Want to start a career in education? Do you enjoy working with young children in their learning journeys? This certificate gives you an introduction to education and the professional work of early childhood educators, and supports your development of foundational skills and knowledge for teaching in early education settings.
Want to start a career in education? Do you enjoy working with young children in their learning journeys? This certificate gives you an introduction to education and the professional work of early childhood educators, and supports your development of foundational skills and knowledge for teaching in early education settings.
Learn about child development, play-based learning, fostering creative expression through the arts, early years care and age-appropriate teaching, as well as promoting your own literacy and numeracy skills and knowledge.
On successful completion of the Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education, and subject to meeting all other entry criteria, you may receive up to 48 units of credit towards the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
Fees for short courses
As part of the Federal Government's Job-ready Graduates package, USC is offering a limited number of Commonwealth supported places in the Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education in 2021. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be a domestic student, and meet the citizenship and residency requirements. For more information visit Commonwealth supported places. Eligible students are able to defer payment through HECS‑HELP.
Commonwealth supported places for short courses available under the Federal Government's Job Ready Graduates package are only available for 2021. Any remaining short course units that are commenced in 2022 would not be Commonwealth supported.
Admission requirements
Completion of Year 12 or be 17 years of age; and meet minimum selection threshold ATAR 55.
How to apply
To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education, submit the completed online application form via Apply USC. Commonwealth supported places will be allocated to eligible students who meet the entry requirements in order of application date, so apply as soon as possible.
Post-admission requirements
Students will complete a 5 day Supervised Professional Experience (SPE) within this program, students must have a Working with Children Check (Blue Card), or link their existing Blue Card to USC.
As required by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000), pre-service teachers must undergo a criminal history check and be issued with the Suitability Card (Blue Card) by the Commission to allow them to undertake field experience in a school or centre in which children under 18 years of age are present. It is highly recommended that students be proactive in applying for a card as soon as they are accepted into the program. It is now a requirement of all Queensland sites and most Australian sites that pre-service teachers have obtained the Blue Card prior to starting professional learning.
Program structure
Introductory courses (3) 36 units
EDU101 Teaching Junior Secondary HPE
EDU109 Teaching Junior Secondary Languages
EDU119 Teaching Junior Secondary Mathematics
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
EDU115 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 1
EDU118 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 2
Total units: 48
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 48 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- Students are required to complete a professional experience placement for five consecutive days in a childcare setting.
- The Undergraduate Certificate in Education (Early Childhood) has been designed as a pathway into Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood).
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.