU309 Teaching Science in Primary Schools
EDU316 Teaching HASS in Primary School
EDU339 Professional Experience: Curriculum Approaches and Pedagogies
EDU340 Teaching Reading and Writing
EDU344 Leadership and Advocacy in Early Learning
EDU361 Teaching English: Language, Literature and Literacy
EDU400 Teaching Primary School Mathematics
EDU408 Professional Experience: Teacher Identity and Professional Practice
EDU409 Internship
EDU410 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Learning and Teaching
EDU415 Teacher as Researcher
EDU421 Using Data for Learning
SCS203 Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- Transitional Study Plan 1 (Semester 1, 2015 commencement)
- Transitional Study Plan 2 (Semester 1, 2014 commencement)
- Transitional Study Plan 3 (Semester 1, 2013 commencement)
- (Caboolture) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Caboolture) Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete a minimum of 80 days of Supervised Professional Experience, plus 15 days in a childcare setting and 20 days of an internship, with the majority completed as full-time blocks
- Complete 5 days (25 hours) of Wider Field Experience
- Successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students. For more information on this Government initiative please visit the Students First website. Further information on the test, including sample test questions and registration information, please visit the Australian Council of Educational Research website.
To commence supervised professional experience (SPE) you must:
- Obtain a Blue Card (or link your existing Blue Card to USC) prior to commencing supervised professional experience. Applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the SPE start date. View the Blue Card Fact Sheet for further information
- Complete PrePlace and a Student Placement Agreement (further information will be provided by the placement office upon enrolment)
- Be willing to travel to attend supervised professional experience placements
- Visit Education - Supervised Professional Experience (SPE) for more information regarding requirements for placements
Program notes
- Cross-institutional study is not permitted for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to Early Childhood students
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the 'Planning your study' page to manage your progression