Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education

HD(ECE) aims to provide students with the academic and professional preparation necessary to become competent, caring and reflective beginning teachers able to work in a range of early childhood settings and undertake further professional advancement. Graduates of the programme will (i) be eligible to register as Qualified Kindergarten Teachers and Registered Child Care Workers; (ii) be recognised as having acquired training on the One-year In-service Course in Special Child Care Work of the Social Welfare Department; (iii) have the professional qualification required of child care supervisors; and (iv) be eligible to apply for the University's Bachelor of Education (Honours) (Early Childhood Education) Programmes (Part-time) and Undergraduate Programmes (Full-time) (Senior Year Admissions).

General Requirements

GCE AL / IAL with
Grade D or above in 3 AL subjects; or
Grade D in 2 AL plus 2 Advanced Supplementary Level (ASL) subjects. (Not including Chinese / Mandarin / English Language subjects. The same subject cannot be counted at both the AL and ASL).

International Baccalaureate Diploma
Applicant should request the IB organization to send scores to the University (Institution Code: 004307).

SAT Reasoning Test
A minimum total score of 1,190 (out of 1,600) in the new SAT Reasoning Test (including Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Mathematics) / 1,650 (out of 2,400) in the old SAT Reasoning Test (including Critical Reading, Writing, and Mathematics) in one sitting.

English Language Requirements

TOEFL
(MyBestTM Score is not accepted) Internet-based: 80; or
Paper-based (prior to July 2017): 550; or
Paper-delivered Test: Minimum score at the intermediate level in each section (Reading, Listening and Writing)
* Passing the TOEFL ITP does not satisfy the English language requirement.

IELTS Academic
Overall Band: 6

GCE System
Grade E or above in GCE AS-level or A-level English; or
Grade C / Grade 4 or above in IGCSE / GCE O-level English; or
Grade C / Grade 4 or above in GCSE English or English Literature

IB
English A: Language and Literature (Higher or Standard Level) – Grade 4; or
English A: Literature (Higher or Standard Level) – Grade 4; or
English B (Higher Level) – Grade 4; or
English B (Standard Level) – Grade 5; or
English Literature and Performance (Standard Level) – Grade 4; or
English Text and Performance (Standard Level) – Grade 4

SAT
A sub-score of 8 in Essay Writing in old SAT; or
590 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing in new SAT

Others
Other English language qualifications deemed acceptable by the University.

Programme Structure

This programme adopts a credit point system. It requires the successful completion of 66 credit points of course work and 6 credit points of Supervised Teaching and Field Work, including 8 weeks of block practice in early childhood settings, school attachment and educational visits.

This programme comprises the following domains:

Note: Classes will be held in Tai Po Campus and Tseung Kwan O Study Centre / North Point Study Centre / Sports Centre as decided by the University.
 

Major

• Child Development
• Children’s Health and Care
• Professional Teacher
• Sustainable Preschool Management and Parent Involvement
• Understanding the Diverse Needs of Young Children
• Social Environment for Children with Diverse Needs
• Promoting Children's Emotional and Social Well-being
• Language and Literacy in Early Childhood

Education Studies

• Designing and Developing an Integrated Play-based Curriculum
• Scientific and Mathematical Explorations for Young Children
• Curriculum for Children with Diverse Needs I
• Curriculum for Children with Diverse Needs II
• Curriculum Practice for Children with Diverse Needs

Education Studies Electives

Two courses from the following:

• Visual Arts Education in Early Childhood
• Physical Play and Fitness
• Play in Early Years
• Creative Experience in Music for Young Children

Electives

One course from the following:

• Information Technology on the Society and Daily Lives
• Applied Drama for Personal and Social Transformation
• Putonghua for Daily Communication
• English in the Early Years
• Exploring STEM in Everyday Life
• Practical Capstone Project in Action
• Becoming Global Citizens through Experiential Learning
• Summer Fun Fair
• Project in Action Research

Language Enhancement

• Chinese
• English One
• English Two

General Education

One course from the following:

• Essential Lifeskills for Personal Growth
• Culture and Modern Society

One course from the following:

• A list of courses offered in EdUHK Undergraduate Programmes (Senior Year Admissions)

Field Experience

• Practicum Workshop
• Supervised Teaching and Field Work I
• Supervised Teaching and Field Work II

Note: The University will ask students of our full-time teacher education programmes (including Higher Diploma in Early Childhood Education) to declare whether they have been convicted of or are being prosecuted for any sex-related offence in Hong Kong or elsewhere, and to provide relevant details prior to undertaking teaching practice. Such information may be released to their placement schools. The University reserves the right not to allow these students to attend the block teaching practice. If so, they won't be able to meet the graduation requirements of the programmes.