Bachelor of Early Childhood (BECH) - BECh

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Springfield campus: 928151; External: 908155; Toowoomba campus: 908151

CRICOS code (International applicants): 056707B

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Professional accreditation

Graduates from the BECh will have met the requirements of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and can apply for recognition of being an Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) in prior to school settings. Students outside of Australia should check with their relevant authority regarding accreditation requirements. Please note, students graduating from this program, in Queensland, are not eligible for teacher registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT).

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Program objectives

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Early Childhood program, students will be able to:

1. Apply understandings related to children's learning and their development as unique, capable and competent citizens with rights and responsibilities

2. Explain and use broad theoretical and contemporary frameworks of curricula and learning frameworks

3. Implement appropriate pedagogies, principles and practices across birth to eight years

4. Explain and implement ethically and socially responsible practices and behaviours aligned with the rights of the child, and administrative, legislative and regulatory requirements

5. Use active inquiry to investigate and respond to the capabilities, strengths, interests and needs of children and their families and communities from an ecological perspective and using professional judgement

6. Research and advocate for key issues of focus around child and family guided by an autonomous commitment to improving professional knowledge and practice

7. Apply effective communication strategies to establish, engage with, and nurture strong collaborative communities of practice so as to effectively and sensitively support and respond to families and children from diverse contexts and backgrounds .

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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 07. Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting www.aqf.edu.au.

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Program Information Set

View USQ’s admission criteria, student profiles and a summary of all offers made under Course Admission Information Set via the QTAC website.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

• Have achieved a minimum Overall Position (OP) 16, tertiary entrance rank 66 or equivalent qualification.^

• English (4, SA) or equivalent

• Mathematics A, B or C (4, SA) or equivalent

• Science (4, SA) or equivalent.

• English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 5

All students are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements.

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a University-approved English language program. On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a student contribution amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for FEE-Help.

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

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Program structure

The Bachelor of Early Childhood program is comprised of 24 units at undergraduate level (AQF Level 7) as follows:

• 23 Core courses\; and

• one special interest course (Electives/Approved courses).

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Program completion requirements

Within the 24 units required to complete this program, there also is a strict professional experience requirement as follows:

• 80 days supervised placement.

Please refer to Professional experience for further information.

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Required time limits

The standard duration for completion of this program is three years full-time or seven years part-time. Students have a maximum of seven years to complete this program.

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Core courses

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Electives/Approved courses

As detailed in the Program structure section of this Handbook, students are required to select one Special Interest course from the table below.

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Professional experience

Within the 24 units required to complete this program, there also is a strict Professional Experience requirement as follows:

• 80 days supervised placement.

Students can only undertake a maximum of one course with a professional experience component in the one semester.

Of the required supervised professional experience, all students, domestic and international, must complete a minimum of 50% of the supervised placement in Australia.

Students must also hold a valid Blue Card within Queensland or hold a valid Working with Children Check as well as having completed any further training/certificates relevant to the state where they are completing their Professional experience.

For further information regarding professional experience and education placements, please visit the USQ website.

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IT requirements

For information technology requirements, please refer to the minimum computing standards.

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Other program requirements

Students must maintain good standing in this program. Please refer to the Academic Standing, Progression and Exclusion Procedure.

Students must also hold a valid Blue Card within Queensland or hold a valid Working with Children Check as well as having completed any further training/certificates relevant to the state where they are completing their Professional experience.

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Articulation

Students who complete this program may articulate to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).

From 1 January 2018, all applicants for initial teacher education programs nationally, including USQ's Bachelor of Education, must meet both academic and non-academic entry criteria, detailed in the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Education .

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Exit points

This program contains provision for two generic exit awards, as follows:

• Associate Degree in Education Studies (DAES) - available at the completion of 16 approved courses, 8 of which must be education courses; and

• Diploma of Education Studies (DPES) - available at the completion of 8 education courses.

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Credit

Candidates eligible for admission into this program may be eligible for up to 16 units of credit on the basis of successful completion of relevant, equivalent undergraduate level study completed at a recognised university or institution.

Credit approved in this program will not automatically apply to other USQ programs. Claims for credit should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with the Credit and Exemptions Procedure.

For instructions on applying for credit, please visit our website.

Recommended enrolment pattern

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Early Childhood

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Before enrolling, BECH students who began their programs prior to 2018 should review their enrolment pattern by using the relevant program transition links in the My Initial Teacher Education (MyITE) site.

Students are strongly encouraged to follow the recommended enrolment pattern for their program. This is particularly important in respect to Professional Experience. Delaying Professional Experience may delay program completion by up to three (3) years.