Early Childhood Teacher Education
Qualifications
Overview
A child’s early years have a significant impact on their lifelong development. As an early childhood teacher, you will provide experiences that lay the foundations for later learning with the help of whānau and the community.
- Gain skills supporting child development and growing their love for learning.
- Placements in early childhood settings to experience working with and teaching young children.
- Opportunities for international teaching and multicultural learning experiences, with placements at early childhood centres around the Pacific.
Early Childhood endorsement
For the endorsement in Ako: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning, complete the following courses:
100-Level
- AKOT100 Navigating Study at Tertiary Level - Being a Successful Learner (0-point course)
- AKOT101 Ngā Tāngata o Aotearoa: Te Mana o Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- AKOT110 Te Reo Māori Tahi: Mā te Kaiako
- AKOE170 Ko wai au? Who am I?
- AKOE171 Whai Oranga: Pursuing Wellbeing of Children
- AKOE172 Infant and Toddler Pedagogies in Action
- AKOE173 Curriculum: Te Whāriki
- AKOE174 ECE as a Contested Profession: Looking Back, Moving Forward
- AKOA161 Mana Ako: Practice Exploration 1
200-Level
- AKOT210 Te Reo Māori Rua: Mā te Kaiako
- AKOT230 Whānau Tangata: Possibilities, Opportunities and Tensions
- AKOT231 Saili Matagi - 'Seeking the winds of change in Pasifika education'
- AKOT232 Whanaungatanga: Relationally Connected
- AKOE270 Ngākau Urutanga Whānui: Diversity and Inclusion at the Heart
- AKOE272 Curriculum: Becoming an Intentional Teacher
- AKOA261 Mana Ako: Practice Exploration 2
- AKOA262 Mana Ako: Practice Exploration 3
300-Level
- AKOT310 Te Reo Māori Toru: Mā te Kaiako
- AKOE371 ECE as a Contested Profession: Leadership and Criticality in ECE
- AKOE372 ECE as a Contested Profession: Ethics, Politics and Teaching
- AKOE373 Curriculum: Designing Holistic and Bicultural Learning Experiences
- AKOE374 Curriculum: Leading Design
- AKOA363 Mana Ako: Early Childhood Practice Exploration 4
- AKOA364 Mana Ako: Early Childhood Practice Exploration 5
- One course chosen from these options
Graduate Option
The Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood) caters for those who hold a university degree, offering a one-year pathway into early childhood teaching.
How to apply
For details on entry requirements and the application process, see the Guide to Applying.
Working in early childhood offers you a challenging, interactive, and rewarding career caring for infants, toddlers, and young children in their important early stages.
From your placements throughout the degree, you will have teaching skills and experiences from a variety of education settings that could also apply to any area working with children and whānau.
Some career pathways could include:
- Early childhood teaching
- Childcare services
- Advocacy
- Government.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Early Childhood Teaching.
Contact us
For more details on entry requirements and the application process, see the Guide to Applying.
Te Kura Whakangungu Kaiako | School of Teacher Education
Phone +64 3 369 3333
Email education@canterbury.ac.nz
Location
Level 5, Rehua building – see campus maps
Postal address
Te Kaupeka Ako | Faculty of Education
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
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