The Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood Studies) provides appropriate teacher preparation for persons who have obtained a Bachelor Degree from a university or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and who seek employment as early childhood educators in a range of settings from Kindergarten to Year Three of the primary school. 

The course is available in full time and part time mode on Mount Lawley campus. Periods of Professional Practice require a full-time commitment.
 
The Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood Studies) course requires students to spend substantial periods of time teaching in schools/centres as part of a coordinated program of workplace learning. Because of its responsibility for the education, safety and well-being of children in schools, the teaching profession demands the highest professional standards and personal ethics of practitioners.

Central to this course is  an extensive program of Professional Practice in kindergarten/pre-primary centres/primary schools/secondary schools ( depending on the course) which culminates in the Final Teaching Practice in the second semester of the course. All students are required to adhere to the School of Education's Professional Practice Rules and Procedures and Code of Professional Conduct for ECU Pre-service Teachers which can be accessed at: http://www.education.ecu.edu.au/prac/ . All students are required to be available during the scheduled Professional Practice periods as per the School of Education Calendar which is also available on the website.

Applicants who have successfully completed a Bachelor Degree from a university or an equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution may apply for a place in this course. Application may be made prior to the release of results indicating completion of the first degree course.

All students enrolling in this course will be required to submit a National Criminal History Check Information Clearance (Crimtrac) before commencing their first period of Professional Practice. These clearances are valid for three years while enrolled in the course. Application forms and further information can be found
 at: http://www.det.wa.edu.au/screening/newapplicant.htm
 
All students 18 years of age and over will also be required to apply for a Working with Children Check in order to comply with section 6 of the Working with Children Act 2004, in order to complete their Professional Practice. Further information can be found at: http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au

Special English Entry Requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of successful study in an English language environment in Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada for at least two years full time in the last five years prior to lodging an application.

or

Applicants must provide evidence of being a native English speaker. Suitable evidence of this is that the applicant was born in Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America, New Zealand, Ireland and Canada and that secondary education was undertaken in English.
or

Applicants must provide a satisfactory English language result such as an IELTS at an overall band score of 7.5 (no individual band less than 7) or a TOEFL minimum score of 650 including TWE of 5 (or a Computer based TOEFL score of 280 with an essay rating of 5 or better).

Applicants may be required to attend an interview.

Students considering possible employment in Western Australia after graduation from this award should refer to the following website for information regarding teacher registration requirements: http://www.wacot.wa.edu.au/files/word/2006/COLLEGE%20MEMBERSHIP%20POLICY.doc

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood Studies) is a 120 credit point course.  All students are required to demonstrate competency in literacy and numeracy.  Student assignments and examinations must be of an appropriate academic standard.

Part time mode and mid-year enrolments are possible but the course would be undertaken over 4 and 3 semesters respectively in these modes.

All units are compulsory regardless of the mode of study. There are no electives. The sequence of units in part time and mid year intake mode has some degree of flexibility.