Applied Early Childhood Studies
The BA in Applied Early Childhood Education [Year 2-entry only] is a twoyear part-time course, designed for people who are interested in pursuing opportunities in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector. The aim of the course is the development of highly-skilled professional educators for the future who specialise in early childhood education.
| Award Name | Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Dundalk Institute of Technology |
| NFQ Level | Level 7 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Ordinary Bachelor (Level 7 NFQ) | Major | Dundalk Institute of Technology | Level 7 NFQ |
Duration
2 years.
Course Delivery
This programme is delivered predominately online two evenings a week (18.00hrs to 21.30 hrs) with some Saturday face-to-face workshops (09.0hrs in 16.00hrs)
In Stage 2, Semester 2 of the course, participants will be required to undertake a full time 5-day work placement in a Special Needs Setting. The placement site for this mandatory practice is organised by DkIT.
Applicants should have access to a PC / Mac and a broadband internet connection from home, so as to be able to fully participate in the course.
Entry Requirements
Minimum Entry Requirements
For Advanced Entry to Stage 2, candidates must have: QQI Level 5 AND Level 6
OR
QQI (FETAC) Level 6 only (if awarded since 2015) in Early Childhood Studies or equivalent and have two years’ work experience in a Tusla registered early child care service (minimum of 15 hours per week).
For Advanced entry to stage 3, candidates must have; QQI Higher level 6 award in early childhood studies or equivalent and have three years work experience in a Tusla registered early child care service (minimum of 15 hours per week).
Candidates may be required to attend for interview. Length of work experience and position in employment may be used as ranking criteria in a shortlisting process.
Applicants must have access to a Tusla registered early childhood service (minimum of 15 hours per week) or work in another relevant organisation in the Early Years Sector throughout their course of study to facilitate the integration of theory with practice and to meet the different module learning outcomes.
Careers / Further progression
Career Opportunities
Graduates of this degree may follow a variety of career paths in the education, health and social-care fields. There is an identified skills shortage for well-trained graduates who can quickly move up to more senior roles in Child Care Centres and other early childhood care and education settings.
Employment opportunities include roles as managers, directors, coordinators or leaders in early years settings such as:
- pre-schools
- crèches
- special needs services
- family support centres and community services in the statutory
- voluntary
- community
- private sectors
- government agencies and public agencies.
Further information
Registration for a part-time course at DkIT could not be easier.
Just click on dkit.ie/parttime or dkit.ie/postgraduate to search for your course and follow the ‘How To Apply’ instructions on the course page.
Please note that early registration is advisable as the number of places on many courses are limited. Applications will be dealt with in order of receipt of completed application and appropriate fee. Applicants must notify the Lifelong Learning Centre in writing in the event of your withdrawal from any course for any reason.
If you have any questions about registering for a course, contact our Lifelong Learning Team on parttime@dkit.ie or call us on +353 (0)42 9370290
Tax Relief / Other Funders
Tax relief at the standard rate of tax (20%) is available for certain tuition fees on courses which lead to third-level awards.
For further information visit revenue.ie to receive a copy of form IT31. This applies only to students who are funding their studies from their own income. Always retain your receipt of payment from DkIT for tax purposes.
In certain circumstances students may receive financial aid in paying their fees from County Enterprise Boards, Leader Partnerships, Department of Social Protection and other organisations.
Potential students will be interviewed.
Apply online Visit www.dkit.ie/partime for information on how to enrol online for this course or see Application weblink below.
Please note that early registration is advisable as the number of places on many courses is limited. Applications will be dealt with in order of receipt of completed application and appropriate fee.
The focus of the course is the study of play, development and learning in children from birth to six years old in a socio-cultural context and the implications of this for practice in early childhood settings. The early childhood professional educator needs to understand many facets of the young child's development and how best to plan and implement programmes that address the child's needs in a holistic way.
This course is designed for people who have been working in the early childhood care and education sector for a number of years and who may already hold some qualifications in the early childhood area, but now wish to obtain academic qualifications to degree level. It is in response to national strategies on early childhood care and education which has identified the need to up skill the workforce in this sector.
Who Should Apply?
Early Childhood generally refers to the care and the education of children aged 0-6 years. The course is suitable for:
- Early years educators who are working with young children in crèches, pre-schools, school age childcare services and special education services
- Managers of crèches, pre-schools, school age services, special education services
- Early childhood practitioners in the Health Services Executive
- County Childcare Committee staff
- Practitioners in the child and family support sector.
Exploration of Emergent Numeracy and Literacy
Creativity and the Arts in Early Childhood Studies
Developmental Psychology
Applied Professional Practice 2 and Applied Professional Practice 3
Special Education Needs
Sociology
Social Policy
Business
Evidence Based Practice
Regulation and Law
Early Childhood Physical Activity
Consultation and Evaluation in Early Childhood
Interactions Hanen certificate
Supervisory management
Teaching Self-Regulation.
Contact
Caroline Mc Donnell,
School of Health & Science
E: caroline.
mcdonnell@dkit.ie
Dr. Geraldine
O’Connor,
School of Health & Science
T:+353(0)429370200
Ext 2736
E: geraldine.
oconnor@dkit.i