160 credit points (for students enrolling in 2006)

For students who commenced prior to 2006, the number of credit points will vary from 160-180 depending on the year of entry into the program.

INDEX

Duration                       2 years full-time or equivalent part-time*

Available at                  Ballarat Campus VIC (Aquinas)

                                   Brisbane Campus QLD (McAuley at Banyo)

                                   Canberra Campus ACT (Signadou)

                                   Melbourne Campus VIC (St Patrick's)

                                   Strathfield Campus NSW (Mount Saint Mary) (Continuing Students only)

Overview

The Bachelor of Education is a two-year degree course designed for applicants with an appropriate undergraduate degree and who wish to become teachers in a primary school. It provides a pre-service education for beginning teachers. Graduates are eligible for employment in both government and non-government schools.

The course consists of studies in education and specific curriculum studies covering all teaching areas of primary schools. Teaching practice is conducted during teaching rounds spread throughout the course. Students are provided with a range of experiences in primary schools to cover a range of grade levels and types of school. Studies in religious education and theology are included to enable graduates to obtain accreditation to teach religious education in Catholic schools. Students not seeking such accreditation may undertake approved alternative units.  In Queensland and at Ballarat in Victoria, the course includes a Lutheran strand.  Students who successfully complete this strand are accredited to teach in Lutheran primary schools.

The course facilitates, within a Catholic Christian tradition, the development of reflective, educated, culturally aware and responsive individuals able to function effectively as beginning teachers in a variety of settings and who are committed to their continuing professional development. It has as its foundation the conviction that the quality of education in a society is closely associated with the preparation of teachers whose professional expertise, attitudes and values equip them to develop in others sound knowledge, skills and ideals and a capacity and readiness to undertake responsibility in the community. The quality of teaching also depends on teachers who are prepared to meet the challenge of continued growth in knowledge, technological development, social change and heightened community expectations.

Mode of Offering

The course is offered on-campus, normally full-time.

Admission

Ballarat and Melbourne: Apply to VTAC under the VTAC Graduate Entry Teaching application process.

Brisbane, Canberra and Strathfield: Application should be made on the Direct Entry Application Form available on the ACU National website, www.acu.edu.au/forms.cfm or from the Student Centre. Direct Entry Application Forms, together with any supporting documentation, should be submitted to the ACU National Admissions Section.

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree with a major or minor study in at least one of the key learning areas of the primary school curriculum or another area relevant to primary education. Applicants who have completed a bachelor degree more than ten years ago will need to provide evidence of current relevant, e.g. work experience.

International applicants must meet the Faculty’s English language requirement as follows:

• IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with an overall score of 6.5, including an individual score of 6.0 for all tests; OR
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 575 and a TWE 5.0; or a computer-based score of 230 with an essay rating of 5.0.
• Applicants will be required to demonstrate appropriate English language competency for the school classroom before being placed in a school as part of the Professonal Experience program.
  

Course Structure

Unit Offerings

Unit offerings will vary subject to student demand and lecturer availability.

Elective units will vary between campuses and from year to year.

Education Foundation Studies

Australian Capital Territory (2 units)

New South Wales (2 units)

Queensland (3 units)

Victoria (3 units)

Elective Sequence

Australian Capital Territory (2 units)

+ Students not wishing to seek accreditation to teach in Catholic schools may choose PHIL103 instead of Theology units offered

New South Wales (2 units)

Queensland (2 units)

Victoria (2 units)

* Students not seeking accreditation to teach in Catholic schools may undertake alternative approved units. Students seeking to teach in Lutheran schools should take approved Lutheran units. Please check with the Course Coordinator. In Australian Capital Territory students not wishing to seek accreditation to teach in Catholic schools, in consultation with their course coordinator may select from a range of elective units.

Professional Studies

Australian Capital Territory (14 units)

# Students not specialising in religious education undertake approved alternative units.

Field Experience units take on 0 credit point weighting in 2006.

New South Wales (14 units)

Field Experience units take on 0 credit point weighting in 2006.

Queensland (12 units)

Victoria (11 units)

*Students not seeking accreditation to teach in Catholic schools may undertake alternative approved units. Students seeking to teach in Lutheran schools should take approved Lutheran units. Please check with the Course Coordinator.

Field Experience (2 or 3 units)

Victoria(2 or 3 units)

Queensland (4 units)

Australian Capital Territory (2 units)

Field Experience units take on 0 credit point weighting in 2006.

Requirements for Completion of Award

Australian Capital Territory

Entry prior to 2006 satisfactory completion of:

• 2 units (20 credit points) of Education Foundation Studies;
• 2 units (20 credit points) of Elective Studies;
• 14 units (140 credit points) of Professional Studies.

Total of 180 credit points.

Total of 160 credit points for entry in 2006 plus field experience components.

Victoria

Victoria
Entry prior to 2006 satisfactory completion of:

• 3 units (30 credit points) of Education Foundation Studies;
• 2 units (20 credit points) of Elective Studies;
• 11 units (130 credit points) of Professional Studies;
• Field Experience

Total of 170-180 credit points..

Total of 160 credit points for entry in 2006 plus field experience components.

Queensland

Entry prior to 2006 satisfactory completion of:

• Education Foundation Studies;
• Elective Studies;
• Professional Studies.

Total of 160 credit points for students enrolling in 2006.

For students who commenced prior to 2006, the number of credit points varies with year of entry into the program.