Introduction
Early childhood education is the first phase of education including Play group, Nursery or Montessori school education to grade 3. B.Ed. (4 Years) Early Childhood Care and Education degree program at Virtual University of Pakistan is designed to equip prospective teachers with holistic and multidimensional understanding of the child, teaching strategies and an in-depth knowledge of educational challenges for early childhood education. The core objective of this program is to raise the content knowledge and equip prospective teachers in the area of child growth and development and the best ways to foster children’s cognitive, physical, emotional and social development. It will also prepare the students for managing ECCE programs in an effective way and help them establish their own ECCE schools.
Note: Students admitted through the Bridging Semester in BS Lateral must successfully pass all courses of the Bridging Semester before enrolling in the courses of 5th Semester of BS in BS-Lateral B.Ed Hons. Early Childhood Care and Education.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants with a 2-year Associate Degree in the same discipline (from an HEC-recognized institution) will be able to join the 5th semester of a BS program. Those with an Associate Degree in a different discipline or a conventional BA/BSc degree (annual system) must complete a bridging semester/deficiency semester to address academic deficiencies.
The minimum admission eligibility is a 2.00/4.00 CGPA for Associate Degree holders (semester system) or 45% marks for BA/BSc or equivalent (annual system). The University may set higher standards for specific programs.
Course Exemption
Course exemption is not allowed.
Award of Degree
From Fall 2025, to be eligible for the award of an BS-Lateral program, the student is required to complete at least 67 credit hours with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00 out of 4.00.
Scheme of Study
| Total Credit Hours | 67 |
| Total Semesters | 5 |
| Duration | 2 years |
|
|||||||||
| Bridging Semester | |||||||||
| Course Code | Title | Category | Sub Category | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization | ||
| ECE101 | Introduction to Early Childhood Education | Major | Bridging Semester | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| ECTA519 | Teaching Practice – I | Major | Bridging Semester | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDU301 | General Methods of Teaching | Major | Bridging Semester | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA305 | Classroom Management for Young Learners | Major | Bridging Semester | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA405 | Assessment and Evaluation in Early Years of Education | Major | Bridging Semester | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA516 | Teaching of English in Early Childhood | Major | Bridging Semester | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| VU001 | Introduction to e-Learning | General Education | Bridging Semester | 1 (Theory:1, Practical:0) | |||||
| Semester No. 1 | |||||||||
| Course Code | Title | Category | Sub Category | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization | ||
| ECE201 | Language Development of the Child | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| ECE204 | Independence, Self-Management and Ethics in Early Years | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| ECE301 | Psycho Social Development of the Child | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| ECE402 | Trends and Issues in Early Childhood Education | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDU306 | Teaching of Social Studies and Islamiat in Early Years of Education | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSY406 | Educational Psychology | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| Semester No. 2 | |||||||||
| Course Code | Title | Category | Sub Category | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization | ||
| ECE203 | Children Literature and Educational Games | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| ECE302 | Education for Sustainable Development in Early Childhood Education | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDU433 | Professionalism in Teaching | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA411 | Teaching of Urdu in Early Childhood | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MCM101 | Introduction to Mass Communication | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MCM301 | Communication skills | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MGT503 | Principles of Management | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MGTE630 | Knowledge Management | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSC201 | International Relations | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC301 | Introduction to Social Work | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC602 | Sociology of Education | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC604 | Community Development | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| Semester No. 3 | |||||||||
| Course Code | Title | Category | Sub Category | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization | ||
| ECE202 | Physical Development of the Child | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDU407 | Research Methods in Education | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA402 | Curriculum Development for Early Childhood Education | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA601 | Philosophical Foundations of Early Childhood Education | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MCM101 | Introduction to Mass Communication | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MCM301 | Communication skills | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MGT503 | Principles of Management | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MGTE630 | Knowledge Management | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSC201 | International Relations | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC301 | Introduction to Social Work | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC602 | Sociology of Education | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC604 | Community Development | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| Semester No. 4 | |||||||||
| Course Code | Title | Category | Sub Category | Type | Pre Requisite | Credit Hours | Specialization | ||
| ECTB519 | Teaching Practice – II | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA406 | Reflective Practices and Critical Thinking in Early Years | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA602 | Leadership and Management of Early Childhood Education Programs | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| EDUA630 | Research Project | Major | Required | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MCM101 | Introduction to Mass Communication | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MCM301 | Communication skills | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MGT503 | Principles of Management | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| MGTE630 | Knowledge Management | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSC201 | International Relations | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| PSY101 | Introduction to Psychology | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC301 | Introduction to Social Work | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC602 | Sociology of Education | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||
| SOC604 | Community Development | Interdisciplinary | Elective | 3 (Theory:3, Practical:0) | |||||