Overview
The Early Childhood Studies degree is designed for anyone wanting to work with or for children and/or their families. The primary focus is children from birth to eight years but it also covers conception through to when a child is approximately eleven years of age (the natural completion of the primary education stage). A holistic philosophy permeates the programme.
All students are encouraged to maintain regular contact with young children through voluntary and/or paid employment.
The Early Childhood Studies degree takes a multi-disciplinary approach and offers a fascinating and stimulating course of academic study. This means it includes educational, health, welfare, psychological, sociological, legal, philosophical, political and economic perspectives. It therefore enables students on graduating to go into a range of careers including Primary Teacher Training, Family Support and Social Work, Nursing and related disciplines, Early Year’s settings and Early Years Professional Status, Post-graduate study.
The excellent reputation of the Early Childhood Studies degree programme continues to place UCS in the forefront of developments and initiatives in this now established discipline.
Content and Modules
All modules generate either 20 or 40 credits as stated below. Students must gain 120 credits at each level to progress to the next level.
At Level 4, emphasis is placed on ensuring a sound knowledge of principles underpinning key subject areas and the development of key skills. The main teaching methods are lectures, group work, seminars and individual activities.
At Level 5, students are expected to develop an enquiring attitude to their studies and should corroborate or challenge assertions made. They will be taking more responsibility for their own learning through extended personal reading and wider ranging module tasks. The main teaching methods are as in the first year, with the addition of presentations and discussion/debate. There is an increasing expectation that students will contribute actively to learning through reading and student-led seminars.
At Level 6, Honours level, students are required to take major responsibility for their own learning, exhibiting autonomy and contribution to the development of peer learning through seminar presentations and self directed activities. Considerable emphasis is placed on developing the ability to critically analyse and evaluate information from a range of sources and in a variety of formats, in order to draw conclusions.
Modules Studied
First year modules
Second year modules
*certain pre-requisites necessary - The Practitioner Options module offers students the opportunity to work alongside professional practitioners and gain practical competences mapped to National Occupational Standards.
Third year modules
Further Information
Student testimonial
“When I began the degree I was unsure what I wanted to do career-wise except that I wanted to work with children. The modules that I had to study in the first year were fascinating and really opened my eyes to the breadth of ideas out there about children and childhood. In the second and third years I really enjoyed the mandatory modules we covered and being able to choose options based on what was of interest to me was really great. I’ve now been accepted for Primary Teacher Training and at interview was able to confidently discuss some challenging issues. I think I surprised myself, but that’s what the Early Childhood Studies degree does to you and I would recommend it to anyone!”