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Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching)

Are you ready to give children the best start in life? Early childhood teachers play a vital role in the development of young lives.

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Icon Qualification

Undergraduate

Qualification

Icon Duration

4 years full-time

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Icon Start Dates

Mar, Jul, Nov

Start Date

Icon Units

32

Units

Icon Learning Mode

100% Online*

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Icon Fees

$4,627*

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Kate-Graduation-BW

‘The benefit of studying online with Swinburne Online has allowed me to schedule my time efficiently and effectively around [my life]. I have been provided with a world-class education led by industry leaders and professionals.’

Kate, Swinburne Online Education graduate

17.2% ▴

As a Kindergarten Teacher, you’ll have a strong future ahead of you, with a 17.2% increase expected in the next five years.

The Good Universities Guide 2024

Our undergraduate education courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, learning resources, skills development, teaching quality and student support.

‘The benefit of studying online with Swinburne Online has allowed me to schedule my time efficiently and effectively around [my life]. I have been provided with a world-class education led by industry leaders and professionals.’

Kate, Swinburne Online Education graduate

17.2% ▴

As a Kindergarten Teacher, you’ll have a strong future ahead of you, with a 17.2% increase expected in the next five years.

Our undergraduate education courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, learning resources, skills development, teaching quality and student support.

The Good Universities Guide 2024
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For young children, the time leading up to entering primary school is an important one, in which a child grows both physically and mentally, and cognitive skills develop at a faster rate than at any other time of life. Early childhood teachers play a vital role in shaping young minds.

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) is accredited by the leading industry body, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). Upon graduation, you will be qualified to teach in the pre-primary school early childhood education sector, with the flexibility to work in a range of settings including children’s centres, kindergartens, preschools and early learning centres.

Completed over four years (or part-time equivalent), you will develop a foundation in educational theory, literacy and numeracy, and build the practical skills and techniques you need to manage a classroom and the specific needs of pre-primary aged children. You will have the opportunity to implement these techniques in your practicums and fourth-year work placements.

This course is not available to international students. 

What will you learn?

  • Classroom Management Techniques: Learn practical, age-appropriate classroom management techniques that help nurture a positive and dynamic learning environment for children aged 0–5.
  • Practical Skills for Early Childhood Teaching: Apply early-childhood specific learning techniques in group learning contexts, preparing dynamic lesson plans that harness the education potential of play and creativity.
  • Curriculum Planning: Create learning activities to engage students and develop their skills.
  • Child Behaviour: Understand why children display different behaviours and learn how to best approach them.
  • Health & Activity: Explore a range of issues surrounding children’s health, nutrition and safety.
  • Twenty-First Century Teaching: Embrace the role of being a teacher in an era of rapid change.

Learn more about our professional accreditations. Download a Course Guide.

Flexible study

What does flexible study mean for me?

Studying at Swinburne Online gives you the freedom to study how it suits you. Decide when and where it fits in with your life and tailor your study journey to your own needs. Get a world-class degree without giving up what’s important.

Flexible study at Swinburne Online

Set a study pace that work with what’s going on in your life. If you’re unsure about how much you can commit to, we can offer part-time options and the option of increasing your unit load as your progress. Interested in fast-tracking your studies? You also have the opportunity to complete up to 12 units per year.

You don’t have to put your life on hold to study. Prioritise what matters to you and fit study around family, work and personal commitments through a course that is flexibly designed for online learners.

Start when it suits. Swinburne Online offers multiple intake dates and flexible unit availability, so you can choose when you begin your studies or if you need to take a break.

Flexible study requires flexible support. As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, seven days a week, with Student Advisors available to help with any queries. You will also have dedicated online tutors in each of your units.

Structure

Your course structure

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) consists of 32 units, including 11 core units, 13 major units, four practicum units and four elective units.

Your units are led by experienced education professionals with recent or current teaching experience and focus on arming you with the practical skills you can take straight into the classroom. You will also undertake practicum units that give you the opportunity to work and learn in an Australian school.

Why study a degree in education with Swinburne Online? Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to success come graduation. View all units in this bachelor’s degree.

