Make a positive and life-long difference to children and their futures.
The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care set up a child’s learning for life. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including primary school (Prep to Year 3), kindergartens and childcare.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- € From 2016 it will be a requirement to have Maths (4, SA), Science (4,SA) and English (4, SA)
- € From 2016 it will be a requirement to have Maths (4, SA), Science (4,SA) and English (4, SA)
The early years of children’s lives are incredibly important. Your contribution to early childhood education and care set up a child’s learning for life. Our program is designed to qualify you for early childhood teaching (birth to eight) and enables you to lead and work across a wide range of settings including primary school (Prep to Year 3), kindergartens and childcare.
You’ll learn about the importance of wellbeing, play and environments in early learning. Benefit from supervised professional experiences in a range of early childhood settings that link theory and practice. You’ll also gain valuable and rewarding wider field experience where you engage with community projects and work with children, families and communities.
Our program has been developed in partnership with leading educational bodies, and as you graduate you’ll be eligible to register with the Queensland College of Teachers.
Post-admission requirements
Students must complete 129 days of Supervised Professional Experience and 20 hours of Wider Field Experience. Students must undergo a Working with Children Check and obtain a Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PBSA) prior to commencing supervised professional experience.
Career opportunities
Early childhood teaching or leadership roles in long day care centres, kindergarten and primary school settings (from Prep to Year 3), integrated community services, government.
Membership
Early Childhood Australia.
Registration
Queensland College of Teachers.
Program structure
For students commencing Semester 1, 2015. All other students please refer to previous handbooks.
Introductory required courses
9 required courses:
COR109
EDU100
EDU104
EDU107
EDU108
EDU109
EDU110
EDU111
EDU112
Advanced required courses
21 required courses:
EDU201
EDU203
EDU206
EDU207 Cell Biology
EDU208 Human Physiology
EDU305 Introduction to Nutrition
EDU309 Food in Society
EDU316 Public Health Foundations
EDU331 Chemistry
EDU332 Food Studies
EDU333 Nutrition Assessment
EDU334 Public Health Nutrition
EDU335 Principles of Nutrition
EDU336 Complementary Approaches to Food and Nutrition
EDU340 Contemporary Issues in Nutrition
EDU341 Health Practicum
EDU343 Work Place Learning I
EDU344 Communication and Thought
EDU407 Introductory Bioscience
EDU408 Human Physiology
EDU409 Human Anatomy
Elective courses
Select 2 elective courses from either faculty (Arts and Business or Science, Health, Education and Engineering). It is strongly recommended that students select electives that develop a specific curriculum area.
Requirements for placements
As required by the Queensland Family and Child Commission Act (2014), preservice teachers must undergo a Working with Children Check and be issued with a Blue Card by the Public Safety Business Agency to allow them to undertake supervised professional experience in a school or centre where children under 18 years of age are present. It is now a requirement of all Queensland sites and most Australian sites that preservice teachers have obtained the Blue Card prior commencing supervised professional experience.
To avoid processing delays, you are encouraged to apply for a Blue Card as soon as you have accepted your offer. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when you apply through USC’s Professional Learning office (Level 1, H Building).
Note: If you do not possess a current Blue Card, you will be unable to complete the professional experience component of your program and you will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
Visit the Public Safety Business Agency website for information on Blue Cards and how to apply.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete 32 courses including 30 required courses and 2 elective courses.
- Complete no more than 12 introductory level courses, including core courses.
- Complete a minimum of 129 days of Supervised Professional Experience, with the majority completed as full-time blocks. One major Supervised Professional Experience must be completed in an Australian school.
- Complete 20 hours of Wider Field Experience.
- A Blue Card is required, refer to Requirements for placements.
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
- Electives may be used to increase curriculum knowledge in Key Learning Areas.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- Graduates from the Diploma in Children’s Services will be able to enter into the second year of the program via a negotiated credit transfer pathway. 96 units of credit will be awarded.
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to Early Childhood students.
- Only a fulltime study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- When enrolling, refer to the Study Plan.