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Home Study Postgraduate Early Childhood Education Major (MTeach)
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    MJRP-TCHEC

    Early Childhood Education

    Postgraduate major

    Shape the social and cognitive development of children aged zero to eight years.

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    Course outline
    • Qualification
      Early Childhood Education Major (MTeach)
    • Credit

      Credit

      A full-time study load usually consists of 200 credits (approximately eight units) per year, with 100 credits (approximately four units) in each semester.
      400
    Course outline

    Check the application deadline for the parent course

    Master of Teaching
    Course outline

    Overview

    Overview

    This major is designed for those who aim to teach children from kindergarten to year 2, or work with children aged 0–8 in early childhood education and care.

    You will learn about the school curriculum, general pedagogical approaches and the management and leadership of early childhood education and care centres.

    The Early Childhood Education Major is part of the Master of Teaching.

    What jobs can the Early Childhood Education course lead to?

    CAREERS 

    • Early childhood teacher 
    • Junior primary teacher 
    • Education advisor and reviewer 
    • Early learning centre manager 
    • Nanny 
    • Early learning centre educator 

    What you'll learn

    • demonstrate cultural responsiveness and respectful engagement with local First Peoples and a diversity of cultures
    • demonstrate a capacity for leadership through critical thinking, reflective and innovative practices based on local, national and international research, and engagement in ongoing professional learning
    • apply relevant theory and research to enhance the learning experiences and outcomes of learners from a diversity of backgrounds and aspirations
    • apply high-level discipline knowledges and understandings to demonstrate pedagogical capabilities, including planning and delivering effective teaching and learning experiences in the technologically enhanced learning environment, with demonstrated impact for all learners
    • apply high-level discipline and well-developed pedagogical knowledges to generate and critically analyse diverse sources to support situated professional judgements when assessing and reporting on learning
    • demonstrate effective and creative literacy and numeracy competencies across a range of professional contexts
    • apply principles of social justice to create and manage positive, safe and ethical learning environments that support a diversity of learners to engage in meaningful learning
    • communicate professionally with educational stakeholders, including colleagues, parents and carers, and engage collaboratively to build sustainable communities

    Professional recognition and accreditation

    This course is recognised nationally as an initial pre-service teaching qualification. Initial Teacher Education courses in Australia are accredited by the relevant authority in the state or territory in which the institution providing the qualification is based.

    Accordingly, the Master of Teaching course provided by Curtin University is fully accredited by the Teachers’ Registration Board of WA (TRBWA) and graduates of the course are able to register as practising teachers with the registration body in their home state or territory, based on the course accreditation provided by the TRBWA.

    The course is also recognised by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) as an approved early childhood teacher qualification.

    Admission criteria

    What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

    You must have a bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised institution, with at least one year of study in areas relating to early years learning, development and care.

    Applicants will also be required to engage in assessment of non-academic attributes in order to reflect on their suitability for teaching. Students will be responsible for meeting any costs associated with this assessment process.

    You also need to meet a minimum standard of English Language Proficiency, as you are required to teach others in English during your professional experience placements.

    Entry to this course will not be possible based on work experience alone. This is consistent with current practice for courses in the School of Education.

    English requirements

    Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

    You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

    IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

    Writing

    7.0

    Speaking

    8.0

    Reading

    7.0

    Listening

    8.0

    Overall band score

    7.5

    Other requirements and notes for this course

    This can be a physically and mentally challenging course. Please familiarise yourself with the Inherent requirements | Study (curtin.edu.au) before applying. Reasonable adjustments can be made for students with disability.

    Some lectures in this course may be attended by both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

    Working with Children Clearances and Certifications 

    Students will be required to have a current and valid Working with Children clearance as required by the state or country in which the placement provider is located. They will also need to meet any other relevant State requirements before engaging in any work with children or professional experience. If students have any doubt about their eligibility to acquire these clearances they should contact the local Teacher Registration Authority.

    LANTITE

    Students are also required to provide evidence of successful completion of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students (LANTITE) prior to graduation. The test is managed by ACER and details of the test (for example, sample questions, the Test Window dates, and registration) can be found at: https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/. Students are responsible for meeting the costs associated with taking these tests, which are a national requirement applicable to all teaching graduates.

    Professional experience placements

    All students are required to successfully complete compulsory professional experience placements in schools as part of designated units throughout the course. Professional experience placements must be undertaken in a registered school where the language of instruction is English.

    Placements are undertaken on a full-time basis for the number of days shown in a continuous block and students need to plan carefully to ensure they are able to meet this commitment. The total number of days of professional experience in the course will satisfy all states' requirements for teacher registration. No more than 25% of professional experience days may be undertaken in schools outside Australia. Therefore, students will only be able to complete one 3 week placement outside Australia and will be required to complete all other placements within Australia.

    None of the four professional experience placements can be broken or split into shorter periods.

    In addition to the course-specific admission criteria listed above, please read our general admission criteria. Our general admission criteria apply to all courses at Curtin University.

    Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

    Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

    Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

    Submit an enquiry CRL search

    Essential requirements for admission (including fieldwork requirements)

    Many of our courses require students to comply with additional essential requirements. Failure to comply with any of the essential requirements may potentially prevent the successful completion of the course and/or achieving professional registration.

    Fees and scholarships

    Please view the Master of Teaching degree for indicative fees.

    Looking for more detail on the course structure?

    View course structure

    How to apply

    Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

    Apply now

    • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

      The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

      While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

      View courses information disclaimer.

    • Curtin course code: MJRP-TCHEC
    • Last updated on: 9 January 2025

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