Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching (Ourimbah Campus)

The early years of any child's life are crucial to their later development - emotionally, educationally and physically. To be entrusted with teaching and caring for young children is an enormous responsibility but also a great privilege. Early childhood teaching is a truly rewarding professional career where you can really make a difference.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching is a three-year full time program offered on the Ourimbah campus and prepares graduates for work as teachers and directors in early childhood services for children prior to school entry.

At the Central Coast campus you'll have regular access to Yerra, the on-campus Early Childhood Studies Centre. Dedicated to teaching and research, Yerra is shared by students and staff from the University and TAFE NSW - Hunter Institute early childhood programs.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching will qualify for employment in Early Childhood Services licensed by the NSW Department of Community Services (or equivalent agencies in other Australian states). Employment opportunities exist in long day-care centres, pre-schools, and a range of other children's services.

Current Australian Year 12 Students:

Apply for entry through UAC. Entry based on UAI or equivalent.

Non school leavers and previous Australian Year 12 students:

Apply for entry through UAC. Entry based on:

• Previous Year 12 studies and/or
• Higher education, tertiary, post-secondary qualifications and/or
• Overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications.
• Relevant vocational experience.

International Students

International students currently undertaking:

• an Australian Year 12 in Australia
• an Australian Year 12 outside Australia
• an International Baccalaureat (IB) in Australia

Apply for entry through UAC. Entry based on UAI or equivalent.

All other international students:

Apply direct to International Admissions. Entry based on overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications, as well as satisfying English language requirement.

Any two units of English and Mathematics.

Credit transfer agreements with TAFE, NSW and other education providers are under continuous negotiation. For more information about articulation arrangements please see the University's website, at www.newcastle.edu.au/credit/. For further detail contact the Faculty Office.

Honours' requirements are currently under review and students are advised that new structures will be introduced.

The School of Education within the Faculty of Education and Arts is committed to achieving the University of Newcastle's number one strategic priority of making 'high quality education of professionals a defining feature' of study at the university. To achieve this strategic priority our programs incorporate both traditional and innovative approaches to professional experience. Students will complete the equivalent of 80 days professional experience in relevant school settings in a four-year Bachelor program; or 60 days of professional experience in the Master of Teaching program. This matches the current NSW Institute of Teachers (NSWIT) draft requirements for professional experience in two-year postgraduate initial teacher education programs.

Graduates of an accredited initial teacher education program will be eligible for registration with the NSW Institute of Teachers, and can pursue careers as teachers or educators in both the NSW Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education and Independent school systems; and in public and private sectors both nationally and internationally.

The Faculty of Education and Arts accepts the responsibility for providing reasonable accommodations for international students, in liaison with the International Development Services unit support team, which offers practical assistance and advice to international students.

All new International Students will be provided with an Orientation of the Faculty of Education and Arts and the University at the commencement of each semester.

There is a designated International Students Liaison Officer in all Schools within the Faculty of Education and Arts. This Officer is available to International Students as a representative and also to seek guidance and advice from.

The Faculty of Education and Arts accepts responsibility for providing reasonable accommodations for students with special needs, in liaison with the Student Support Unit, which offers practical assistance and advice to students with a disability or chronic illness.

Candidates may study equivalent courses at Callaghan Campus. Please consult a Program Officer or Academic Program Convenor for further information.

Not all courses will be offered each semester. To establish offer status, click on the course code for the courses and follow the links to timetabling information.

The Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching consists of 240 units of study, taken over three years full-time or part-time equivalent. Students undertake a total of 80 units of study in each year of the program. The fieldwork courses must be successfully completed in the prescribed sequence.

Many course areas require students to complete a prescribed sequence of courses. This means that students must enrol in courses in a particular order to satisfy the requirements. Such requirements are mandatory when they lead to professional accreditation or when they involve the progressive acquisition of knowledge and/or skills. Before enrolling, students must consult the School responsible for the course area to ensure that they are satisfying its requirements. Failure to undertake courses in the required sequence may result in timetable clashes and/or the inability to complete the award in minimum time.