There are many universities that offer quality early childhood education degree. One such university that offers Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education is University of Southern Queensland, USQ.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is considered a relatively new university in Australia. They are a leader in flexible learning system. They also have a significant profile in research. USQ started as the Institution of Technology in 1967 and was redesignated as a university in 1992. Today, USQ has its main campus in Toowoomba and regional campuses in Hervey Bay that serves the Fraser Coast region and a growing campus at Springfield.

USQ currently has over 7500 international students from its 26000 enrolments. Of these 7500 international students, about 5000 studied in their own home countries through distance learning or online.

USQ was awarded the Commonwealth of Learning Award of Excellence, Good Universities Guides’ University of the Year: 2000-2001 Award, Award for Excellence from the International Council for Open and Distance Education. They are in particular renowned for their distance learning and online degree programs.

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) program is offered by USQ’s main campus at Toowoomba. The standard duration to complete the Bachelor of Early Childhood education degree is 4 years if taken part-time and up to 9 years if taken part-time.

The USQ’s Bachelor degree in early childhood education prepares students for a career working with young children in child care centers, kindergarten, pre-school, preparatory grade and early primary school. Graduates from the program will develop the skills to design and deliver effective teaching programs.

The USQ’s Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree will be approved through the Queensland College of teachers and the Queensland Department of Community Services. Graduates from this program are eligible to apply for a teacher’s license in Queensland.

The program aims of the bachelor degree in early childhood education are as to prepare graduates who:

● are reflective and ethical practitioners
● are innovators and navigators of change
● have a strong sense of self and place in the world
● are flexible and creative problem solvers
● are transformative intellectuals
● are socially just and empowering
● value diversity and inclusiveness
● are passionate learners and inspire learning in others
● are keen to accept responsibility, able to identify and optimise opportunities
● demonstrate a current pedagogical content knowledge base
● identify, enable and create opportunities for others to construct meaning and develop capacities to manage their own learning
● are engaged and collaborative members of a learning community
● are compassionate advocates for education.

The followings are the program objectives of the Early Childhood Bachelor Degree offered by USQ:

● develop an awareness of the ecology of childhood, whole-child philosophies and child-centred practices that impact on early childhood education
● promote acceptance of diversity amongst individual children within their family and community contexts
● develop knowledge and beliefs about the integrated nature of creativity and problem-centred learning in early childhood education
● develop critical reflection on emerging trends that impact on early childhood education and the rights of children and families to access quality education.

To be admitted into the Bachelor degree in Early Childhood education, students shoul have completed Year 12 or equivalent achievement. They are also expected to have good command of the English language.

To graduate from the early childhood education degree program, students have to complete 32 units at the undergraduate levels and at the discretion of the Program Coordinator, up to 4 units may be completed at postgraduate level.

The followings are the courses of the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) program:

FOE2001 Human Development and Learning
FOE1002 Ideas of Education
ECE3003 Teacher as Action Researcher
FOE1000 Professional Communication in Education
ECE1005 Thinking and Movement in Early Childhood Education
ECE1006 Health in Early Childhood
ECE2018 Early Childhood Music and Drama Education
ECE2003 Early Childhood Arts Education
ECE2010 Learning Through Play
ECE3019 Emerging Literacies in Early Childhood Education
ECE4012 Cross Cultural Communication in Early Childhood
ECE3030 Language and Literacy Pedagogy
ECE2008 Emerging Numeracy
ECE4020 Mathematics Teaching
ECE2017 Exploring Science and Technology in Early Childhood
ECE4023 Science and Technology Education
ECE3005 Study of Society and Environment
ECE1101 The Young Child: Development and Ecology
ECE1102 Literacies in Early Childhood
ECE2108 Care and Education Settings
ECE2112 Understanding and Managing Young Children
ECE3103 Play-based Pedagogies in Early Childhood
ECE3104 Early Childhood Education Curriculum Design P-3
ECE4103 Multi-level Education in Early Childhood
ECE4104 Diversity in Young Children
FOE2000 Education as a Career: Explorations of the Professional Self
ECE4009 Early Childhood Professional
ECE4010 Leadership and Management in Early Childhood Settings
ECP1001 Professional Experience 1
ECP1002 Professional Experience 2
ECP2001 Professional Experience 3
ECP2002 Professional Experience 4
ECP3001 Professional Experience 5
ECP3002 Professional Experience 6
ECP4001 Professional Experience 7
ECP4002 Professional Experience 8
4 Minor (4 courses) or S/electives (4 courses) Minor, S/electives,
Honours Honours (see Honours program)

The courses above are arranged as 28 core courses, four elective courses and eight professional experience courses. Minor studies include Special Education, Primary Education, Physical Education, Religious Education, Information and Communications Technology, Expressive Arts, Literacy/Children’s Literature, and Mathematics/Science/Technology Education.

Students of the early childhood education bachelor degree are also required to complete a minimum of 110 days of professional experience in a range of relevant settings.

As in all distance-learning or online education, students are expected to have access to computer and internet facilities. Students who have completed Diploma or Advance Diploma or approved equivalent may apply for exemptions up to 12 units.

It is interesting to note that not all students pursue the Bachelor of Education in early childhood for the purpose of advancing their career in early childhood education. There are also many home-maker moms who register for the course as they are interested to develop the knowledge to provide better home-education to their children.

Today, the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) degree offered by USQ is considered as one of the highest quality program offered by an Australian University and is highly regarded worldwide.