Early Childhood Care & Education - Cork
The ECEC programme aims to train graduates to educate and meet the needs of children aged 0-6 years and to manage childcare facilities. The various biological, cognitive, emotional, and social stages of a child’s development are studied.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | Munster Technological University |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | Munster Technological University | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years full-time
Specific Subjects or course requirements
For admission to a programme, standard applicants must
score the necessary CAO points and
meet the minimum entry requirements
Leaving Certificate in six subjects i.e. H5 in two subjects and O6/H7 in four other subjects. The six subjects must include Mathematics and either English or Irish grade O6/H7.
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
Minimum entry requirements may be satisfied by the results of more than one Leaving Certificate. The minimum entry requirements may be varied for non-standard applicants and holders of QQI-FET awards.
2nd Chance Maths Exam
Some students who apply for MTU courses may not achieve the required entry standard in Maths through the Leaving Certificate examination. For such applicants, the University offers a second chance to reach the required entry standard through a MTU Maths Exam.
This second chance facility allows applicants (depending on their results in the MTU Maths Exam) to gain entry to courses with an Ordinary Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard and (with a higher level of performance) courses with a Higher Leaving Certificate Maths entry standard.
Common Bonus Points Scale for Higher Level Maths
A bonus of 25 points is awarded to applicants who achieve a grade H6 or above in higher level (HL) Maths.
Formula:
All students presenting H6 or above in HL Maths will have 25 points added to their score for Maths.
The six highest subject points scores will then be counted to achieve a cumulative points score, as is normal practice. The bonus points will only be relevant in cases where the subject HL mathematics (including bonus points) is scored as one of the candidate’s six best subjects for points purposes. Consequently, if HL mathematics (cumulative points score) is not among these six subjects, the bonus points will not be included in the total points score. Bonus points will be awarded irrespective of the year in which the examinations were taken.
Foundation Maths
A minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths fulfils the minimum entry requirements in Maths for the following programmes
MT 541 Bachelor of Business
MT 571 BA in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 574 BA in Social Care
MT 654 HC in Arts in Hospitality Studies
MT 655 HC in Arts in Culinary Studies
MT 941 Bachelor of Business (Honours)
MT 971 BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care
MT 974 BA (Honours) in Social Care
Maths is not required for entry to:
MT 575 BA in Community Development
MT 572 BA in Early Childhood Education & Care
MT 820 BA (Honours) in Contemporary Applied Art (Ceramics, Glass, Textiles)
MT 821 BA (Honours) in Fine Art
MT 822 BA (Honours) in Photography with New Media
MT 823 BA (Honours) in Visual Communications
MT 931 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Guitar
MT 932 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Electric Bass Guitar
MT 933 BA (Honours) on Poplular Music - Keyboards
MT 934 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Drums
MT 935 BA (Honours) in Popular Music - Voice
MT 936 BA (Honours) in Music
MT 938 BA (Honours) in Musical Theatre
MT 939 BA (Honours in Theatre and Drama Studies
Although not a requirement, if an applicant achieves a minimum grade of F2 in foundation level Maths this grade is recognised for entry and CAO points are awarded as follows: F1 = 20 points, F2 = 12 points.
Full details of minimum entry requirements for courses are outlined in the relevant course webpage. Applicants are advised to check the relevant subjects, tests, portfolios, and dates very carefully. In particular, there are early assessment procedures for some courses.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Holders of the LCVP apply in the normal way through the CAO. Points are awarded on the same basis as for the Leaving Certificate. The link modules ‘subject’ may not be used to meet the minimum entry requirements.
LCVP Grade Points
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Leaving Certificate Applied Programme LCAP
The LCA subjects do not meet the minimum requirements for entry to MTU full-time courses. Holders of Leaving Certificate Applied qualifications may wish to proceed to a FET-QQI course and in turn apply to third level on the basis of their FET-QQI award.
Careers / Further progression
Career options
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities include working in the early childhood education and care industry; children with specific learning needs; children’s residential care centres; family and community support centres; and after school services. BEd Honours graduates (Level 8) are strongly positioned and fully qualified to take up management roles in each of the above settings.
