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.

Workplace learning

Professional Experience Placements

The Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) includes two compulsory Professional Experience Placements. These are in the subjects EPT308 Early Childhood Teacher in the Community (birth to two-year-olds, 20 days) and EPT326 Early Childhood Professional Practice (three to five-year-olds, 25 days).

The Professional Experience Placements CANNOT be completed at your current workplace. The timing of these placements is negotiated with the Subject Coordinator when you are enrolled in the subject.

Enquiries about qualifications required in each state / territory should be directed to the appropriate employing body in your state / territory.

National Criminal Record Check

Students may be required to undergo a criminal record check and/or complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration under the Child Protection Act 1998 as part of professional experience requirements. These checks are intended to identify people who might, because of convictions for such things as violence or sexual offences, put students/clients' personal safety or health at risk. Traffic violations and other minor offences are not of interest.

As such, prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a criminal record clearance or complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration may limit practicum opportunities in some organisations and industries. Furthermore, criminal convictions involving violence or sexual offences may limit continued enrolment in a course and/or employment opportunities after completing the course.

If you have any queries regarding these matters, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Course Director.

Additional admission requirements

Standard entry:

To be admitted to the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) students must hold one of the following qualifications:

• Diploma of Children’s Services
• Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years)
• three-year Bachelor of Early Childhood Teaching qualification from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification deemed appropriate by the Faculty of Education. 

TAFE pathway:

To be admitted to the Bachelor of Education (Birth to Five Years) TAFE pathway, currently only available through Riverina and Western Institute TAFE, students must have completed the following qualification:

• Certificate III in Children’s Services and Stage One TAFE Diploma of Children’s Services

Special admission is available to:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
• regional entry
• special consideration / educational disadvantage.

Literacy requirement

To be successful at studies within certain courses, students must be highly competent in spoken and written English literacy. All students who do not have this level of competence in spoken and written English will be required to independently organise some form of coaching in English literacy, such as a short TAFE course or other form of tuition to improve their skills. Students will be advised of their options by the Head of School from the campus where they are enrolled. If, after an agreed period of study in English literacy, a student's English literacy standard has not improved, the appropriate Head of School will provide further advice with regard to alternative career options.

See the Workplace learning tab for special requirements for Professional Experience Placements.

Admission requirements

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2; Session 3