View All Units

How you'll learn

Learning designed for online

Your study journey with Swinburne Online is tailored to the digital space. You’ll study in a dynamic virtual classroom environment and interact with your peers in the custom-built social platform. You will also receive support at the times you need it from advisors who understand studying online.

Your online study journey

You’ll complete each of your units in Canvas, your online classroom, and guided through coursework by an online tutor with real-world experience in your field of study. Canvas is where you’ll access classes, assignments and discussion boards with your peers.

The Student Hub is your online campus, where you’ll access the support and resources to assist you throughout your study journey. From managing your course to technical support and library resources, you’ll find it all in one easy location.

Swinburne Online will be there for you each step of the way. From enrolment through to graduation, we offer extended, flexible support in each of your units and advisors to assist with any queries.

Entry requirements

  • Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Associate Degrees and Degrees). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.
  • Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit of up to 16 units.
  • Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.
  • Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification. Minimum ATAR requirements may apply.

Course Pre-requisites

VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

All enrolled students must maintain a current Working with Children Check from the appropriate State Authority.

A Police Check may also be required by a school prior to a placement.

The Victorian Government is now offering scholarships to encourage early childhood teachers throughout the state through the Early Childhood Scholarship Program. Students applying for an approved qualification may be eligible to receive up to $25,000 towards an early childhood bachelor degree. Find out more through the Early Childhood Scholarships Program Guidelines, and apply by visiting the Victorian Government website.

Fees

The estimated annual fee for this course is $4,627*. This is based on completing eight 12.5 credit point units in one calendar year.

Commonwealth provided loans are available to assist eligible students to pay their course fees and there are a range of university, government and privately funded scholarships and prizes.

Discover more information about HELP loans.

Course fees will be affected by a student’s unit selection and any credit awarded in recognition of previous academic experience.

Early Childhood Teaching Scholarships Program

Scholarships are available in a bid to increase the number of qualified early childhood teachers in the early childhood education sector in NSW. More information can be found here.

This course is not offered to international students.

Domestic students also contribute to student services and amenities via an annual fee.

Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. You may be eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.

Career Outcomes

Become a teacher of the future

Our education graduates work in a range of rewarding roles and industries. The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) prioritises practical theory and experience inside a real classroom so that you can graduate with your foot already in the door. You will:

  • Undertake practicum units that place you inside an Australian classroom
  • Learn where the future of education is heading and how you can keep pace
  • Learn from real educational professionals.

Teach the basics of numeracy, literacy, music, and art to early childhood students.

Guide young children in the acquisition of fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, effectively preparing them for a successful transition to primary school.

Develop the curriculum, set policies and oversee daily operations of an early childhood centre.

Combine your leadership skills with your early childhood sector expertise to lead community and family engagement for an early childhood teaching centre or service.

Accreditations

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Teaching) is accredited by the leading industry body, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Testimonial

‘I have been provided with knowledge and skills as a direct result of my time at Swinburne Online to start my teaching life positively and prepared. I found that the knowledge that I was building throughout my studies supported my assistance in the classroom and led to being well prepared during placements.’

Kate

Swinburne Online graduate

Kate SOL
FAQs
What are other students asking?
A.
For students undertaking a degree, most of your learning materials are included with a free license provided to you by Swinburne Online. However, in some cases, you will be notified via your student email that you will need to buy specific software or eTexts. For TAFE Business students, all of your learning materials will be available online and are covered by your course fees. You won’t need to purchase any further materials.
A.
You won’t normally have to be online at a specific time. Your course material is available for you from the beginning of each teaching period and you can work through it in the hours that suit you. There are some live webinar sessions that run approximately once a month. These are a special opportunity for students to sign in at the same time as their tutors, normally before an assessment deadline. It gives you the chance to ask any questions relating to the assignment in real time and hear other student’s questions and thoughts. We understand that students won’t always be able to make these sessions, so they can be replayed the next day.
A.
When you enrol to study a degree with us, you will nominate how many units you would like to select per teaching period, based on a recommendation from one of our Course Consultants. From here, our enrolments team will allocate you automatically to the units they feel will be best suited to your needs, so you don’t need to worry about choosing units. If you want to choose something different than what you are allocated to, that is no problem, just get in touch with our Student Advisors and they will take care of it for you.

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