Progression
Further Studies
This proposed Level 8 BEd (Hons) in ECEC programme will prepare students for both pedagogical and administrative leadership, equipping graduates for a range of lead roles working with, and on behalf of, children. Furthermore, graduates will possess leadership and management skills necessary to take on supervisory, managerial, and administrative roles in ECEC environments.
Further information
50
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
There is an ever increasing demand for quality pre-school services in Ireland today and the BEd (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) provides specialised training, support, advice and information on best practice for the education and care of young children from 0 to 6 years with a view to supporting the development of an ECEC workforce. The ECEC programme aims to train graduates to educate and meet the needs of children aged 0-6 years and to manage childcare facilities. The various biological, cognitive, emotional, and social stages of a child’s development are studied.
The programme offers the student the opportunity to study early childhood from differing perspectives – educational, psychological, social, and cultural. The programme also includes tuition in art, music and drama, which provides an extensive portfolio of child-centred activities. Attention is also paid to practical skills needed in this type of work such as child health, exercise and nutrition, and the physical care of children.
Central to the degree is the Professional Work Practice (PWP), i.e. a placement experience of 12 weeks duration in both years 2 and 3 of the programme. This involves supervised hands-on experience in centres approved by the University, for example, preschools, naíonraí, creches, primary schools, and centre for children with special educational needs.
There is an option of international placements with partner organisations in other European programmes in both year 2 and 3 of the programme.and specialists who offer workshops and seminars to deliver a highly interactive learning environment.
Stage 1 / Semester 1
Mandatory
Module Code Title
EDUC6012 Creative & Critical Thinking
EDUC6013 Child Growth & Development
CMOD6001 Creativity Innovation&Teamwork
EDUC6009 Inclusion:Equality & Diversity
CHLD6001 Physical Activity and Movement
EDUC6014 Playful Learning: Birth to 3
Stage 1 / Semester 2
Mandatory
Module Code Title
EDUC6011 Curriculum & Assessment
PSYC6015 Developmental Psychology ECEC
EDUC6016 Pers & Prof Dev: Fundamental
DESI6030 Process-Led Arts
SOCI6020 Sociology: A Child in Context
Stage 2 / Semester 1
Mandatory
Module Code Title
PLAC7018 Placement: Following the Child
Stage 2 / Semester 2
Mandatory
Module Code Title
CHLD 7010 Child Health and Nutrition
LEGS6005 Early Childhood Law
EDUC7014 Inclusion: Additional Needs
CHLD7008 Learning through the Arts
EDUC7015 Pers & Prof Dev: Intermediate
Stage 3 / Semester 1
Mandatory
Module Code Title
PSYC7007 Educational Psychology in ECEC
EDUC7013 ICT & Learning in ECEC
CHLD7009 Literacy & Numeracy in ECEC
CHLD7007 Outdoor Learning in ECEC
EDUC8046 Pers & Prof Dev: Advanced
Elective
Module Code Title
LEGS6009 Enforcement of Child Law
FREE6001 Free Choice Module
EDUC7001 Holistic Health
Stage 3 / Semester 2
Mandatory
Module Code Title
CHLD8004 Management in ECEC (0-12yrs)
PLAC8011 Placement: Advanced Practice
Stage 4 / Semester 1
Mandatory
Module Code Title
CHLD8006 APE for the Young Child
CHLD8003 Arts in an Emergent Curriculum
MGMT8060 Enterprise for ECEC (0-12yrs)
EDUC8017 Research Skills in ECEC
Elective
Module Code Title
FREE6001 Free Choice Module
MGMT8059 Management, HR & Law in ECEC
CHLD8001 Out of School Care
Stage 4 / Semester 2
Mandatory
Module Code Title
CHLD8005 Early Childhood Social Policy
EDUC8043 Inclusion: Partnerships
EDUC8044 Leadership in Practice
EDUC8013 Research Dissertation in ECEC
Elective
Module Code Title
LANG6014 An Ghaeilge
EDUC8045 Children's Rights in ECEC
FREE6001 Free Choice Module
MTU - Cork Campus
Bishopstown
Cork, Ireland.
T12 P928
Email: infoCork@mtu.ie
Tel: +353 (0)21 432 6100