Bachelor’s in Management and Leadership in Early Childhood Education

Knowledge and skills

On the whole, the Bachelor's in "Management and Leadership in Early Childhood Education" is geared to imparting the basic skills needed to become a pedagogical professional in child day care, as well as those required for managing early childhood education institutions.

It combines expertise from different disciplines and links theoretical studies with on-the-job learning. Interdisciplinary degree courses are designed to enable students to acquire or further develop their knowledge of the discipline in tandem with their practical and reflective skills.

In addition to providing students with specialist and interdisciplinary qualifications, the degree program also focuses on strengthening their character and personal development. We regard this as a central issue which we foster in seminars and training sessions that focus on (self-)reflection, for example, by encouraging students to question their own work each semester using the knowledge they have gained during their studies as part of the practical guidance/reflection program.

Main focus of the degree program

Seven core competences constitute module areas that serve as the content-related "pillars" and the structural framework of the degree program

• duty of education, upbringing and care
• self-management and professionalism
• structuring collaboration
• leading teams
• management
• organization
• academic work and research

Notes

The extra-occupational Bachelor's degree program "Management and Leadership in Early Childhood Education" can only be completed within the standard period of study of six semesters if your weekly working hours do not exceed 25 hours.

Approved under the Thuringian Educational Leave Act (ThürBfG).

Assessments

In the module catalogue, there is a module description for every module. All the information on course contents, learning objectives and assessments is published here. In addition, you will find information on the time allocated for classroom teaching, self-study and exam preparation.

For each module, the assessment is specified in the respective module description; the Academic Regulations and Procedures for Bachelor's and Master's Degrees at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt and the program regulations (study regulations) provide the binding framework in this regard.

Cross-curricular competences

During your Bachelor's degree, you have to take elective modules worth at least 6 ECTS credits.
These can be modules from your own department or courses offered by other departments, the Language Centre, PACKS or the Start-Up Service.  
Courses at other universities or external providers that have a cooperation agreement with the university (e.g. Netzwerk Courage) can also be accessed.

Combining studies with work

The degree course is subdivided into an orientation phase and a specialization phase. The 1st stage of studies helps students to find their own direction and provides basic preparation for their subsequent specialization.

The degree program is modular in structure and features a variety of course types. Classroom teaching is supplemented by a learning management system (for blended learning phases). Exams take place during the respective modules. When you have passed all the required module exams and the Bachelor's examination, you will be awarded your degree.

This work-based degree program focuses on three areas of practical experience:

• self-study by "learning on the job" (applies to all course contents)
• practical projects
• practical guidance / reflection from the 1st to the 6th semester

Face-to-face teaching is arranged so that students can attend the courses alongside their work: at the beginning and end of each semester, there is a 6-day block course (Monday to Saturday) plus 10 - 11 weekend courses per semester (Friday/Saturday).

Management and Leadership in Early Childhood Education: Your Background

Admission to the degree program is only possible for those who can prove they have completed the following vocational training:

• state-certified educator (equivalent to “Erzieherin/staatlich anerkannter Erzieher”),
• state-certified curative therapist (equivalent to “Heilpädagogin/staatlich anerkannter Heilpädagoge”),
• state-certified curative education carer (equivalent to “Heilerziehungspflegerin/staatlich anerkannter Heilerziehungspfleger”),
• crèche educator; kindergarten teacher,
• after-school care teacher or
• lower school teacher with the qualification to work in residential homes and after-schoolcare centres.

Application period

1 May - 15 July (every uneven year)

Professional development

This degree course trains educational professionals for the following in particular

• managerial duties in day-care centres, full-time primary schools, other child and youth welfare facilities, and
• teaching and advisory roles (specialist consulting, trainee supervision, etc.) in day-care centres, full-time primary schools and child and youth welfare facilities.

However, it is also aimed at those with state accreditation in the above-mentioned fields of work who wish to pursue an academic degree.

You also have the opportunity to follow this up with a Master's degree and thereby qualify to study for a doctorate.