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BA (Hons.) in Early Childhood Education

 

Early Childhood Education generally refers to the care and the education of children aged 0-6 years. The Early Years professional needs to understand many facets of the young child's development and how best to plan and implement programmes that address the child's needs in a holistic way.

What kind of programme is the BA (Hons.) in Early Childhood Education?

The programme is a three year, full-time programme leading to a BA (Hons.) in Early Childhood Education. It is a programme of tuition, supervised practice placements, tutorials, a wide range of assignments including a major project, independent study and research and exams.

In each of three years three main components are offered

- a theory component
- a professional skills component
- a supervised practice component

First Year Modules

Psychology and Child Development: The Early Years
Introduction to Early  Education
Professional Practice Issues 1
Child Health: The Early Years
Art In Early Education 1
Drama in Education 1
Supervised Practice Placement 1
Social Theory 1: The Early Years
Research Methods 1

Second Year Modules

Child Development 2: The Early Years
Psychological Adjustment During the Early Years
Early Education Intermediate
ICT in the Early Years
Professional Practice Issues 2
Options: Art in Early Education 2 or Drama In Education 2
Supervised Practice Placement 2
Social Theory and Legal Issues 2
Research Methods 2

Year Three Modules

Assessing and Planning for Early Learning
Perspectives on Early Childhood Education: Issues in Policy, Practice and Research
Working with Families
Child Protection in Early Years Services
Development of Business and Management Skills in Early Years Services
Options: Bilingualism or Outdoor Play
Supervised Practice Placement 3
Research Methods 3
Dissertation

The 'Programme document' details all module content, assessments, learning outcomes and indicative reading lists [available here]

Location

The BA (Hons.) in Early Childhood Education shall be delivered in 40 - 45 Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1 during 2013-2014.  The Programme shall relocate to DIT Grangegorman from 1st September 2014.

Supervised placements are located within the greater Dublin area.

What are the origins of the programme?

DIT is the longest established provider of Early Childhood Education in Ireland. Our first programme commenced in 1977, when we offered a one year certificate programme to pre-school workers in the Eastern Health Board. The certificate programme was extended to two years in 1985 followed by the introduction of a two year part-time Diploma programme in 1993. The BA in ECCE was introduced in September 1999. In September 2005, First Year intake on a new 3-year BA (Hons.) took place.

What are the aims of the BA in ECE?

The programme will provide students with a professional qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education which will enable them to work in a variety of early years settings including pre-schools, crèches, day nurseries, special needs services, community services and family centres in the state, private, voluntary and community sectors.

The aim of the programme is to facilitate students' personal, social and professional development with a view to producing a highly competent professional practitioner committed to providing high quality services to children and families.

How are students assessed?

Assessment in college work is through a combination of continuous assessment based on assignments linking theory and practice as well as end of year exams. Assessment of professional practice is also made of students on placement.

Timetable and hours

The programme is delivered over two semesters each year. In each year of the programme students take part in 15-18 hours of classroom tuition and 6-12 hours of supervised practice (placement) each week.

Is placement arranged?

All placements are arranged by Programme Tutors to ensure students get opportunities of supervised practice in a wide variety of high quality early years settings.

What facilities are there?

A personal tutorial system offering professional and academic support to each student
A well stocked library offering an excellent range of books, journals and videos in the area of early education
A computer laboratory offering access to e-mail and Internet/Worldwide Web on each computer
Canteen facilities

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate in six subjects at least two of which must be at grade C3 or higher on higher level papers. Results must include OD3 in Irish or English and OD3 in Mathematics.

FETAC entry: Two places in Year 1 shall be reserved for FETAC Level 5 graduates who have obtained a minimum of five distinctions in Childcare, Community Care or related area. More detail for Fetac level 5 applicants can be found [Here]. Please note that Applicants must have obtained a full FETAC award. A Component Certificate is not sufficient.

NVQ Level 3 graduates (for example, CACHE Diploma) are eligible to appply as non-standard entrants to Year 1.

Advanced entry (to Years 2 and 3)

A small number of vacancies may arise each year for advanced entry to Year 2 or Year 3 [more details].

Garda vetting

Supervised placements is an integral part of the programme and Garda clearance will be required from all applicants. Incoming students shall be contacted in August with details of this process. Applicants must fully and honestly complete the Garda vetting form. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction automatically renders what may appear to be a very minor offence, unrelated to children or minors, to be a serious breach of DIT regulations. That is, it will be interpreted as an attempt to deceive the Institute.  The Department of Social Sciences policy on Garda vetting can be found on our Student Resources page.

How many places are available?

Forty places (two groups of twenty) are available at entry to Year 1.

Applications are welcome from mature (23 years +) and non-standard applicants.

How to apply?

All applicants to year 1 must apply via the CAO.

Further Information

Programme Chair, Jan Pettersen, Department of Social Sciences
DIT 40 - 45 Mountjoy Square
Dublin 1
Telephone: 353-1-4024278
e: jan.pettersen@dit.ie