Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Studies (GCECS)
| CRICOS Code | 117457F |
| Full Time | 6 months |
| Part Time | 1 year (Domestic only) |
| Units | 4 |
| Campus |
Level 16, 233 Castlereagh Street, Sydney 2000 363 King Street West Melbourne 3003 Level 1, West, 237 Ryrie Street, Geelong Victoria 3220 |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall with no band less than 6.0 or equivalent |
| Delivery mode |
Blended Face-to-face |
| Outcome | Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Studies (GCECS) |
Graduates with a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Studies will have an understanding of some of the key issues in early childhood education. It will not qualify them to teach children in an approved early childhood centre but may allow them to gain experience in a centre.
| CLO1 | Apply theoretical knowledge and research-based understanding of early childhood to design evidence-based curriculum and embed pedagogical practices that foster children’s holistic learning and development and respond to the diverse needs and abilities of children in early childhood settings. |
| CLO2 | Critically analyse and evaluate the impact of social, cultural and environmental factors on children’s learning, development and wellbeing, and apply these understandings to create inclusive, equitable and culturally responsive learning environments. |
| CLO3 | Utilise a range of assessment and documentation strategies to evidence children’s learning, development and wellbeing and use these to plan and differentiate teaching to meet the needs of individuals and groups of children. |
| CLO4 | Evaluate theory, research, pedagogy and evidence-based practices in early childhood education to inform decision-making and continuously improve teaching practices. |
| CLO5 | Engage in reflective practice, self-assessment and ongoing professional development to enhance personal and professional growth. |
| GA1 | Communicate effectively in a diverse range of professional or community context |
| GA2 | Complete work tasks and assignments independently or as an effective member of multidisciplinary teams |
| GA3 | Engage in and value life-long learning leading to the enhancement of professional knowledge and skills |
| GA4 | Are information and technology literate |
| GA5 | Respond appropriately to a changing workforces, cultures and values reflecting a global work environment |
| GA6 | Demonstrate critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making abilities essential to contributing soundly to the resolution of issues confronting organisations |
| GA7 | Facilitate intellectual curiosity |
| GA8 | Act in an ethical manner in all aspects of professional life. |
The CRICOS-registered duration is 6 Months of full-time study (1 semesters). Please note the part time mode is not available to a holder of a student visa, who is not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand, or who is not an Australian permanent resident, or who is a temporary resident of Australia.
For domestic students the course is 6 Months full-time or 1 year part-time.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Points | Prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE501 | Learning Development and Pedagogy | 6 | Nil |
| ECE502 | Language and Multimodal Practice | 6 | Nil |
| ECE503 | Contemporary and Historical Perspectives in Early Childhood | 6 | Nil |
| ECE504 | Creativity and the Arts in the Early Years | 6 | Nil |
TOTAL CREDIT POINTS: 24
| Postgraduate Degrees | |
| Operating system | Windows 10, 11 |
| Mac OS 10.12 Sierra, 10.13 High Sierra, 10.14 Mojave, or 10.15 Catalina | |
| Browser | Safari, Chrome, and Firefox – current version |
| Microsoft Edge – latest version | |
| Internet Explorer – current or immediately previous version | |
| Computer and processor | 1 GHZ or faster x86 or 64-bit processor with SSE2 instruction set |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM (64-bit) |
| Disk space | Minimum 500 gigabytes (GB) |
| Monitor resolution | 1024 x 768 |
| Type | Explanation |
| Blended | Delivered partially on campus and partially online |
| Face to Face | This is delivered at level 16, 233 Castlereagh street Sydney, Level 1, West, 237 Ryrie Street, Geelong Victoria 3220 and 363 King Street, West Melbourne, Victoria 3003 |
The Institute uses authentic assessment principles that may include practical exercises, case studies, presentations, reports, online simulations, essays, and examinations. These may include being done under invigilation.
A graduate certificate in early childhood education can lead to roles such as early childhood educator, nanny, or kindergarten assistant. Further studies and experience in early childhood teaching may provide the opportunity to progress to qualify as a teacher in an early childhood centre and subsequently to higher positions, for example the director of a centre or other roles in the wider profession.
Applicants must have successfully completed
- a Bachelor’s degree (AQF 7) or higher, awarded by a recognised university or higher education institution, in any discipline or equivalent.
OR
- an Associate Degree or Advanced Diploma (AQF 6) awarded by a recognised university or higher education institution in any relevant discipline,
AND
have at least two- years full-time equivalent professional work experience.
- Applicants from a non-English speaking background must satisfy English language requirements set by the Institute. Details are published on the PIA website.
Where an applicant does not meet either of the requirements above, admission may be granted if the Dean is satisfied that the applicant has a reasonable possibility of successfully completing the course.
Language proficiency
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 with no band less than 6.0; or
- TOEFL: 575 or better; or
- TOEFL IBT (International Benchmark Test): 91 or better; or
- TOEFL CBT (Computer Based Test): 235 or better; or
- Academic PTE (Pearson Test of English): 58 or better; or
- Cambridge English: CAE and CPE (from 2015): 176 or better; or
- General Certificate of Education (GCE): A Levels with a C or better in English; or
- KITE: all bands B2 with a result greater than 450 in each band; or
- Duolingo: overall 115 with no band less than 110.
English Language Test results are valid for two years from the date of the results up to the date of commencement at the Institute. The most recent test supersedes ALL previous tests.
Domestic Students:
You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or Australian humanitarian visa holder. Your course will be a full Fee-paying place. This is noted in the Letter of Offer. You can also find the annual course cost on our Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees are based on a standard full-time study load and duration. Your course fees and duration may vary if you have applied for and been granted Advanced Standing. Tuition fees may increase during your studies. Students are advised in advance of any increase in tuition fees being implemented.
Full Fee-Paying Places:
A full fee-paying place is where you pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course. Eligible students can defer the payment of their tuition fees through the FEE-HELP scheme.
International Students:
If you’re an international student, you can find the annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) on our Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees are based on a standard full-time study load and duration. Your course fees and duration may vary if you have applied for and been granted Advanced Standing. Tuition fees may increase during your studies. Students are advised in advance of any increase in tuition fees being implemented.
Further Information
For further information please contact:
Polytechnic Institute Australia Pty Ltd
CRICOS: 03535M
TEQSA provider number: PRV14049
ABN: 34 145 333 795
Head office and postal address
Level 16, 233 Castlereagh St Sydney NSW 2000
363 King Street, West Melbourne, Victoria 3003
Level 1, West, 237 Ryrie Street, Geelong Victoria 3220
Ph: (+612) 8319 8202
Email: info@pia.edu.au