Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) (1926)

  • Effective from: 2023
  • Approved Abbreviation: BEd(EarlyCh)
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1926
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 110869J

This program applies to students who commenced in 2023 or later. This program is only available to domestic student in 2023.

Handbook Summary 2023

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) is a 4 year degree specifically designed as an initial teacher qualification, equipping graduates with the specialist knowledge and skills to teach effectively in early childhood settings with children from Birth to 5 years. Students will attend an on-campus intensive workshop block prior to each professional practice placement. Students will also develop a professional e-portfolio throughout the course of the degree to demonstrate their capacity to work successfully as a graduate teacher. 

Handbook Summary 2024

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) equips graduates to teach effectively across the early childhood sector with children Birth - 5 years and their families. Early childhood teachers play a pivotal role in children’s learning, development and wellbeing. Students will learn how to foster children’s creativity, curiosity, imagination and resilience through an integrated and responsive play-based curriculum. Students will build leadership and advocacy skills to prepare for their professional role working in diverse communities. 

The program is flexible, providing both on campus and/or online learning options to accommodate the wide range of student commitments. Study options include part time, full time and accelerated mode. Students will undertake professional experience in early childhood education and care settings. 

Credit for prior learning may be available to students with a Diploma, including a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113) or (CHC50121). Further information is available on the Pathways website.

Program Logic

The Program Logic is embedded throughout all Initial Teacher Education programs at Western Sydney University. It explains how each subject contributes to the journey to become a Graduate Teacher. The Program Logic includes three phases: Foundation, Development and Transition. In each of these phases, pre-service teachers develop essential knowledge and skills by learning about evidence-based pedagogies and practices, enabling their successful transition to teaching.

Foundation: Pre-service teachers will develop fundamental knowledge, skills, and attributes to support the beginning of their journey to become a teacher. 

Development: Pre-service teachers will strengthen their pedagogical content knowledge, understanding of classroom management, and evidence-based pedagogical practices.

Transition: Pre-service teachers will consolidate the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for success as a Graduate Teacher, using evidence to inform and strengthen pedagogical practice. 

Early Exits

Students may exit this program on completion of 160 credit points with a 1927 Associate Degree in Early Education

Study Mode

Four years full-time and eight years part-time. 

Program Advice

Enquirieseducation@westernsydney.edu.au 

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Campbelltown Campus Full Time Internal See above
Campbelltown Campus Part Time Internal See above

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), Graduates will meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate level as required by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.

Inherent Requirements

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Assumed knowledge: two units of HSC English and two units of HSC Mathematics

Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, HSC Mathematics or equivalent. 

Credit for prior learning may be available to students with a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113) or (CHC50121). Further information is available on the Pathways website.

Applicants who accept their offer will need to satisfactorily complete the online non-academic capabilities interview (QuEST).

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Special Requirements

Prior to enrolling in the professional experience subjects TEAC 2023 Engaging in Early Childhood Education, TEAC 3050 Professional Practice Birth - 3 Years, TEAC 4009 Professional Practice 3-5 years; students must:

Students must update Child Protection Awareness Training annually and Anaphylaxis training bi-annually while enrolled in the program.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points which includes 28 core subjects and 4 elective subjects as listed in the recommended sequence below. 

Recommended Sequence

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
TEAC 1038 Literacy and Numeracy for Educators 10
TEAC 2009 Contemporary Childhoods 10
TEAC 1030 Science and Engineering in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 2065 Digital Childhoods 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 1007 Creative Arts for Early Learning 10
TEAC 1032 The Developing Child 10
TEAC 2005 Learning Through Play 10
TEAC 2046 Pedagogy and Praxis in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
TEAC 2021 Early Childhood Curriculum and Pedagogy 10
TEAC 2001 Active and Healthy Childhoods 10
TEAC 2015 Diversity and Difference 10
TEAC 2023 Engaging in Early Childhood Education 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 2056 Teaching Art in the Early Years 10
TEAC 3005 Critical Literacies 10
TEAC 2024 Engaging with Children, Families, Colleagues and Communities 10
TEAC 3047 Pedagogical Leadership 10
Students may exit at this point and graduate with the 1927 Associate Degree in Early Years Education on successful completion of 160 credit points.  
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
TEAC 3049 Mathematics in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 3012 Global and Community Citizenship in Early Childhood 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 3009 Ethical Futures 10
TEAC 3026 Responsive Pedagogies 10
TEAC 3017 Learning Environments 10
TEAC 3050 Professional Practice Birth - 3 Years 10
 Credit Points40
Year 4
Autumn session
TEAC 3028 Fostering Positive Behaviour in the Early Years 10
TEAC 4003 Early Literacies 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 4011 Inclusion in the Early years 10
TEAC 4004 Leadership, Research and Practice 10
TEAC 4018 Management and Administration in Early Childhood Settings 10
TEAC 4009 Professional Practice 3-5 years 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points320

