Bachelor of Education (Hons) in Early Childhood Education

On this programme we explore the 'fingerprints' of childhood and imagine the possibilities of what little fingers and little minds can do.

The Bachelor of Education (Honours) Degree in Early Childhood Education aims to provide the early childhood sector with holistic, highly competent, and research engaged practitioners.

This 4-year programme, is a 240-credit award at Level 8. It is a blended learning programme where students will engage in a variety of face-to-face and online engagements. In addition, through Professional Practice Placement and the provision of a well-structured mentoring Professional Support Team (PST), students will engage across the four years of the programme in multiple opportunities to act and reflect on their emerging understanding of knowledge, practice and values and critically examine their commitment to quality in diverse situations.

This degree programme is distinctive as it offers the current Early Learning and Care (ELC) workforce a flexible professional development opportunity that is innovative, creative and focused on career progression. Graduates of the programme will have engaged in special education, inclusion and diversity in early intervention and early education, and research methods to enhance research-informed practice across all four stages of the programme. The programme satisfies the aims outlined in the Department of Education and Skills (2019) Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines for Initial Professional Education (Level 7 and Level 8) Degree Programmes for Early Learning and Care (ELC) Sector in Ireland and the Government of Ireland (2019) Update Workforce Development Plan for the ELC/SAC Sector.

On successful completion of the programme, graduates will obtain a Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education.

240-credit award at Level 8

4 years

Next start dates: Autumn each year