BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies with Foundation Year

About your course

The BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies at Liverpool John Moores University offers a multi-disciplinary approach to working with children and their families. An exploration of different perceptions of children and childhood opens up an exciting range of career opportunities.

Foundation Year

The Foundation Year offers a supportive environment to develop confidence with academic study skills and also introduces you to key subject specific content relating to your degree pathway. This is a four year degree programme. We particularly welcome applicants with non-standard qualifications.

A child's first experiences have an impact far beyond those initial few years of life. Poverty, poor education, child abuse, as well as the positive experiences of creativity and play, have an enormous influence on a child's development.

The acquisition of knowledge and understanding of early childhood studies is progressive, and nurtures the development of a critically reflective perspective. The overarching themes and defining principles of the programme are education, social welfare, health and wellbeing.

Early Childhood Studies explores and deals with all aspects of society, which impact on young people and their families. The course focuses on the development, growth, health and well-being of young children from 0-8 years old from both the perspective of the child and the adult. Different perceptions of children and childhood are considered and you are also encouraged to examine the wider socio-economic and political factors that influence children at all levels. You are provided with a sound theoretical foundation drawn from different disciplines such as psychology and sociology.

We have several international links, and there are opportunities to visit various countries as part of your course and also undertake a work-related placement abroad.

We have a student volunteer scheme in schools and other placements, so that you can gain the experience and practice you need before embarking on further study or a career.

The course gives you enormous scope to tailor your studies to your own interests through optional modules, research and work-related practice.

Additional course costs

There are no costs for off-site day trips embedded into Core and Option modules. Optional international placements will have a cost attached.

"I came wanting to be a teacher but the ECS degree has helped me to develop a holistic understanding of the work I could do with babies, young children and their families" Sarah Harris, graduate

DDD-CDD

Extended Diploma: MMP

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications. Pass overall with a minimum of 72 points

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

Extended Diploma: MMP

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

Employability

Local authorities, health authorities, charities, housing associations, children's centres and day nurseries have all employed LJMU graduates in positions such as childcare project managers, family support workers, nursery officers, play coordinators, out-of-school project managers, residential care workers, researchers, disability coordinators and early years officers.

Many of our students also apply for further postgraduate study towards professional qualifications in, for example, social work or within the early years sector.

Early Childhood Studies together with a PGCE also provides an alternative route into teaching.

Postgraduate Teacher Training

LJMU graduates who meet the entry criteria are guaranteed an interview for your chosen PGCE course.

Our PGCEs carry Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), so after successfully completing the one-year course, you will be qualified to teach the age range of students covered in your programme.

As well as our Core PGCE courses, we also offer salaried and non-salaried school-led courses with our partner schools across the North West.

Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service

A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.

Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.

One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.

A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.