Key information for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education

Code: SE911 | Level: 8 | Duration: 4 years | Delivery: Fulltime | Credits: 240

Location for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education

Location: Waterford | Campus: College Street

Application Information for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education

Next Intake: Rolling Intake | Application Status: Open | Fee Information Link: /current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/undergraduate-fees

Study Options for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education

Work placement options: Available (View details at https://www.setu.ie/engage/access-our-talent) | Study abroad options: Available (View details at https://www.setu.ie/global/global-mobility)

International Applicants information for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education

International Application Status: Open | Application Information Link: https://www.setu.ie/global/study-at-setu/applying-to-setu | International Fees Link: https://www.setu.ie/current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/global-fees

What modules are taught in BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education?

Year 1: Sem 1: Critical Thinking and Academic Skills | Sem 2: Child Developmental Psychology 1, Sem 1: Early Years Pedagogies Children as Learners | Sem 2: Children and Social Interaction, Sem 1: History of Care in Irish Social Policy | Sem 2: Early Years Education: Methods and Practice, Sem 1: Introduction to Psychology | Sem 2: Introduction to Research, Sem 1: Introduction to Sociological Problems | Sem 2: Irish Family Policy, Sem 1: Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 1 | Sem 2: Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 2 | Year 2: Sem 3: Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 1 | Sem 4: Child Development Psychology 2, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Understanding Gender, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Irish Early Childhood Education Policies, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Introduction to Irish Law, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Early Childhood Assessment, Sem 3: | Sem 4: Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 3 | Year 3: Sem 5: Early Years Curriculum, Quality and Practice | Sem 6: Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 2, Sem 5: Early Learning and Play | Sem 6: , Sem 5: Children's Rights, Citizenship and Social Policy | Sem 6: , Sem 5: Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 4 | Sem 6: , Sem 5: Comparative Early Years Education and Care | Sem 6: , Sem 5: Children with Additional Needs | Sem 6: | Year 4: Sem 7: Direct Work with Children, Parents and Staff | Sem 8: Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 3, Sem 7: Children and the Law | Sem 8: , Sem 7: Social Research Methods | Sem 8: , Sem 7: Child Health and Wellbeing | Sem 8: , Sem 7: Managing Early Years Contexts | Sem 8: , Sem 7: Diversity and Inclusion in Early Childhood | Sem 8:

What are the entry requirements for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education?

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education:2 subjects: H54 subjects: O6/H7English or Irish: O6/H7Mathematics: O6/H7Advanced and Equivalent Entry for the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education:QQI FET/FETAC EntryAdvanced Entry - Years 2,3,4 or 5Non-EU ApplicantsMature Entry RouteOther Requirements for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education:Places are offered on the programme subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting clearance.

What further study options exist for graduates of BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education?

Completion of the course will also enable students to undertake taught Masters programmes or Masters degrees by Research at SETU Waterford or other third-level colleges. Career Opportunities This course facilitates students who wish to pursue professional careers in ECCE contexts, postgraduate studies in Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines. Graduates of our programme can work within the following settings: Early Years Child Care and Education including crèches, nurseries, Montessori’s and playgroups Children’s Residential Care Centres Statutory and Non-Statutory Children’s Services Family Support Services Specialist educational facilities that work with children with diverse levels and types of abilities Follow on Study for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education graduates Graduates may proceed to postgraduate study, either research or taught, at SETU Waterford or other third-level Colleges/universities. This includes areas such as management and leadership in ECCE, M.Ed. degrees, and educational studies programmes. Many of our graduates have also pursued follow-on training in primary school education.

SE911 Waterford

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Early Childhood Care and Education

Apply CAO

Note:

Garda Vetting is required for all students enrolled in this programme prior to undertaking practice placements.

Programme Overview

The BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education is a four-year Level 8 degree designed to produce professionally qualified early years leaders. Built upon four key academic pillars—theory, practice, research, and reflective practice—the programme prepares graduates to work effectively with young children from birth up to eight years of age across a wide spectrum of early learning and care environments.

Practical Learning & Work-Based Placements

Supervised practice placement is a central feature of the degree, taking place across Semesters 3, 6, and 8. These extensive work-based modules give students direct hands-on experience working with children, parents, and multidisciplinary practitioners, enabling them to connect classroom theory directly to professional practice. In their final year, students complete an independent research dissertation focused on a specialized area of early years practice.

Coursework

The curriculum integrates core, interrelated academic disciplines essential for high-quality early childhood practice:

Early Years Pedagogy & Education: Designing, implementing, and evaluating play-based and child-centred learning environments.
Child Psychology & Developmental Sociology: Understanding holistic child development, inclusive practice, and social influences on early childhood.
Law, Policy & Regulation: Navigating child protection legislation, regulatory frameworks, rights, and early years governance.
Personal & Professional Development: Building reflective practice capabilities, team leadership, advocacy, and collaborative communication skills.

Career Opportunities

Graduates gain a recognized Level 8 professional qualification, opening up diverse leadership, educational, and advisory pathways within the early learning and care sector:

Early Years Practitioner & Practice Manager
Early Intervention & Inclusive Practice Specialist
Early Years Inspectorate & Quality Development Officer
Community & Family Support Worker
Postgraduate Study (including Master’s Degrees in Education, Social Work, or Applied Psychology)

Upon completion of the degree, graduates are fully equipped to lead high-quality early childhood provision, advocate for children's rights, or pursue advanced academic research and postgraduate specialization.

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Critical Thinking and Academic Skills	Child Developmental Psychology 1
Early Years Pedagogies Children as Learners	Children and Social Interaction
History of Care in Irish Social Policy	Early Years Education: Methods and Practice
Introduction to Psychology	Introduction to Research
Introduction to Sociological Problems	Irish Family Policy
Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 1	Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 2

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 1	Child Development Psychology 2
	Understanding Gender
	Irish Early Childhood Education Policies
	Introduction to Irish Law
	Early Childhood Assessment
	Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 3

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Early Years Curriculum, Quality and Practice	Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 2
Early Learning and Play
Children's Rights, Citizenship and Social Policy
Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 4
Comparative Early Years Education and Care
Children with Additional Needs

Year 4

Semester 7	Semester 8
Direct Work with Children, Parents and Staff	Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 3
Children and the Law
Social Research Methods
Child Health and Wellbeing
Managing Early Years Contexts
Diversity and Inclusion in Early Childhood

Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education:

2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for the BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education:

Other Requirements for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education:

Places are offered on the programme subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting clearance.

Completion of the course will also enable students to undertake taught Masters programmes or Masters degrees by Research at SETU Waterford or other third-level colleges.

Career Opportunities

This course facilitates students who wish to pursue professional careers in ECCE contexts, postgraduate studies in Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines. Graduates of our programme can work within the following settings:

Early Years Child Care and Education including crèches, nurseries, Montessori’s and playgroups
Children’s Residential Care Centres
Statutory and Non-Statutory Children’s Services
Family Support Services
Specialist educational facilities that work with children with diverse levels and types of abilities

Follow on Study for BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education graduates

Graduates may proceed to postgraduate study, either research or taught, at SETU Waterford or other third-level Colleges/universities. This includes areas such as management and leadership in ECCE, M.Ed. degrees, and educational studies programmes. Many of our graduates have also pursued follow-on training in primary school education.