Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development

School of Education

Do you want to develop your understanding and knowledge about young children’s learning and development? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development will help you to create a solid knowledge base. Developed by an award-winning team of educators and drawing on contemporary research about learning, neuroscience and play, this program supports students in developing key skills that promote positive educational outcomes in early childhood. This fully online, government-subsidised program is suitable for educators in early learning settings, educational assistants and teachers seeking professional learning focused on early development and learning through play, parents of young children, and home-school educators.

• Why study this certificate?

  If you are planning to home-school your children or work in an early learning centre, the Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development will be of benefit. The program offers a learner-centred approach, applied theory and interactive online learning experiences. Developed by award-winning and highly experienced early childhood educators, this entirely online, the government-subsidised certificate can be taken for professional learning and also offers the following two pathways to a Bachelor of Education degree. These are:

  • The Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care is currently delivered from the Fremantle Campus.
  • The Bachelor of Primary Education (Early Childhood specialisation) is currently delivered from the Sydney Campus.​

• Program summary

  The Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development will provide students with knowledge and skills to support the learning and development of children aged from birth to eight years. The main areas of focus are child development, supporting positive behaviour, creating environments where children can thrive and supporting children’s learning through play.

  Students will study contemporary theory that will support their understanding of children and how they learn. Students will develop key skills in how to support children to become confident, happy, self-regulated, and motivated learners. This program also equips students with strategies for creating stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments and actively scaffolding and extending children’s thinking and learning capacity.

  There are 4 x 25 credit point courses within the Certificate program. The program is currently only available part time.

  • Each course within the program covers 40 hours of online class engagement spread over the semester with additional reading and assessment preparation time required.
  • 20 of these hours are recorded content for self-paced learning
  • The other 20 hours are scheduled with 5x4 hour live workshops
  • The recorded content for course will be released in concept-based segments to be engaged with at your convenience in the weeks preceding each scheduled workshop.
  • The workshops will be live and online with your tutors using zoom.

  The courses are offered as following:

  Semester 1

  • EDUC1022 Creating Environments for Children to Learn Through Play
  • EDUC1023 Supporting the Developing Child (0-8)

  Semester 2

  • EDUC1024 Supporting Young Children to Learn Through Play
  • EDUC1025 Supporting Children’s Behaviour and Social Engagement

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

• Entry requirements

  To be eligible for admission to The Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development applicants must meet the following specific requirements.

  a) Evidence of specific professional experience related to working with young children. Evidence includes a letter from your employer or a personal statement outlining your professional experience with children and a contactable referee;
  and/or
  b) A certificate 4 in any field

• Learning outcomes

  Graduates of the Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development will:

  1. Acquire a theoretical knowledge of young children’s learning and development
  2. Develop key skills to support children to become self-actualised and pro-social individuals
  3. Apply contemporary strategies for creating stimulating indoor and outdoor learning environments; and
  4. Analyse evidence-based strategies to scaffold and extend children’s thinking and learning capacity through play.

• Career opportunities

  The Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development is a pathway to further study of higher awards, such as a Diploma or Bachelor's degree.

  Teaching opportunities are open to graduates of the program in the following areas:

  • Early childhood including long day care, family day care, pre-schools, after-hours care
  • Primary school settings
  • Community and government organisations

• Real world experience

  You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

• Study abroad

  A global perspective adds a valuable dimension to your university education. At Notre Dame University you can study while experiencing the world. We encourage students to become active global citizens through a range of exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit International Opportunities to find out more.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  
  

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  
  

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• Student profile data

  The tables below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this Program. It provides data on all students who commenced in this Program in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Fremantle Student Profile Data

  TABLE 1a – Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	<5	N/P
  (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study	<5	N/P
  (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)	<5	N/P
  (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	N/A	N/A
  Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	N/A	N/A
  Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks &   recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)	N/A	N/A
  International students	N/A	N/A
  All students	N/P	100.0%

  TABLE 1b – Undergraduate Certificate in Early Childhood Learning and Development ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors) *	Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]
  Highest rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A
  Median rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A
  Lowest rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A

  Notes:  

  “<5” – the number of students is less than 5
  N/A – Students not accepted in this category
  N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent the calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

  In 2022, due to COVID, additional adjustment factor points were granted to applicants from NSW, ACT and VIC.

• More Information

  Considering your uni options?

  Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.

  
  

  For more information, please contact our Prospective Students Office.

  Fremantle and Broome Phone: +61 8 9433 0533 Email: future@nd.edu.au

  Sydney and Melbourne Phone: +61 2 8204 4404 Email: sydney@nd.edu.au