Programme Overview
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Practice is a professional honours degree designed to prepare qualified educators to support the learning, development, and well-being of babies and young children from birth to six years of age. Recognizing that higher staff qualifications directly drive the quality of early learning environments, the programme equips students to build nurturing relationships, foster play and creative thinking, and collaborate closely with families during a child's most formative years.
Practical Learning & National Standards
Professional work placement is an integral part of the course, supported by structured preparation and ongoing reflective workshops to translate classroom theory into hands-on practice. The programme meets the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines set by the Department of Education for Initial Professional Education Degree Programmes in Ireland's Early Learning and Care (ELC) sector. Students gain comprehensive practical mastery of key national frameworks:
- Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework.
- Síolta: The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education.
Coursework
The multidisciplinary curriculum delivers deep expertise across holistic child development, early pedagogy, and professional standards:
- Early Learning & Pedagogy: Designing, implementing, and assessing play-based curricula that foster critical thinking, creativity, and exploration.
- Child Development & Well-being: Understanding physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development from birth to age six.
- Inclusive & Nurturing Environments: Creating safe, stimulating, and equity-focused learning spaces that support every child's unique needs.
- Professional Standards & Governance: Applying national quality standards, regulatory requirements, and collaborative family-engagement strategies.
Career Opportunities
Graduates earn a fully recognized initial professional education degree for the Early Learning and Care sector, preparing them for leadership and specialized roles across public, private, and community settings:
- Lead Early Learning & Care Educator
- Early Years Facility Owner, Director, or Practice Manager
- Early Years Specialist & Quality Mentor
- Community Play Development Officer & Family Support Coordinator
- Postgraduate Study & Advanced Educational Research
Upon completion of the degree, graduates possess the recognized professional award and practical expertise required to lead high-quality early childhood provision, support child development, or advance their education through master's level research.
Year 1
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Creative Arts Practice in Early Childhood (M) | Children's Health, Care and Wellbeing (M) |
| Early Childhood Education and Practice (M) | Play-based Pedagogy (M) |
| Introduction to Psychology (M) | Child Development (M) |
| Academic Writing and Enquiry in Higher Education (M) | Supervised Professional Practice 1 (M) |
| Introduction to Sociology (M) | Introduction to Children's Social Policy (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 2
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Supervised Professional Practice 2 (M) | The Psychology and Sociology of Children and Childhoods (M) |
| Creative Arts Practice for School-Aged Children (M) | |
| Diversity, Equality Inclusion in Early Childhood Practice (M) | |
| Language and Multilingualism in Early Childhood Practice (M) | |
| School Age Childcare Practice (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 3
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
|---|---|
| STEM Curriculum for Early Childhood and Afterschool Education (M) | Supervised Professional Practice 3 (M) |
| Critical Perspectives on Children's Health and Wellbeing (M) | |
| Regulation and Inspection in Early Childhood Education (M) | |
| Law for Early Childhood Practice (M) | |
| Advanced Pedagogical Practices (M) | |
| Educational Needs (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
Year 4
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
|---|---|
| Leadership in Early Childhood Education (M) | Alternatives in Professional Practice (M) |
| Emerging Issues in Early Childhood Education Theory and Practice (M) | Research Methods and Project (M) |
| Supporting Families and Communities (M) | |
| Supervision and Mentorship (M) |
M is a mandatory subject - E is an elective subject
What are the minimum entry requirements?
- 2 subjects: H5
- 4 subjects: O6/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?
-Notes
-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.
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