Early Years & Childhood Studies
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.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements
At least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Student Garda Vetting
All students in 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.
Garda vetting is carried out by the Admissions Office in UCC once a student has accepted their place on the programme. It involves a police check to establish whether the individual being vetted has had criminal convictions in the past or whether any criminal proceedings are pending. The Garda Siochána provide this information for students who have resided in Ireland for a period of six months or more (including permanent residence).
All students who have resided outside Ireland for a period of six months or more must furnish a Police Clearance Certificate from their country or countries of residence. This certificate should state that the student has had no convictions recorded against them while residing there.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
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.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 10
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 101
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
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.
This programme is approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (Expert reviewers of Level 7 and Level 8 degree programmes for the Early Years and Care Sector) as meeting the requirements of the Professional Award Criteria and Guidelines standards.
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 practice 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 practice 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.
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.
*You will undertake a 13-week placement in both Years 2 and 3 of this course and a 2-week on-site placement in Year 4.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/programmes/) for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/modules/)
Contact Details For This Course
Wei Shu
eycs@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 3928
https://www.ucc.ie/en/education/