Expand+At the time of enrolment, applicants are required to fulfil the minimum entry requirements of the University of Limerick. These are:

At least Grade H5 in two Higher Level subjects, and Grade O6/H7 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects includi...

Hide-At the time of enrolment, applicants are required to fulfil the minimum entry requirements of the University of Limerick. These are:

At least Grade H5 in two Higher Level subjects, and Grade O6/H7 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects including Mathematics, Irish* or another language, and English.

The following are accepted as approved equivalents in fulfilling minimum entry requirements for the BA programme:

• National University of Ireland Matriculation Certificate
• University of Dublin (TCD) Matriculation Examination
• Northern Ireland Schools Examination Council GCSE/A Levels.

Candidates may fulfil minimum entry requirements from more than one sitting of the Leaving Certificate.

Foundation Level Mathematics is acceptable in fulfilling minimum entry requirements. It is not accepted for specific subject requirements or points calculation.

* Language Waivers Please contact the Access/Disability Officer on T: +353 61 204927 or email Maura.Moore@mic.ul.ie for information on Language Exemptions granted on disability grounds. Deadlines apply.

Additional Points Awarded
Students who score grade H6 or above in the Leaving Certificate Higher Level Paper in Mathematics will qualify for 25 bonus points.

Garda Vetting (criminal Records Bureau Check (crb) For Uk Students)
Registration will be conditional upon successful completion of the Garda Vetting Process (or CRB checking).

Expand+Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2...

Hide-Early online application (discounted): Fee €25 Closing Date: 20th January 2017 at 5:15pm

Normal online application: Fee €40 Closing Date: 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm

Late online application - restrictions apply: Fee: €50 Closing Date: 1st May 2017 at 5:15 pm

Change of Mind: Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1st July 2017 5:15 pm

Exceptional online late application - see page 14 of the 2017 CAO Handbook: Fee €50 Closing Date: 22nd July 2017 at 5:15pm

You should avoid submitting an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all fees are non-refundable.

LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5:15pm on 1st February 2017 and will be accepted up to 5:15pm on 1st May 2017, subject to the restricitions listed on page 3 of the 2017 CAO Handbook.

Late Applications (Exception to Timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22nd of July at 5:15pm applies only to applicants who are currently undergraduate students in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system.

If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.

Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.

Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Limerick have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these three HEIs, you should apply through CAO.

Refer to page 15 of the 2017 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.

Restricted-category Applicants
Mature applicants – most HEIs will require mature applicants, who wish to be assessed on mature grounds, to have applied to CAO by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm. (This restriction does not apply if the applicant wishes to be considered on the basis of school leaving qualifications only.) For more information about applying to CAO on the basis of mature years go to www.cao.ie/mature.

Applying for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes – to be considered for the HEAR and/or DARE schemes applicants must have registered on the CAO system by 1st February 2017 at 5:15pm and must have completed the HEAR/DARE application form by 1st March 2017 at 5:15pm – supporting documents must be sent to CAO offices before 1st April 2017 at 5:15pm.

Expand+Mary Immaculate College offers a four-year honours degree programme in Early Childhood Care and Education for those interested in gaining excellent training and a highly-regarded qualification in this most rewarding and challenging area.

The BA E...

Hide-Mary Immaculate College offers a four-year honours degree programme in Early Childhood Care and Education for those interested in gaining excellent training and a highly-regarded qualification in this most rewarding and challenging area.

The BA ECCE degree programme is a full-time course designed to provide exciting and challenging training for those interested in working with young children, from birth to six years of age, in a range of educational settings. Mary Immaculate College, with its long tradition of excellence in teaching and learning in the early years, has designed this honours degree programme in Early Childhood Care and Education in response to contemporary developments in the field of early years education both in Ireland and internationally. The College recognises that quality provision in the early years is crucial in facilitating each child's development towards their full potential. “The competencies, qualifications, dispositions and experience of adults, in addition to their capacity to reflect upon their role, are essential in supporting and ensuring quality experiences for each child. This demanding and central role in the life of the young child needs to be appropriately resourced, supported and valued.” (Síolta, 2006). The benefits that accrue from quality early childhood education and care apply to all children, but as research shows, the benefits are particularly significant for children with special needs and children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This course focuses on the holistic care and education of young children in a variety of settings.

