Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)

This industry-relevant postgraduate qualification is for students who have already completed a three-year bachelor degree and would like to increase their employment prospects with an early childhood qualification.

The curriculum is practical in nature and is solely focused on the education of children from birth to eight years of age.

Practical learning is a major component and you will complete four supervised placements in childcare, preschool/kindergarten and junior primary schools, totalling 80 days.

The Early Childhood specialisation is taught at the Magill campus only.

Advanced Standing You may be eligible for Advanced Standing and complete the requirements of this qualification in one year.

Please see the entry requirements for further details.

When applying through SATAC, please refer to the following codes.

If you are uncertain about your eligibility for Advanced Standing, please include more than one SATAC code in your list of application preferences.

2 years- SATAC CODE 4CM111 1 year- SATAC CODE 4CM188 What you'll need DCSI clearance Students will be required to undertake a criminal history screening through the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI).

The clearance will be valid for three years.

The criminal history screening must be completed prior to being accepted for a placement and can take up to six to eight weeks to be processed.

Strict confidentiality is maintained during the DCSI clearance process.

If a student fails to obtain clearance for any reason, the University cannot accept responsibility for obtaining a professional experience placement or any other professional experience activity, which is a compulsory part of the degree and therefore the student cannot graduate with an education degree from the University.

Mandatory child-safe environments training All education students who are completing any in-school or site (i.e.

preschools and childcare settings) observations, activities or professional experience placements must undertake mandatory training in Responding to Abuse and Neglect prior to the commencement of the activities or placements.

In South Australia, child protection legislation and policy require all organisations to establish and promote child safe environments.

Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect training is required of all individuals working with children and young people.

All undertaking professional experience placements in South Australian government and non-government schools and preschools must provide documented evidence (i.e.

a certificate) that shows they have completed all the required training from one of the providers mentioned on the following website.

First aid training Students must complete and provide evidence of completion of Basic Emergency Life Support (DECD) or Applied First Aid before commencing this degree.

Literacy and Numeracy Test All students must meet the required standard in the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to graduation.

Students will undertake the national literacy and numeracy tests during the first year of the degree.

Students will be required to meet the standard of each test as a prerequisite for their final Professional Experience Placement course.

The University will provide a range of supports for students who do not achieve the required standard in either the literacy or numeracy or both tests.

Students will be allowed three attempts at each test.

Any student who fails to meet the standard on three occasions in either the literacy or numeracy test will usually be counselled to transfer to an alternative degree.

Please note new entry requirements and learning area specialisations.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have completed:

• an AQF Bachelor degree or equivalent from a recognised higher education institution with a competitive GPA, noting that entry is competitive and based on academic merit; and
• one year of full-time equivalent study, as part of their Bachelor degree or equivalent, relevant to one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum (Arts, English, Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Languages, Mathematics, Science, Technologies), which includes a minimum half a year of equivalent study relevant to one of the learning areas of the primary school curriculum.

Critical information regarding Learning Areas entry requirements can be found here.

-----Additional entry requirements----- In accordance with national teacher education program standards, applicants must also fulfil non-academic entry requirements. All applicants will be required to submit a 400-600 word Teaching Capabilities Statement with their SATAC application, about their motivation to teach, addressing the topics: 'Explain what you think teaching involves. Outline the personal and academic qualities you possess that will enable you to become an effective teacher. Describe your attitude to learning and provide an example of something you have learned that was meaningful'. Complete information on content, format and submission is available here.

Applicants are advised that a successful Working with Children Check (WWCC) with the Department of Human Services is required for all students prior to undertaking any professional experience placement that involves contact with minors (under 18 years of age). Information on the procedure to be followed for obtaining clearance will be provided with the letter of offer and may be viewed at the UniSA Education Futures Working with Children Check web page. These placements form a compulsory part of the program. A successful clearance is also required for visits to education sites in other courses, eg to enter any school, pre-school or childcare centre for any reason, including on placement, observation, internships or visits.

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To be eligible for Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) with 1 year of Advanced Standing applicants must have completed an Initial Teacher Education degree (i.e. Bachelor of Teaching or three-year Diploma of Teaching) in the field of Early Childhood or Primary teaching. Additionally, applicants must be currently registered as a teacher in an Australian state or territory and have completed a minimum of two years full-time employment as an early childhood teacher (children ages 0-5 years) or two years full-time employment as a junior primary or primary school teacher (children ages 5-8 years) in Australia within the last five years. Applicants eligible for 1.0 EFTSL of advanced standing complete the program in 1 year of full-time study or equivalent part-time study.

