Applied Early Childhood Studies - Advanced Entry to Year 2 only

The BA in Applied Early Childhood Education [Year 2-entry only] is a two-year part-time course, designed for people who are interested in pursuing opportunities in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) sector.

For Advanced Entry to Stage 2, candidates must have a major award: QQI Level 5 AND Level 6 OR QQI (FETAC) Level 6 only (if awarded since 2015) in Early Childhood Studies or equivalent and have two years’ work experience in a Tusla registered early child care service (minimum of 15 hours per week). Candidates may be required to attend for interview. Length of work experience and position in employment may be used as ranking criteria in a shortlisting process. Work Experience Requirements: Applicants must have access to a Tusla registered early childhood service (minimum of 15 hours per week) or work in another relevant organisation in the Early Years Sector throughout their course of study to facilitate the integration of theory with practice and to meet the different module learning outcomes. Applications will not be accepted without a written confirmation from the applicant’s organisation covering each of the points below: Details of the organisation for which the applicant is working in Details of the length of time the applicant has been working in the organisation Details of the roles and responsibilities of the applicant in the organisation in the time-frame stated above, including promotions and progressions, clearly indicating the specific nature of the applicants' current role. Agreement from their organisation that the applicant, throughout their course of study, will be facilitated to integrate theory with practice to meet the different module learning outcomes, with particular reference to the Applied Professional Practice modules. Professional practice (fieldwork) is a part of the course. Professional practice will be assessed in the applicants' own workplace. To undertake the programme, Applicants must have access to a Tusla registered early childhood service (minimum of 15 hours per week) or work in another relevant organisation in the Early Years Sector throughout their course of study to facilitate the integration of theory with practice and to meet the different module learning outcomes. This is critical to provide opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge, develop increased criticality and responsibility to professional practice as Lead Early Years Educator (Government of Ireland, 2021. This QAB validated programme requires that students complete professional practice placement for the duration of the programme (i.e. They must continuously be employed for a min of 15 hrs per week in a Tusla registered early years’ service). Applicants who cannot commit to this (due to for example maternity leave/sick leave/paternity leave etc which results in non-attendance in the work placement setting ) should defer their place on the programme until such time as they are in a position to commit to this requirement. If applicants have any queries about this, they should contact the programme director/head of section In stage 2, semester 2, students will be required to undertake a full time 5-day work placement in a Special Needs setting. The placement site for this mandatory practice is organized by DkIT. For all applicants, Police/Garda vetting, Hepatitis B vaccination and up-to-date First Aid Certificate will be required as conditions of the course. Furthermore, students on the programme are subject to fitness to practise regulations. Applicants for whom English is not their first language must have English level of IELTS 5.5 or equivalent.