Course overview
This rewarding, flexible degree gives you the skills and knowledge to move into the early years workforce and has babies and young children at its heart.
The degree takes a holistic approach to the development of young children, from birth to the age of eight and provides opportunities to apply this learning in placement settings.
Early childhood is a multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and global area of study that draws on subjects such as education, health studies, social work and social policy, psychology and sociology.
The experience of early childhood is changing rapidly across the world. From climate change, global pandemics and economic austerity to a childhood increasingly dominated by screens and social media, the 21st century has brought many challenges and factors that are shaping childhood experiences. The BA Early Childhood Studies at the University of Hull looks to support the development of practitioners for the early childhood sector who understand and have the skills to respond to the challenges of supporting children and babies in this rapidly changing world.
With a focus on developing key employability skills valued by employers; skills of teamwork, independent work, presentation and an ability to articulate effectively in a variety of contexts and with a variety of tools, the BA Early Childhood Studies is a programme which truly supports practitioners who want to make a difference to the lives of babies, young children and families. If you want to contribute to the debate and influence the strategies employed in early years, then this degree is for you. With a team of highly respected and experienced tutors, who are all experts in their specialisms, you will learn from some of the best in the field.
Placement opportunities are a strength of this programme of study, you will consolidate your learning in practice in a range of settings and early years environments, from nurseries to care farms. You will additionally have the option to experience a placement in differing international contexts around the world, including Norway, Spain and Holland. Furthermore we are able to offer you the chance to enhance your degree with further certified training including Forest School training and British Sign language among other interactive learning opportunities.
To fully endorse the quality of our degree we are able to offer graduates of this programme the opportunity to gain Graduate Practitioner Status.
BA Early Childhood Studies with Graduate Practitioner Status
This sector recognised qualification is ‘full and relevant’ and enables you to be counted in the ratios of early years settings. In order to achieve Graduate Practitioner Status, students must complete a Level 2 in English and Maths before the end of their degree. Graduate practitioner status will be awarded to students who can demonstrate that they have met nine competencies in placement through assessed observations of practice, practice-based tasks and academic assessment of learning. Gaining recognition for Graduate Practitioner Competencies (level 6) is supported by the Early Childhood Studies Degree Network and is recognised in the Department for Education’s career progression map.
There will be opportunities to engage with a broad range of assessments including presentations, blogs, podcasts, essays, reports and portfolios. Exams are not an assessment method for this programme of study.