DCSI clearance

Students will be required to undertake a criminal history screening through the Department of Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). The clearance will be valid for three years. The criminal history screening must be completed prior to being accepted for a placement and can take up to six to eight weeks to be processed. Strict confidentiality is maintained during the DCSI clearance process. If a student fails to obtain clearance for any reason, the University cannot accept responsibility for obtaining a professional experience placement or any other professional experience activity, which is a compulsory part of the degree and therefore the student cannot graduate with an education degree from the University.

Mandatory child-safe environments training

All education students who are completing any in-school or site (i.e. preschools and childcare settings) observations, activities or professional experience placements must undertake mandatory training in Responding to Abuse and Neglect prior to the commencement of the activities or placements. In South Australia, child protection legislation and policy require all organisations to establish and promote child safe environments. Mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect training is required of all individuals working with children and young people. All undertaking professional experience placements in South Australian government and non-government schools and preschools must provide documented evidence (i.e. a certificate) that shows they have completed all the required training from one of the providers mentioned on the following website.

First aid training

Students must complete and provide evidence of completion of Basic Emergency Life Support (DECD) or Applied First Aid before commencing this degree.

Literacy and Numeracy Test

All students must meet the required standard in the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) prior to graduation. Students will undertake the national literacy and numeracy tests during the first year of the degree. Students will be required to meet the standard of each test as a prerequisite for their final Professional Experience Placement course. The University will provide a range of supports for students who do not achieve the required standard in either the literacy or numeracy or both tests. Students will be allowed three attempts at each test. Any student who fails to meet the standard on three occasions in either the literacy or numeracy test will usually be counselled to transfer to an alternative degree.

Please note new entry requirements and learning area specialisations.

This degree has been designed to develop skilled, committed and flexible early childhood educators.

The focus is on practical learning, particularly relating to the principles and concepts relevant to early childhood development and learning. You will focus on four major areas:

• child development
• curriculum studies
• professional experience
• education studies

You will also study mandatory courses in:

• English
• mathematics
• science

Courses studied will include on-campus lectures and workshops; some courses will also be offered fully online or with online support. Learning will be supplemented with online lectures, learning activities, readings and discussion boards.

During the degree you will participate in four supervised placements in childcare, preschool/kindergarten and junior primary schools, totalling 80 days.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

Workplace learning is a major focus of this master degree and throughout your studies you will complete 80 days of field-based placements. Placements take place in childcare centres, preschools and junior primary settings. This practical experience will equip you with the skills and confidence needed after graduation and will help you to build industry networks and relationships.

Male students will also be offered the opportunity to build professional and social networks with male educators who have successfully graduated as part of the University’s MENtor Program. UniSA offers an extensive range of career-related events and workshops online, on campus and around Adelaide to develop your skills and increase your knowledge.

Your career

If you want to make a difference, have an interest in childhood development, and have the patience, warmth, integrity and communication skills needed when working with young children, this master degree may be for you.

This specialised teaching field shows promising job prospects, with very strong growth in Australia1. Careers to consider:

• childcare educator: encourage the healthy intellectual and psychological growth of children aged from birth to four years of age
• kindergarten teacher: responsible for a child’s first education experience; this role often encompasses introducing basic skills, including letters, numbers, social science and behavioural skills
• preschool teacher: educate and care for children aged three to five years
• junior primary teacher: develop lesson plans in line with curriculum objectives and facilitate classroom learning for children aged five to eight

1Australian Government, National Skills Commission, Job Outlook 2020.

Applying to study with us:

• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application
• address the non-academic entry requirements

-----Additional entry requirements-----

In accordance with national teacher education program standards, please note that as part of your SATAC application, you are also required to meet non-academic entry requirements.

All applicants will be required to submit a 400-word Education Statement with their SATAC application, about their motivation to teach, addressing the topic, ‘Why I want to be a teacher and my understanding of the role’. The Education Statement should include a list of relevant community service, volunteer or professional experiences and significant awards. Complete information on content, format and submission is available here.

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services can make your life at university easier. We provide a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling. You can also access a range of services through our students association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and any other questions you might have.

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.