The University of Newcastle has a dynamic team of early childhood lecturers who are engaged in research and scholarship at the local, national and global level. Their research and publications are at the cutting edge in early childhood and they are also leaders and participants in a range of early childhood fora. There is an opportunity for you, through the Masters degree, to undertake projects with the support of our staff, which align with your work, whether you are a local or international scholar or practitioner. You will also have the opportunity to study with lecturers from other programs who teach courses in an area of specialisation.

The Master of Early Childhood Education degree offers two pathways.

Pathway 1 is for practising teachers or others with a relevant undergraduate degree who wish to gain postgraduate qualifications in early childhood education and to acquire or update their expertise in a dynamic field of study and practice. Students may choose to focus 4 courses in one area such as Research, Early Childhood Intervention or Leadership (for example). This pathway does not meet requirements for registration to teach in schools or early childhood services. (General for practising teachers and others with relevant degrees).

Pathway 2 is for approved Australian 3-year trained EC teachers seeking 4th year level early childhood teaching qualifications. It is a program of advanced study that satisfies the requirement for a 4th year degree level qualification in Australia, equivalent to a 4 year Bachelor degree. It is NOT a standalone teaching qualification. Course advice must be sought from the convenor to ensure the correct courses are completed.

Note: Students who wish to undertake the pathway to qualify them as 4 year trained should ensure they choose the correct courses. These courses are clearly noted in the program structure.

To qualify for the Master of Early Childhood Education program students must successfully complete 80 units including a series of core directed and elective courses.

Students who are undertaking the program for extended study, Pathway 1, undertake the following structure:

• 20 units of core courses
• 20 units (minimum) of course from Early Childhood Directed Courses
• 40 units of electives. These can be used to undertake the research strand, early childhood intervention strand, and other specialised strands or can be chosen from any of the courses within the program, or any other course within the University as approved by the Program Convenor.

Students who undertake Pathway 2 (4th year upgrade) undertake the following structure:

• 20 units of core courses
• 30 units of courses from Early Childhood Directed Courses
• 20 units of courses from Contemporary Issues & Perspectives Directed Courses
• 10 units of courses from Leadership Directed Courses

The Master of Early Childhood Education program is suitable for students who wish to extend their leadership, critical analysis, research and/or curriculum and pedagogy capabilities.

Pathway 2, designed for Australian practising early childhood teachers with a three year undergraduate early childhood teaching degree (or equivalent), will allow experienced teachers and leaders in early childhood education to meet the requirement of a fourth year equivalent.