BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies

UCAS code: X310

Start date: September and January

Course length: full time: three years, part time: up to six years.

Campus: Kedleston Road, Derby

Number of students: 60-80

This course is available to international students

You can also study Early Childhood Studies (Joint Honours) as part of a Joint Honours degree.

During this course you'll explore the importance of meeting children's needs and how these needs can be met by professionals working in early years. You'll use your own experiences to enhance your knowledge and develop your understanding of early childhood.

To make sure that you're ready to work in early years when you graduate, you'll undertake a placement for two days each week. This will develop your observational reflective skills, as well as your practical knowledge of different settings. You'll also have the opportunity to on visits to places like the Museum of Childhood, Think Tank Museum and Eureka Childrens Museum.

During stage one your lectures will be taught throughout the day, but once you get to stage two and three, your lectures may also take place in the evening. You will also have an opportunity to study abroad in the second semester of stage two. Under the Erasmus exchange scheme, we have agreements with Universities in Amsterdam and Brussels which will really enhance your employability when you graduate.

You'll be assessed using essays, reports, posters, presentations, case studies, online tests and independent research. You won't have to take exams.

You'll be studying an up to date course which is listed in the new qualifications list for those settings delivering the Early Years Foundation stage. This means it is considered full and relevant by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC).

You'll look at the importance of early childhood and consider children's holistic needs and how these can be met by professionals working in early years. The role of professional and personal development is an important theme. You'll be able to use your experience with young children to enhance your knowledge and develop your understanding of early childhood.

Stage one

You'll study these modules:

• Self Management and Study Skills
• Early Language and Communication‌
• Play and Creativity‌
• The Growing Child‌
• Early Emotional and Social Development‌
• The Emerging Practitioner‌

Stage two

You'll study these modules:

• Children's Health‌
• Promoting Children's Rights and Welfare‌
• The Early Years Researcher‌
• The Developing Practitioner‌

And you'll choose two modules from:

• Children Across the World‌
• Creativity in Children's Early Learning‌
• Wellbeing from Birth‌
• Family Dynamics‌
• The Young Child in School‌
• Children's Literature in a Digital Age‌
• Children in a Multimedia World‌

Stage three

You'll study these modules:

• Critically Reflective Practitioner‌
• Contesting Childhood‌
• Independent Study‌

And you'll choose two modules from:

• ‌Children's Voices - Listening and Experiences
• Leadership in Early Childhood Education and Care‌
• Health and Inequality‌ in Children's Lives
• International Perspectives‌
• Creative Possibilities‌
• Child Protection‌

Our entry requirements are usually 260 UCAS points, of which at least 220 will be from your core A2s (full A levels) or equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Diploma, International Baccalaureate, Scottish Highers etc.

We'll accept up to 40 points towards the total from level 3 qualifications such as AS levels (where those AS levels are not taken on to A2 level), the Extended Project or Music qualifications.

We don't accept points from Key Skills Level 3. If you have any questions about what is or isn't accepted, please contact our Admissions team.

We also accept the Access to HE Diploma.

Your points at level 3 will be in addition to 5 GCSEs at grade C or equivalent level 2 qualifications.

The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.

General undergraduate entry requirements

Fees for 2012/13

This is a classroom based course.

UK/EU students

• Part time: £875 per module (you usually take 18 of these modules in total)

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

Fees for 2013/14

This is a classroom based course.

UK/EU students

• Full time: £7,700 (each year)

We'll be announcing our part time and international fees for 2013/14 later in the year.

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

How you'll learn

Modules may be studied in the day or evening at stages two and three. Your tutorials will be flexible to meet the needs of a diverse range of students some of whom work full time.

The bulk of the course is delivered on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. As a new student you'll study throughout the day whereas when you progress into stage two and three you may be taught throughout the day or evening. Whilst the majority of modules are taught, the professional practice modules and research modules are much more self directed and promote independent learning. You'll be encouraged to undertake personal development planning throughout the course and produce action plans related to career goals and progression.

How you're assessed

You'll be assessed through coursework which will consist of essays, reports, presentations, case study and independent research. There are no examinations.

You'll gain the skills and approaches you'll need to work with young children in early years settings. Currently, political interest and funding are focused on education and care for children under five, which means more posts are becoming available in these areas.

If you want to be a teacher, you could study our PGCE or take the Graduate Teacher Programme when you graduate, or you may want to do further training in social work or nursing, for example.

When you graduate you could also find employment in the private, voluntary and independent sector, or you could even join a graduate employment scheme.

Jane Blant, current student studying part time
"University also helped me to find my love of writing, and although it has been challenging working, studying, and writing, it has been a fantastic experience and I know it has made me a better nursery nurse for it." Jane has had three articles published in Nursery World and the Early Years Education magazines. Read her full story here.