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Early Childhood Education and Care – BA

  • CAO Points: New for 2024

  • Campus: Moylish, Limerick City

  • years: 3


Course Overview

Throughout the course, students will explore the exciting and dynamic content and practice, giving you the knowledge and skills to be a formidable candidate for any career path you may choose to pursue in the area. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) reflects a holistic view of the education. You will have the opportunity to study modules such as Child Health and Wellbeing, Play, STEAM, Curriculum, Leadership and Management and School Age Childcare. This course is designed to equip graduates with the essential core knowledge practices and values to fulfil the role of professional Early Childhood Educator.

An inter-disciplinary approach is a must in when working in a busy quality inclusive early years education environment and this course will prepare you for this through modules such as problem based learning and current concepts. Furthermore, the course design and content have guided by the sector’s policy and regulatory frameworks, such as Aistear, Siolta, Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF) First 5 and professional Award Criteria and Guidelines. It is innovating practice led course where students learn how to combine theory and practice. An active learning environment is achieved through lectures, seminars, workshops and enquiry- based learning with children’s learning materials.

The Early Childhood Programme course on the TUS Moylish campus have a strong network of international education and industry partners, and as a result students can engage in student exchanges, work placements or internships to countries such as Canada and Europe. Students will complete 400-hour practice placements in year 2 and 3 (should you progress to the Level 7 programme) in early years education and care or other relevant organisations working with children. Professional Practice Placement gives you the opportunity to develop the hands-on skills required to be an excellent Early Years Educator as you progress through each year of the programme.

Professional Accreditation
In 2022 this degree completed programmic review and continues to be officially recognised as meeting the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines for Initial Professional Education (Level 7 and Level 8) Degree Programmes for the Early Learning and Care Sector in Ireland. TUS is currently list under the QAB Approved List of courses.

Contact Details

Ashling SheehanBoyle

Email: Ashling.SheehanBoyle@tus.ie

What are the entry requirements?

Leaving Certificate

A minimum of 5 O6/H7 grades in five Leaving Certificate subjects, including Mathematics and English or Irish.

Foundation Level Mathematics at grade F2 or higher is acceptable as meeting the Mathematics requirement for this programme.

Mature Applicants

Candidates applying as mature applicants may be required to attend an interview and may be requested to take an aptitude test to prove their suitability for a place on this programme.

International Applicants

International applicants should apply directly to the International Office at TUS, allowing plenty of time for completing the visa process. Applications for September start should be made by 1st June at the latest to ensure visas are processed in time. You should familiarise yourself with visa processing times for your country of origin to ensure you make a timely application. Find out more here.

Course Modules

  • ECEC Frameworks

  • Introduction to Play

  • Creative Learning

  • Introduction to the Sociology of Childhood

  • Language Development in the Early Years

  • Child Care

  • Health and Wellbeing

  • Psychology of Child Development 1

  • Foundations of Teaching and Learning

  • Learning through Physical Activity

  • Professional Practice and Preparation 1

  • Learning through Art and Music

  • Outdoor Learning

  • Professional Practice Education Placement 1 (15 weeks/400 hours)

  • STEAM in ECE

  • Learning through Drama & Story Telling

  • Creating Inclusive Environments

  • Transitions in the Early Years

  • School Age provision

  • Health Nutrition and Wellbeing

  • Teaching and Learning through Play

  • Language and Literacy in the Early Years

  • Supporting Children with Additional Needs

  • Positive Behaviour Strategies

  • The Reflective Educator

  • Legal Frameworks and Governance for Early Childhood Practice

  • Professional Practice Education Placement 2 (15 weeks/400 hours)

What can you do after this programme?

Graduates can avail of various employment opportunities, such as a variety of roles within Early Years Education and Care and School Age organisations .e.g. Pre- school , full day services.

Students can work in both the public private community and voluntary sectors. Many of past graduates have are working with organisations such as  Barnardo’s , Special Needs Assistants within a Primary and special schools , AIM ( Access and Inclusion staff in Early Years Education and Care settings)

Students can progress to working  as Manager or potentially own and   develop their  own business.

Other roles that may be of interest -Development Officer in Childcare Committees, Inspectors with TUSLA and Department of Education and Skills, Early Years Specialists with Better Start.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to progress on to the Level 8 BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Care degree, subject to availability of places.