Early childhood education and practice involves supporting babies and young children to become competent and confident learners through loving relationships with others. Children require high-quality education and care during their formative years. Research indicates that the higher the professional qualification of the educator working with the children, the higher the quality of the setting and the children's experiences in it.
Course Structure
This honours degree in Early Childhood Education and Practice enables the student to study a diverse range of subjects in order to gain a deep understanding of babies and children from birth to six years of age. Students develop a knowledge and understanding of Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, essential for professional work in this area of practice.
Is this course for you?
Are you interested in supporting the learning, development and well-being of babies and young children and their families? Would you like to learn how to provide a positive and enriching learning
environment while promoting children's play, creative and critical thinking skills?
Special Features:
Professional work placement is an integral part of the course, supported by preparation and on-going workshops.
The Department of Education and Skills has determined that our degree programme meets the requirements of their Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines for Initial Professional Education Degree Programmes for the Early Learning and Care (ELC) Sector in Ireland.
Year 1
Semester 1
Semester 2
Academic Writing and Enquiry in Higher Education
Child Development
Creative Arts Practice in Early Childhood
Children's health, care and wellbeing
Early Childhood Education and Practice
Introduction to Children's Social Policy
Introduction to Psychology
Play-based Pedagogy
Introduction to Sociology
Supervised Professional Practice 1
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Supervised Professional Practice 2
Creative Arts Practice for School-Aged Children
Diversity, equality inclusion in early childhood practice
Language and Multilingualism in Early Childhood Practice
School-Age Childcare Practice
The Psychology and Sociology of Children and Childhoods
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 3
Semester 5
Semester 6
Advanced Pedagogical Practices
Supervised Professional Practice 3
Critical Perspectives on Children's Health and Wellbeing
Educational Needs
Law for Early Childhood Practice
Regulation and Inspection in Early Childhood Education
STEM Curriculum for Early Childhood and Afterschool Education
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 4
Semester 7
Semester 8
Emerging Issues in Early Childhood Education Theory and Practice
Alternatives in Professional Practice
Leadership in Early Childhood Education
Research Methods and Project
Supervision and Mentorship
Supporting Families and Communities
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
What are the minimum entry requirements?
2H5 & 4O6/H7
English or Irish O6/H7
Garda vetting required
What follow-on study opportunities are available?
Graduates have gone on to pursue masters qualifications in speech and language therapy; primary school teaching; equality studies; legal studies; play therapy; Montessori education; applied behaviour analysis; child, family and youth studies; adult and community education and further education studies (leading to registration with the Teaching Council). Graduates are eligible to apply to progress onto the Masters in Leadership in Early Years Education and Care or a research masters through socialCORE at SETU Carlow.
What exemptions will I receive?
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Notes
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What will I be able to do when I finish the course?
Graduates will have the knowledge, competencies and skills to work directly with, or on behalf of, babies and young children in a range of early childhood settings, particularly in the ECCE free' pre-school year funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Professional employment opportunities can include roles as room leaders, managers and leaders
in early childhood settings such as: pre-schools; crèches; special needs services; family support centres and community services.
Opportunities may include leadership roles in county childhood care committees, specialists with Better Start National Early Years Quality Development or inspectors with the Department of Education and Skills.
