Courses / Course

	Required	Ordinary level grade	Higher level grade
Irish		O6	H7
English		O6	H7
Language		-	-
Math		-	-
Science		-	-

This course requires 4 additional subjects

Mature Applicants 

Mature applicants are assessed separately to school-leavers. Mature applicants are 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time/flexible degrees the mature age is 21.

Click here to be taken to our mature applicant information page - tab 3 on that page outlines application steps for this degree.

Mature applicants who have a disability 

If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia), and require support for any required written exercise/interview/ online video audition which may form part of your application assessment, you must complete an online request form and submit supporting documentation by 15 March 2025. Applications for alternative examination accommodation cannot be considered after this deadline.

For further information on the supporting documentation required, as well as examination and other supports visit the Access Office website.

Leaving Certificate Applicants 

Required to present 2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish & English. MH003 Round 1 Points 2024: 389

HEAR and DARE

DARE: The Disability Access Route to Education is a third level alternative admissions scheme for school-leavers whose disabilities have had a negative impact on their second level education.

HEAR: The Higher Education Access Route is a third level admissions scheme for school leavers from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Contact the Access Office for more information about these access routes.

National Vetting Bureau

Offers of places on this programme are subject to a satisfactory background check by the National Vetting Bureau.

APPLY TO THE CAO - WWW.CAO.IE

The application process depends on the type of applicant you are. Click here for all information about how to apply.

Categories of applicant:

• School-leavers (Leaving Certificate students)
• Mature students (23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University/part-time degrees the mature age is 21)
• EU/EFTA/UK students
• International students (outside the EU)
• QQI (Further Education) students
• Transferring students
• Deferring students

Duration: 4 years (full-time)
This full-time degree will prepare you for a range of leadership roles in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. Lectures are 3 days a week and students spend 2 days a week in settings (for example, in 2023-2024 it was Monday and Friday in settings and Tuesday to Thursday in lectures).

Possible topics:

1st year

• Reflective Practice: Educator as Learner
• Introduction to Child Psychology
• Introduction to Social and Legal Studies
• Introduction to Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Health and Well-being for Infants and Toddlers
• Inclusion in Early Childhood Education
• Philosophy, Culture and Constructs of Early Childhood Education and Care
• Professional Practice 1 

2nd year

• Reflective Practice: Integrating Theory & Practice
• Learning & Development Practices (Birth to 6 years)
• Play 
• Health and Well-Being for Young Children
• Children’s Spaces
• Building Relationships with Children, Families and Communities
• Exploring Curricula & Pedagogy
• Professional Practice 2

3rd year

• Reflective Practice: Educator as Change Agent
• Learning & Development in Context
• Social Justice, Ethics & Diversity
• Supporting Creativity & Imagination
• Social & Legal Context of Childhood
• Community as Context
• Supporting Enquiry/Enacting the Curriculum
• Professional Practice 3

Final year

• Reflective Practice: Educator as Action Researcher
• Learning & Development: Challenges
• Leadership and Management
• Transitions in the Early Years
• Dominant Discourses in Early Childhood Education and Care
• Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
• Literacy Numeracy and Scientific Enquiry
• Professional Practice 4

Modules may change.

Duration: 4 years full-time

Disclaimer
The modules below are indicative of the content associated with this course of study.
The modules are subject to change as the curriculum is revised and reviewed annually. Please check periodically for updates.

Year 1

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING ED1TSM - EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS EDC115 5 Year-Long INCLUSION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EDC116 5 Year-Long INTRODUCTION TO CHILD PSYCHOLOGY EDC112 5 Year-Long INTRODUCTION TO CURRICULUM & PEDAGOGY EDC114 5 Year-Long INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL AND LEGAL STUDIES EDC113 5 Year-Long PHILOSOPHY, CULTURE & CONSTRUCTS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE & EDUCATION EDC117 5 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1: FOCUS ON OBSERVING YOUNG CHILDREN EDC118 20 Year-Long REFLECTIVE PRACTICE: EDUCATOR AS LEARNER EDC111 10 Year-Long

Year 2

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING ED2TSM - EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES EDC213 5 Year-Long ESTABLISHING QUALITY EARLY YEARS ENVIRONMENTS EDC216 5 Year-Long EXPLORING CURRICULUM & PEDAGOGY EDC217 5 Year-Long HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN EDC215 5 Year-Long LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES EDC212 5 Year-Long PLAY EDC214 5 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: FOCUS ON INTERACTIONS & RELATIONSHIPS EDC218 20 Year-Long REFLECTIVE PRACTICE: INTEGRATING THEORY AND PRACTICE EDC211 10 Year-Long

Year 3

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING ED3TSM - EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory COMMUNITY AS CONTEXT EDC315 5 1 LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT EDC312 5 2 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: FOCUS ON CURRICULUM & ASSESSMENT EDC318 20 Year-Long REFLECTIVE PRACTICE: EDUCATOR AS CHANGE AGENT EDC311 10 Year-Long SOCIAL & LEGAL CONTEXT EDC316 5 1 SOCIAL JUSTICE, ETHICS & DIVERSITY EDC313 5 1 STUDY ABROAD, ETVOS LORAND UNIVERSITY EDC397 15 2 STUDY ABROAD, PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY EDC395 15 2 STUDY ABROAD, QUEEN MAUD UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION EDC396 15 2 SUPPORTING CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION EDC317 5 2 SUPPORTING ENQUIRY/ENACTING THE CURRICULUM EDC314 5 2

Year 4

EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING ED4TSM - EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHING & LEARNING Credits: 60 Compulsory: Module Code Credits Semester Compulsory CURRICULUM, PEDAGOGY AND ASSESSMENT EDC414 5 Year-Long DOMINANT DISCOURSES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION & CARE EDC416 5 Year-Long LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT EDC413 5 Year-Long LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES EDC412 5 Year-Long LITERACY, NUMERACY & SCIENTIFIC ENQUIRY EDC417 5 Year-Long PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: FOCUS ON PROFESSIONALISM & LEADERSHIP EDC418 20 Year-Long REFLECTIVE PRACTICE: EDUCATOR AS ACTION RESEARCHER EDC411 10 Year-Long TRANSITIONS IN THE EARLY YEARS EDC415 5 Year-Long

Maynooth University Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education
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After Graduation
>Graduates emerge as early years teaching professionals. Career progression within this sector, for those with a level 7 or level 8 Childhood degree, is expanding rapidly within and beyond Early Childhood Education and Care settings to include opportunities within policy development and evaluation agencies within government departments, semi-state bodies and NGO’s.
>The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning positions graduates to spearhead and lead learning in Early Childhood Education and Care services.
>Graduates may also take up roles with local development agencies within the early childhood sector both nationally and internationally.
>The Department offers a range of postgraduate study options.

Visit the Department website for more information about postgraduate options.

After Graduation
>Graduates emerge as early years teaching professionals. Career progression within this sector, for those with a level 7 or level 8 Childhood degree, is expanding rapidly within and beyond Early Childhood Education and Care settings to include opportunities within policy development and evaluation agencies within government departments, semi-state bodies and NGO’s.
>The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Teaching and Learning positions graduates to spearhead and lead learning in Early Childhood Education and Care services.
>Graduates may also take up roles with local development agencies within the early childhood sector both nationally and internationally.
>The Department offers a range of postgraduate study options.

Visit the Department website for more information about postgraduate options.

For further information on Postgraduate options please go to the Graduate Studies site