Expand+Minimum Entry Requirements
Holders of an Appropriate Ordinary Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood Care & Education.

Garda Vetting Requirements
As part of the course content, each student is required to successfully complete work placements in ...

Hide-Minimum Entry Requirements
Holders of an Appropriate Ordinary Bachelors of Arts in Early Childhood Care & Education.

Garda Vetting Requirements
As part of the course content, each student is required to successfully complete work placements in Year 2 and Year 3 of the course. In order to commence work placement, each student must undergo the ITB Garda vetting process.

To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, the Institute is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake specific parts of the programmes.

Without satisfactory Garda clearance, students will be unable to complete the work placement and thus will not be able to complete the programme or receive an award.

All places on the early childhood care and education courses are provisional and subject to the student obtaining satisfactory Garda vetting from the Central Garda Vetting Unit.

The current legal minimum age for sole application for Garda vetting is 18 years of age. In the event of an applicant being between 16 and 18 years of age, written consent is also required from a parent or guardian.

In addition to Garda vetting a medical assessment and provision of personal references may be required in regard to suitability for placement.

Expand+What
On this course, you’ll work with theory, the psychology of learning, and its practical application through play, art, drama, PE and music as you learn to make a difference in the years that count by understanding children, how they learn and h...

Hide-What
On this course, you’ll work with theory, the psychology of learning, and its practical application through play, art, drama, PE and music as you learn to make a difference in the years that count by understanding children, how they learn and how society shapes them.

Why
There is a range of employment opportunities in early years settings such as crèches, nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools, primary schools and breakfast/homework clubs. Graduates could also practice in more specialist areas such as special needs services or early intervention projects and may be employed in the public, private or voluntary sectors or may go on to establish their own businesses. The degree provides a solid foundation for further study.

Who
If you’re interested in finding out how children develop and learn, eager to learn about different cultures, languages, and diversity in the world, and enthusiastic about making a difference in children’s lives you will be ideally suited.

How
The programme combines theory with hands-on experience and practical skills. Students experience the variety of the early years sector through placements in two distinct settings providing the opportunity to link classroom learning with work based practice. Students are supervised throughout placement by an experienced early years practitioner as well as being given ongoing support from an allocated college academic supervisor.

Expand+Year 1:
Semester 1
• Applied Child Psychology
• Curriculum Development
• Child Protection : Policy & Practice in Early Childhood Services
• Preparation for Dissertation

Electives :
• Creative Inventions for the Personal , Social & Emotion...

Hide-Year 1:
Semester 1
• Applied Child Psychology
• Curriculum Development
• Child Protection : Policy & Practice in Early Childhood Services
• Preparation for Dissertation

Electives :
• Creative Inventions for the Personal , Social & Emotional Development of Children
• Children's Rights: A National and International Perspective
• Second Language Pedagogy
• School Age Childcare

* Two electives must be selected from Semester 1

Semester 2
• Supporting Positive Interactions with Children
• Family Studies
• Social Justice in Early Childhood Care and Education
• Dissertation

Electives :
• Curriculum Design
• Leadership, Management and Mentoring

* One elective must be selected from Semester 2

Note : The choice of electives are dependent upon learner demand and resource availability and may vary from year to year.