Full-time mid-year intake 

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
TEAC 1038 Literacy and Numeracy for Educators 10
TEAC 1032 The Developing Child 10
TEAC 2046 Pedagogy and Praxis in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education 10
TEAC 2005 Learning Through Play 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 2009 Contemporary Childhoods 10
TEAC 1030 Science and Engineering in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 2065 Digital Childhoods 10
TEAC 2001 Active and Healthy Childhoods 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
TEAC 1007 Creative Arts for Early Learning 10
TEAC 3005 Critical Literacies 10
TEAC 2024 Engaging with Children, Families, Colleagues and Communities 10
TEAC 3047 Pedagogical Leadership 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 2021 Early Childhood Curriculum and Pedagogy 10
TEAC 2015 Diversity and Difference 10
TEAC 2023 Engaging in Early Childhood Education 10
Select one elective 10
Students may exit at this point and graduate with the 1927 Associate Degree in Early Years Education on successful completion of 160 credit points  
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
TEAC 3009 Ethical Futures 10
TEAC 3026 Responsive Pedagogies 10
TEAC 3050 Professional Practice Birth - 3 Years 10
TEAC 2056 Teaching Art in the Early Years 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 3012 Global and Community Citizenship in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 3028 Fostering Positive Behaviour in the Early Years 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Year 4
Spring session
TEAC 4011 Inclusion in the Early years 10
TEAC 4018 Management and Administration in Early Childhood Settings 10
TEAC 3017 Learning Environments 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 4004 Leadership, Research and Practice 10
TEAC 4009 Professional Practice 3-5 years 10
TEAC 3049 Mathematics in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 4003 Early Literacies 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points320

Graduates of the a Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (CHC50113 or CHC50121) who have received 80 credit points of pathways credit

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
TEAC 1038 Literacy and Numeracy for Educators 10
TEAC 2009 Contemporary Childhoods 10
TEAC 1030 Science and Engineering in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 2065 Digital Childhoods 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 2056 Teaching Art in the Early Years 10
TEAC 3005 Critical Literacies 10
TEAC 2024 Engaging with Children, Families, Colleagues and Communities 10
TEAC 3047 Pedagogical Leadership 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
TEAC 3049 Mathematics in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 3012 Global and Community Citizenship in Early Childhood 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 3009 Ethical Futures 10
TEAC 3026 Responsive Pedagogies 10
TEAC 3050 Professional Practice Birth - 3 Years 10
TEAC 3017 Learning Environments 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
TEAC 3028 Fostering Positive Behaviour in the Early Years 10
TEAC 4003 Early Literacies 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
TEAC 4011 Inclusion in the Early years 10
TEAC 4018 Management and Administration in Early Childhood Settings 10
TEAC 4004 Leadership, Research and Practice 10
TEAC 4009 Professional Practice 3-5 years 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
TEAC 1038 Literacy and Numeracy for Educators 10
TEAC 2056 Teaching Art in the Early Years 10
TEAC 2024 Engaging with Children, Families, Colleagues and Communities 10
TEAC 3047 Pedagogical Leadership 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 2009 Contemporary Childhoods 10
TEAC 1030 Science and Engineering in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 2065 Digital Childhoods 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
TEAC 3009 Ethical Futures 10
TEAC 3005 Critical Literacies 10
TEAC 3017 Learning Environments 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 3012 Global and Community Citizenship in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 3028 Fostering Positive Behaviour in the Early Years 10
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
TEAC 4011 Inclusion in the Early years 10
TEAC 3026 Responsive Pedagogies 10
TEAC 3050 Professional Practice Birth - 3 Years 10
TEAC 4018 Management and Administration in Early Childhood Settings 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
TEAC 4004 Leadership, Research and Practice 10
TEAC 4009 Professional Practice 3-5 years 10
TEAC 3049 Mathematics in Early Childhood 10
TEAC 4003 Early Literacies 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Recommended Minors 

For the four elective subjects in the program, students may choose a minor.  Recommended minors are:

Subject Title Credit Points
0009 English, minor
Choose at least two subjects from the following
Approaches to Text
Introduction to Literary Studies
Methods of Reading
The Value of Literature
The other two subjects may be selected from the above list or from the additional pool subjects for this minor.
0022 Linguistics, minor
Choose at least two subjects from the following core subjects
Bilingualism and Biculturalism
Introduction to Linguistics
Meaning in Language
Second Language Acquisition
Structure of Language
The Sound of Language
The other two subjects may be selected from the above list or from the additional pool subjects for this minor.
0045 Child and Community, minor
Students must complete 40 credit points from the subjects listed below.
Community Work & Development
Family Violence: Policy and Practice
Disability Rights, Policy and Governance
Context of Human Services
Working with Cultural Differences
Community and Social Action
Families and Intimate Life
Child Abuse as a Social Issue
Community Management and Organisations

Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary Challenge Minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change  
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Creative and Visual Communication
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans 
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing  
Ideate.Strategise.Innovate.
Humanising Data

For more information, visit the Challenge Minor website.  

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via Western Now.

WesternNow