Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education & Care CW748

Department of Humanities

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Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Early Childhood Education & Care CW748

What is the Course about?

This full-time, three-year Honours degree provides an academic and professional qualification in the care and education of young children. The course focuses on the holistic care and education of young children in a diversity of settings. Graduates of this programme will have the knowledge, competencies and skills to work directly with, or on behalf of young children in a range of early years’ services. The programme consists of the core areas of Early Childhood Education and Care; education and play, child development, social environment, health, hygiene, nutrition and safety, communication and administration management, and personal, professional development. The programme content is chosen and structured to enable participants to become professional, reflective practitioners with an integrated approach in early childhood education and care.

What will I be able to do when I finish the course?

The programme aims to produce graduates that can think, act, manage and operate at the level of experienced practitioner, as recognised by the Early Childhood Education and Care profession. Graduates of this honours degree will be therefore be trained as specialists and experienced practitioners in early childhood care and education. They may find employment as managers, directors, co-ordinators or leaders in a wide range of early years’ settings. Early years’ settings include pre-schools, crèches, special needs services, family support centres and community services in the statutory, voluntary, community and private sectors.

Graduates may also pursue careers with Government bodies or public agencies working on behalf of children in policy making, advocacy or inspectorial roles.

What follow-on study opportunities are available?

This programme affords students the opportunity to pursue a higher degree qualification at Masters or Doctoral level within Early Childhood Studies or related social science and education fields. Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates may undertake post-graduate study by research within IT Carlow in Early Childhood Education and Care to Masters level.

What exemptions will I receive?

Currently, there exists no one professional body, but graduates would be eligible to join the National Children Nurseries Association or the Irish Preschool Playgroup Association.

What subjects will I study?

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Mandatory Subjects: Psychology Social Studies Early Childhood Education Communication and Research Skills Childcare and Development Supervised Professional Practice 1	Mandatory Subjects: Child Psychology Pedagogy and Curriculum Creative Studies for Early Childhood Education and Care Playwork and Out-of-School Education and Care Philosophy in Early Childhood Education & Care Child Health and Well Being Supervised Professional Practice 2	Mandatory Subjects: Special and Additional Needs Legal Issues in Child Education and Care Ethics and Practice Advanced Research: Theory and Practice Managing Contemporary and Quality Practice Working with Families and Communities Supervised Professional Practice 3

What are the minimum entry requirements?

The minimum entry standard that an applicant should obtain in the Leaving Certificate is a Grade C3, or better, in two Higher Level papers, together with a Grade D3 at ordinary level or better in four other subjects. A pass in either Irish or English must be included. Mathematics is not a requirement for entry to this course.

Special Features:

Supervised work placement in a variety of early years settings is a key element of the course, allowing students to learn from practice as well as from theory and creating an integrated approach to early childhood education and care.