Te Tohu Paetahi Akoranga: Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
Become a qualified early childhood educator with a comprehensive three-year Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) that prepares you for teacher registration and a rewarding career inspiring young minds in Aotearoa New Zealand.
NZ$9,111
inc GST
Enquire about international pricing
Core skills this course teaches
Understand child development and learning
Gain deep knowledge of child development from birth to six years, including relevant educational theories for the Aotearoa New Zealand context.
Apply bicultural and cultural competencies
Develop skills to teach in the bicultural context of New Zealand, integrating Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori, and supporting Pasifika learners.
About This Course
This three-year Bachelor degree combines theory and practical experience to provide in-depth understanding of children's learning and development in the bicultural context of Aotearoa New Zealand. Students gain knowledge of educational theory, childhood development, curriculum design, and practical teaching skills, including placements in licensed early childhood services. The programme emphasises bicultural competence, understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Māori language and Tikanga, and includes noho marae experiences. Upon completion, graduates are eligible for teacher registration and provisional certification with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Course Content
- Child Development
- Education and Society (including Te Tiriti o Waitangi)
- Professional Inquiry in Practice (Professional and Reflective Practice, Communication and Relationships, Assessment for Learning, Personal and Professional Identity, Professional Leadership, Collaborative Partnerships)
- Te Puna Reo and Te Puna Tikanga (te reo Māori and Tikanga Māori)
- Play, Curriculum, and Pedagogy, including Te Whāriki
- Artistic Languages of Children (visual arts, music, movement)
- Educational Approaches: historical and contemporary philosophies
- Field Base Experience Placement (in licensed early childhood services)
- Practical Experience Placement (UCOL-organised ECE settings)
- Infants and Toddlers: First 1000 Days
- Equity & Diversity
- Emergent Literacies
- Early Mathematical and Scientific Concepts
- Introduction to Educational Research
- Holistic Wellbeing of Teachers
- Pedagogy, Policy, and Practice
- Te Puna Mātauranga (Mātauranga Māori)
- Environments and Learning
- Whakatōpū Arotakenga (consolidating competencies)
- Teacher as Researcher
Build towards these roles
Early childhood teacher (kindergarten, early childhood centre, home-based settings)Pathway to further study
Build skills in these industries
EducationEarly Childhood
UCOL is a polytechnic built around the kind of learning that actually sticks — hands-on, practical, and grounded in the real world. With campuses across the lower North Island and a programme range that stretches from trades and health to creative arts and IT, it's a strong fit for learners who want a clear path into work without unnecessary detours. Whether you're fresh out of school, changing direction, or building on what you already know, UCOL is set up to meet you where you are.
