Associate Degree of Education
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Associate Degree of Education |
| Course Credit Points | 16 |
| Deakin course code | E200 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2026 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 This course map is for students articulating from E200 to E359 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 6 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Begin your journey to teaching by studying an Associate Degree of Education at Deakin – ranked #3 in Australia and #13 in the world for education and educational research.
Whether you are looking to forge a path in education, have never studied at university, or you are not sure if you meet the entry requirements, this degree is for you. It is designed to introduce you to what it's like to study at Deakin and to set you on the pathway to becoming a teacher.
You will complete core and elective units from our undergraduate teaching; Bachelor of Education (Primary). You can look forward to also developing the foundation skills required to succeed at university – digital literacy, teamwork, communication, critical thinking abilities and more.
Do you want to create a pathway to your ultimate career as a teacher?
Immerse yourself in the Deakin environment and experience our world-class teaching facilities while benefiting from a supported entry into tertiary study. Your study will enable you to gain deeper understanding of the following disciplines:
- arts education
- Australian history
- humanities
- literacy
- maths
- physical education
- science.
You will complete a professional experience unit, that will prepare you to teach in real-world primary school settings during your bachelor degree.
Once you have successfully completed your associate degree, you will be on track to step into one of Deakin's undergraduate teaching degrees to become a fully registered teacher.
Before beginning your further studies, prospective teaching students need to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.
Please note upon completion of the Associate Degree of Education you can go into any Deakin undergraduate teaching course (Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, or Bachelor of Education (Primary)). however, you will receive the most credit if you enter Bachelor of Education (Primary).
* U.S. News & World Report, Best Global Universities Subject Rankings 2025–2026
Career opportunities
As a graduate of the Associate Degree of Education, you will have guaranteed entry into our Bachelor of Early Childhood Education or Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, or Bachelor of Education (Primary) and credit towards this degree, provided you successfully complete the Casper test.
An associate degree equips you with the skills to succeed at both university and in your future career. Open yourself to employment opportunities as a qualified teacher or across a range of fields, including:
- education
- government departments
- health sector
- media
- private academies/agencies
- public service.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
The Associate Degree of Education involves compulsory school placements of 5-days in year 2.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Pathways
This course is designed to support your pathway into one of Deakin’s undergraduate teaching degrees. On successful completion of the Associate Degree of Education, you may articulate into one of the degrees below and be eligible for guaranteed entry, subject to meeting the entry requirements of that course.
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
You may receive up to 12 credit points of Recognition of prior learning for units undertaken in E200 Associate Degree of Education. Completion of both the associate degree and the Bachelor of Education (Primary) can be undertaken in 5-years full-time.
Bachelor of Health and Physical Education
You will not be eligible for credit of Recognition of prior learning for units undertaken in E200 Associate Degree of Education. Completion of both the associate degree and the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education can be undertaken in 6-year full-time.
^ All Applicants into a Deakin teaching degree must successfully complete an additional selection tool for non-academic attributes. Deakin University is using the Casper assessment tool. Casper is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply theoretical knowledge and skills in education to an emerging understanding of curriculum and pedagogy appropriate to the discipline-specific teaching and learning needs of students |
| Communication | Use oral, written and electronic communication skills to coherently present knowledge and ideas in a range of educational contexts |
| Digital literacy | Navigate a range of digital technologies in order to locate, analyse, synthesise and communicate complex information |
| Critical thinking | Critically analyse and evaluate educational and scholarly materials in order to articulate rationales and philosophies for approaches to teaching and learning: curriculum, pedagogy and assessment |
| Problem solving | Use knowledge and skills in education to generate creative, innovative and authentic solutions to a range of real-world problems encountered in learning environment and communities |
| Self-management | Act with autonomy, responsibility and accountability in learning and working independently and reflectively to deepen professional skills and knowledge of contemporary educational contexts |
| Teamwork | Apply the theories of teamwork in order to work and learn collaboratively with others and as a member of a team in professional and scholarly contexts |
| Global citizenship | Apply emerging knowledge and skills in education to design innovative learning experiences that address social justice, equity, diversity and ethical issues |
Approved at Faculty Board 2019
Course rules
To complete the Associate Degree of Education you must pass 16 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit- point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- ESL010 Science Education Lab Safety Induction (0-credit- point compulsory unit) in your first year of study
- 4 credit points of core foundation units
- 12 credit points of core units
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full- time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Year 1
Compulsory 0-credit point units
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
To be completed in the first year of study:
| ESL010 | Science Education Lab Safety Induction (0-credit-point compulsory unit) |
Foundation units
| EAD110 | Communication Skills for Study and Work |
| EAD111 | Digital Literacy: Finding, Evaluating and Interpreting Information |
| EAD113 | Teamwork: Working Constructively with Others |
Core units
| EES102 | Scientific Knowledge for Primary Teachers |
| ECL101 | Science of Reading |
| ESM102 | Mathematical Knowledge for Primary Teachers |
| IND202 | Decolonising Teaching and Learning: Recognition, Relationships and Reconciliation on Unceded Lands |
| EEO101 | Teaching Primary Humanities 1 |
Year 2
Foundation Units:
| EAD112 | Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Using Analysis to Develop Solutions |
Core Units:
| EEH116 | Teaching Primary Health and Physical Education |
| ETP103 | Foundations of Teaching: Becoming a Professional |
| EES245 | Teaching Primary Science 1 |
| ETP104 | Foundations of Teaching: Planning for Teaching and Learning |
| ECA215 | Teaching Primary Creative and Performing Arts 1 |
| EDU210 | The Brain and Learning |
| EWB205 | Creating an Inclusive Primary Classroom |
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.