Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education & Care

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Technological University Dublin

Program Overview

The Early Childhood Care & Education (TU790) degree at Technological University Dublin prepares you to work confidently with young children by combining academic study with real-world hands-on experience. It’s perfect for people who care about supporting children’s growth, wellbeing, and learning through inclusive, creative, and practical approaches.

📘 Curriculum Structure

Year 1

In your first year, you’ll get to grips with the foundations of early childhood practice, learning how children grow, play, and develop relationships. You’ll study Professional Development in the Early Years, Promoting Wellbeing in Early Years, Play Based Art and Music, and Child Development 1, along with Sociology of Childhood and Early Childhood Curriculum to understand the social and educational contexts of early learning. You’ll also begin reflecting on practice and engagement with children’s identities, belonging and community, and develop skills in creative expression.

Year 2

Second year builds your confidence in planning and supporting learning experiences for children of different ages. You’ll take Professional Practice: Supporting Children and Families, School Age Care, Literacy and Numeracy through Play, and Psychology and Learning in Early Childhood, along with Childhood and Social Policy, Curriculum and Pedagogy, and Outdoor Learning and Risky Play — deepening your understanding of how children learn and how your practice can adapt to diverse needs. A structured Practice Placement 2 gives you extended time in a professional setting, applying your skills in real early years environments.

Year 3

In your final year, you’ll refine your reflective and leadership abilities while studying advanced topics such as Professional Practice and Critical Reflection, Language Acquisition and Multilingualism, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Legislative Issues for the Early Years, Children’s Rights and Advocacy, Creative Group Facilitation, and Research Methods in Early Years. You’ll also complete Practice Placement 3, where you bring together everything you’ve learned to practice with confidence, lead activities and contribute meaningfully to children’s care and education.

🎯 Focus Areas

Child development, play-based pedagogy, curriculum planning, wellbeing and belonging, inclusion and diversity, family and community partnership, child rights and advocacy.

🎓 Learning Outcomes

Graduates will be able to design engaging learning experiences, support children’s holistic development, work ethically with families and communities, apply inclusive practices across diverse settings, and critically reflect on professional practice.

📜 Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This degree is officially approved as a professional award in Early Learning and Care, meeting national standards that support employment in early childhood settings across Ireland.

🌟 Reputation (Employability)

TU Dublin’s practical, placement-focused approach means graduates are ready to contribute from their first day on the job; early childhood professionals trained here are sought after in preschools, community programmes and diverse early years services.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In the Early Childhood Care & Education (TU790) degree at Technological University Dublin, your learning doesn’t stay in lectures — it moves straight into real early years settings where you’ll build confidence and professional skills from the start. You’ll engage in practical, creative projects, reflective journals, debates and community-focused learning while supported by specialist spaces that mirror real childcare environments and collaborative learning communities:

Here’s how your hands-on learning is structured:

Structured Practice Placements: You’ll complete two 12-week work placements during the programme, giving you authentic experience working with children in preschools, crèches and early learning settings — a core part of becoming ready for professional roles.
Purpose-Built Early-Childhood Practice Room: TU Dublin offers realistic practice spaces where you can apply your curriculum planning, observation and facilitation skills in environments designed to reflect professional early years settings.
Outdoor Learning Opportunities: The programme includes insights into outdoor learning and “risky play” using dedicated outdoor learning spaces, helping you understand how play supports development in diverse contexts.
Group Projects & Creative Practice: You’ll work on collaborative, creative projects such as play-based art, drama and music activities, which mirror how early years teams design engaging learning experiences together.
Reflective Practice Tools: Through reflective journals and presentations, you’ll build professional communication and self-evaluation skills that support ongoing growth in your practice.
Digital Tools & Study Support: You’ll use standard digital tools — like a laptop with office software and online platforms — for research, planning and communicating as part of your coursework and placement coordination.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Early Childhood Care & Education (TU790) degree go on to rewarding and diverse careers working with children, families, and communities. You’ll build the know-how to take on roles such as Early Childhood Educator, Room Leader in Preschool or Crèche, Childcare Programme Coordinator, or Community Childcare Worker — all grounded in the practical experience you gain through your placements and creative course work. Because this is a professional degree with real hands-on training, employers value your readiness to contribute from day one:

• Career Support Services: TU Dublin’s Career Development Centre offers personalised guidance, interview preparation, CV help, and access to job listings tailored to education and childcare graduates, helping you make strong connections with employers after you finish.
• Work Experience Advantage: Your two 12-week placements give you genuine early years practice, often leading to job offers or strong professional references by the time you graduate.
• Reflective and Creative Projects: Through creative group work, community engagement projects, debates and presentations, you’ll develop the confidence and communication skills that employers look for in early childhood settings.
• Sector Recognition: The programme is approved by the relevant professional advisory authority, ensuring your qualification is respected by early childhood services across Ireland — an important foundation for long-term career growth.
• Graduate Destinations: Alumni work in preschools, Montessori settings, crèches and school-age care, and many go on to specialise further in areas such as wellbeing, inclusion or community programmes.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you could deepen your expertise through postgraduate study in areas such as early childhood education leadership, inclusive education, child and family studies or special education needs. These paths can open doors to senior roles in curriculum design, programme management, policy development or advocacy, and can broaden your impact across the early years sector.