Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)

Want to equip the next generation with the emotional intelligence, social and critical-thinking skills to flourish? Study a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) and discover how to help young children learn important concepts like empathy and self-confidence through play. Graduate with the unique ability to shape the next generation as a nationally accredited early childhood teacher.

Ready to start a meaningful career, shaping tomorrow's leaders?

Whether your background is in education or you're looking to make a meaningful career change, this fast-tracked course will equip you with the knowledge to work across diverse early childhood settings. Our nationally recognised academics will guide you towards teaching expertise in areas such as:

• Developing numeracy and literacy in young learners
• Creating safe and inclusive learning environments
• Social justice, diversity and equity
• Trauma responsive practice
• Arts and STEM creativity in a child's life
• Play-based learning across all areas of the curriculum

At Deakin, we're focused on developing educational leaders for the future. That's why we offer our Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) students the chance to develop in-depth knowledge through unique specialisation training pathways.

One popular training pathway is in the International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP Early Years Program, which provides students with the skills to help develop young children as self-motivated and internationally minded learners. Specialising in the IB PYP Early Years Program can lead to international teaching opportunities and can help to increase your employability.

You may alternatively choose to specialise in trauma responsive practice or Research pathways, the latter of which may be used as a pathway to further study in a PhD. An internship is also available for students who would like to have an immersive experience in the sector before graduating.

In addition, you will put your academic knowledge into practice with over 60-days of professional experience placements. The course is designed to blend your classroom experience with your academic learning, culminating in a final hurdle task, the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment, that ensures you graduate with the experience and rigour you will need to enter the teaching profession with confidence.

This practical experience ensures you graduate with the skills and expertise that are highly valued by employers. 96% of Deakin early childhood education graduates have gone on to secure roles in the early childhood education profession, which continues to generate new jobs at a steady rate. In addition, the Victorian Government offers a range of financial incentives to support students interested in studying the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) at Deakin. More information can be found at education.vic.gov.au

The education and training industry is one of the largest growing employment industries in Australia, and is projected to grow by 11.2% by May 2023 - that's 11,300 new jobs.* Early childhood education teachers in particular are in high demand.

As an early childhood education graduate, you could go on to secure teaching roles within early childhood settings across the private, independent, or public education sectors. You could also find employment in a range of other education-adjacent fields, including in early years service management, policy, consultancy, NGOs, research community and government organisations.

*Australian Government Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2018 Employment Projections - for the five years to May 2023.

For more information go to 'DeakinTALENT'

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) is typically 16 credit points.

The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) - your professional experience and previous qualifications - which can save you time and money.

To qualify for the award of Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), students must complete the following:

• 12 core units (12 credit points)
• A further 4 credit points in one of the following specialisations:
  • Research
  • International Baccalaureate Early Years (Primary Years Programme (PYP)
  • Internship
  • Trauma Responsive Practice
  • Academic Integrity Module DAI001
  Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

This course includes 60-days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment.

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater.

Recognition of prior learning in the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) is restricted by the professional accreditation structures of the course. Students are encouraged to apply for credit for comparable curriculum discipline units completed at postgraduate level.

Recognition is not available for any work experience whether paid or unpaid, qualified or unqualified teacher or teacher aide against the academic professional experience units.

You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.