The course is multi-disciplinary in design and offers students the opportunity to become specialists in the care and education of young children from birth to six years of age. The course focuses on the concept of the term 'educare' and as such, views the education and care of young children from a developmental perspective, which is holistic, yet tailored to suit individual needs. Specialisation in the combined areas of care and education demands a deep knowledge of both theory and practice.

Subjects covered will include: Child Health & Well-being; Language Development in Early Childhood; Child Development; The Role of Play in Development; Educational Psychology; Child, Family and Community; Creativity; Language Acquisition and Early Literacy; Understanding and Accommodating Diversity; The Pedagogy of Early Childhood; Curriculum Guidelines; Legal Issues and Professional Development. A particular focus of the programme is providing students with the knowledge, skills and competencies to support the inclusion of children with disabilities in the early years.

Placement opportunities are provided for students in a variety of settings such as playgroups, day-care settings, crèches, Early Start Units, pre-schools and primary schools throughout the duration of the programme. Additionally Off- Campus Placement takes place in Semester 6, which enables students to experience national and international early education workplaces.

These placements will allow students an opportunity to learn from experience through supervised work practice. Allied to experiential learning, this provides a valuable opportunity for students to engage in reflective practice.

Expand+Year I

Semester 1
EN4141 Foundation Studies in Early Childhood Care and Education
EN4151 Child Development 1
EN4161 Language Development in Early Childhood
EN4171 The Role of Play in Development 1
EN4181 Professional Development 1

Semeste...

Hide-Year I

Semester 1
EN4141 Foundation Studies in Early Childhood Care and Education
EN4151 Child Development 1
EN4161 Language Development in Early Childhood
EN4171 The Role of Play in Development 1
EN4181 Professional Development 1

Semester 2
EN4142 The Pedagogy of Early Childhood
EN4152 Child Development 2
EN4162 Child Health and Well Being 1
EN4172 Models of Curriculum
EN4182 Professional Development 2

Year II

Semester 3
EN4233 Educational Psychology
EN4253 Child Health and Well Being 2
EN4263 Creativity
EN4273 Child, Family and Community 1
EN4283 Professional Development 3

Semester 4
EN4244 Child, Family and Community 2
EN4254 Language Acquisition and Early Literacy
EN4264 The Role of Play in Development 2
EN4274 Professional Development 4

Year III

Semester 5
EN4385 Curriculum Guidelines for the Early Years (Under 3’s)
EN4355 Child, Family and Community 3
EN4375 Research Methods
EN4365 Professional Development 5

Semester 6
EN4356 Professional Development 6

Year IV

Semester 7
EN4457 Sociological and Global Perspectives in the Early Years
EN4467 Historical Perspectives in the Early Years
EN4477 Curriculum Guidelines for the Early Years 3-6
EN4487 Professional Development 7
EN4497 Dissertation 1

Semester 8
EN4408 The Early Years: Philosophical Perspective and Analysis
EN4418 Early Childhood Care and Educational Management
EN4428 Teaching and Learning for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity
EN4448 Professional Development 8
EN4458 Dissertation 2

Expand+Career Opportunities
There is a growing awareness in Ireland of the need for high calibre professionals to provide young children with the best possible care and education. Graduates may pursue leadership roles in both the private and public sector ...

Hide-Career Opportunities
There is a growing awareness in Ireland of the need for high calibre professionals to provide young children with the best possible care and education. Graduates may pursue leadership roles in both the private and public sector where high quality childcare provision is required. As specialists in Early Childhood Care & Education, graduates of this programme may find employment as managers, directors, co-ordinators or facilitators in a wide range of early year settings.

The first cohort of BA ECCE students graduated in October 2007 and they have since taken up employment in such areas as managerial roles in play schools, crèches, day care settings, Early Start Units, family centres as well as policy development roles and research roles within various Government bodies. Following the Government's introduction of the provision of a free year of pre-school education, job opportunities for graduates of this course are expected to continue to increase.