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Universities Ireland University College Cork Courses BA Hons Early Years and Childhood Studies

BA Hons Early Years and Childhood Studies
at University College Cork

Cork, Ireland

Tuition Fee € 18,400
Country Rank-
Duration48 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5 TOEFL: 90

Program Overview

This was one of the first degree courses of its kind in Ireland and pioneered the development of Early Years and Childhood Studies as a distinct speciality with distinctive careers.

This four-year degree will expose you to interdisciplinary perspectives from the Schools of Applied Psychology, Applied Social Studies and Education, with input from Music, Drama and Theatre Studies; Occupational Therapy; and Physical Education and Sport Studies.

The curriculum places emphasis on academic theory, research skills and professional and reflective practice. It includes a broad range of perspectives on childhood, the child in society, child development, early years care and education, and child health.

Supervised work-based placements in diverse childhood-related settings form an integral part of this course. You will undertake a 13-week placement in both Years 2 and 3 of the course and a 2-week on-site placement in Year 4. The professional practice placements provide opportunities for you to apply the theories you have learned, and to experience working with children under the guidance of expert practitioners.

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

Identify, explore and apply skills required in working with children within early years settings.
Demonstrate the confidence and competence to work with children and young people.
Develop and integrate the skills to plan and implement a research project.
Critically appraise theory and research in psychology, social studies and education as they
relate to childhood and practise in applied settings.
Display knowledge of the professional and ethical issues that may arise in the application of psychology, social studies and education in child-centred research and practise in a variety of contexts.
Apply theories from applied social studies, applied psychology and education, to critically examine early years and childhood policies and practices nationally and internationally.

Course Content
Modules Year 1 (All modules 5 credits unless otherwise stated.)
- AP1022 Socal Psychology
- AP1023 Lifespan Development
- AP1123 Introduction to Biological and Cognitive Perspectives on Psychology
- AP1504 Research Methods for Evidence-Informed Professionals
- ED1010 Historical Developments in the Irish Education Sector
- ED1012 Early Years and Childhood Studies: Pedagogical Principles and Practices
- ED1015 Early Years and Childhood Play and Pedagogy
- ED1016 Infant, Toddler and Childhood Health, Development and Safety
- MU1012 Creative Practice in Music in Early Years Childhood Settings
- SS1019 Children's Social and Cultural Worlds
- SS1020 Social Policy and Society (10 Credits)
Year 1: provides a foundation through class-based lectures and tutorials in 11 modules and includes professional workshops.

Year 2: builds on Year 1 through exploration of key perspectives and skills preparation Semester 1 across 7 modules; You will have your first professional placement in Semester 2. Modules include the following areas:

Early Years and Childhood Health and Wellbeing Project; Drama Practice in Early Years and Childhood Settings; The Curriculum in Special Needs Education; Physical Activity and Childhood Development; Practice Preparation and Placement Year 2; Child Care Policy: Contemporary Issues; Play Provision for Inclusion in Early Childhood.

Year 3: includes your final professional placement in Semester 1; and the interrogation of critical issues in Semester 2 across 7 modules including the following areas:

Psychology of Childhood and Adolescence; Child and Family Health Psychology; Educational Leadership in the Early Years Setting; Early Years and Childhood Education: Policy, Planning and Practice; Placement Year 3; Qualitative Research Methods with children; Diversity and Gender in Childhood.

Year 4: includes advanced inquiry and critical reflection of Early Years and Childhood Studies in 7 modules and the development and demonstration of key research skills together with a Research report and modules in the following areas:

Applied Quantitative Research Methods; Applied Developmental Psychology; Special Educational Needs: Aetiology, Assessment and Intervention; Contemporary Developments in Early Years and Childhood Experience; Science, Technology and Sustainability in Early Education; Working with Children and Families; Group Dynamics and Team work; Early Years Research Report.
Entry Requirement
Student Garda Vetting

All students on this programme will come into contact with the public and assume positions of trust through educational and training opportunities. To ensure the protection of the public, and to justify public trust and confidence, UCC is committed to ensuring that only suitable candidates are allowed to undertake this programme.

Non-EU Candidates
Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.

Minimum Requirements and Accepted English Language Tests & ExaminationsThe minimum English language entry requirements for admission onto a postgraduate programme at UCC are outlined below. These requirements are for postgraduate applicants whose first language is not English. If Gaeilge (Irish) is your first language these requirements do not apply to you.There are a small number of programmes with a higher minimum English language entry requirement and we list these below under Programmes with a Higher Minimum English Language Requirement.IELTS*
- 6.5 Overall
- 6.0 Individual Skills (academic version)
TOEFL iBT
- 90 Overall
- Listening 20
- Reading 19
- Speaking 21
- Writing 20
Fees & Scholarships
The fees for BA Hons Early Years and Childhood Studies may vary from €18,000 to €35,000 anually for tuition fees. The fee's prices may get higher for international students.
Career Prospect
A number of pathways from the degree provide opportunities in the following fields:
- early years care and education professional
- national school teaching
- social work
- youth and community work
- speech and language therapy
- play specialist
- guidance counselling
Graduates have secured employment as managers of early childhood care and education centres, supervisors and staff, play therapists, primary school teachers, social workers, youth and community workers and disability nurses, among other roles.

Cost Of Studying At University College Cork

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

Check Loan Eligibility

BA Hons Early Years and Childhood Studies at University College Cork