Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years)

CSU’s Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) prepares effective future practitioners employed in the birth to five years education sector.

Why study this course?

The Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) provides an innovative, relevant and rigorous program that prepares graduates for their continued engagement in the early childhood profession. Students develop an understanding of the importance of the early years and the educator's role in children's lives through a balance between strong practical skills and theory.

The course recognises the knowledge, skills and abilities that students bring with them from previous studies and equips them with the skills required to maintain and extend their roles within this workforce. It promotes the principles of social justice and equity by creating opportunities for students to demonstrate an awareness of, and responsiveness to, community contexts and the personal and professional attitudes and values that encourage an optimistic, reflective and ethically sound approach to early childhood education, professional development and education.

This course provides a four-year early childhood teaching qualification in the prior to school area.

Associate Degree in Early Childhood (Birth to Five)

CSU's Associate Degree in Early Childhood (Birth to Five) offers students a pathway into the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years). This course is delivered in association with NSW TAFE Riverina and Western Institutes and allows students to complete the units of competency from Stage Two and Three of the TAFE Diploma in Children’s Services and prepare for university studies at the same time.

The Associate Degree builds on the VET qualification through critical analysis, extended reading and an assessment item that integrates the learning from the VET qualification with the learning from the university component. It is designed to strategically build the academic literacy and internet communication technology (ICT) skills necessary to succeed in university education.

Students will be introduced to the academic writing conventions at university and given the opportunity to master these skills as they complete the TAFE Diploma in early childhood. The Associate Degree in Early Childhood (Birth to Five) can be completed in one year by distance education. 

Additional admission requirement for the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years)

• National Criminal Record Clearance

Graduation requirements

To graduate with CSU’s Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years), students must successfully complete 256 points. To exit with the Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years), students must successfully complete 208 points. To exit with the Associate Degree in Early Childhood (Birth to Five Years), students must successfully complete 128 points.

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.