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The BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education is a four year course of study. The course is designed under four important academic foundations namely, theory, practice, research and reflective integration.
Early Childhood Care and Education is aimed at producing professionally qualified graduates who can work in a range of early years’ contexts, working with children up to the age of eight in both care and education settings. The course involves the study of related disciplines of early years’ care, education, psychology, sociology, law and personal and professional development and supervised professional early years, practice placements.
Students have the opportunity to complete supervised work-based placements, one in semester three, six and eight of the course. These opportunities allow students gain valuable experience and skills in areas of care or education or both.
These placement experiences will facilitate the students’ application of knowledge from the disciplines studied to professional practice. Students will conclude their fourth year with a written thesis which allows them focus on a specific area of interest to them in relation to early years’ care and education.
Note: Garda clearance is required for all students taking this course
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking and Academic Skills | Child Developmental Psychology 1 |
| Early Years Pedagogies Children as Learners | Children and Social Interaction |
| History of Care in Irish Social Policy | Early Years Education: Methods and Practice |
| Introduction to Psychology | Introduction to Research |
| Introduction to Sociological Problems | Irish Family Policy |
| Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 1 | Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 2 |
| Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|
| Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 1 | Child Development Psychology 2 |
| Understanding Gender | |
| Irish Early Childhood Education Policies | |
| Introduction to Irish Law | |
| Early Childhood Assessment | |
| Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 3 |
| Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
|---|---|
| Early Years Curriculum, Quality and Practice | Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 2 |
| Early Learning and Play | |
| Children's Rights, Citizenship and Social Policy | |
| Personal and Professional Development: Early Childhood Studies 4 | |
| Comparative Early Years Education and Care | |
| Children with Additional Needs |
| Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
|---|---|
| Direct Work with Children, Parents and Staff | Practice Placement: Early Childhood Studies 3 |
| Children and the Law | |
| Social Research Methods | |
| Child Health and Wellbeing | |
| Managing Early Years Contexts | |
| Diversity and Inclusion in Early Childhood |
2 subjects: H5
4 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7
Places are offered on the programme subject to satisfactory Garda Vetting clearance.
This course aims to facilitate students who wish to pursue professional careers in Early Childhood Studies contexts, and postgraduate studies in Early Childhood Studies and related disciplines.
Graduates may proceed to postgraduate study, either research or taught, at WIT or other third-level Colleges
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Main Campus Cork Road, Waterford City, 
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