Bachelor of Education (Primary)

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Deakin course code	E359
Faculty	Faculty of Arts and Education
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool
Online	No
Duration	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent or 3 years full-time accelerated mode*
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025: Standard Accelerated Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	015204J Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
* An optional accelerated course structure is available in this course, allowing students to complete the course in 3 years duration by enrolling into 8 consecutive trimesters. Students undertaking the accelerated course structure are required to enrol in Trimester 3 of the first and second year of the course. All students are advised to seek course advice prior to attempting the accelerated course structure from Student Central. Students have until the start of Trimester 2 of Year 1 to decide whether to enrol into the accelerated course structure. The Languages specialisation and Inclusive Education Elective Sequence are unavailable in the accelerated course structure. International students on a student visa who complete the course earlier than the registered 4 year course duration will have their early completions reported to the Department of Home Affairs, resulting in their CoEs updating to ‘Finished’ status. International students who complete the course early are required to either enrol into another CRICOS registered course that is of the same AQF level as their visa was granted for or depart Australia within 28 days from the date of their early completion reporting. International students are advised to seek visa advice by contacting a Registered Migration Agent on the MARA website.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Build a solid foundation in primary curriculum and graduate in-demand and classroom-ready when you study Deakin’s accredited Bachelor of Education (Primary).

Gain essential knowledge and real-world experience during guaranteed placements, ready to inspire and guide children through their primary learning years. From mathematics, science, the arts and literacy, learn how to teach across a range of subjects and specialisations, then discover how to put your skills into practice in the classroom.

You will graduate qualified to teach from prep to Year 6, with the confidence and ability to make an impact on the learning of your students.

Fast-track your career with our accelerated learning option. Achieve a four-year equivalent qualification in only three years of full-time study if you undertake selected units in Trimester 3. You can graduate confidently, meeting the requirements for registration.

Want to inspire the next generation and make a real difference as a primary school educator?

Our industry-shaped courses are developed and reviewed with input from professional educators and the education sector, meaning your learning will be highly relevant to your future teaching career. Build your confidence under the expert guidance of experienced staff who are recognised leaders and innovators in their fields.

Our Professional Experience Program will give you real-life teaching experience with guaranteed placements throughout your degree. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, we will arrange at least 80 days of placements for you in schools where you will learn from experienced teachers. You will also have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for your teaching career.

Choose a specialisation and develop advanced skills in a priority area of the primary curriculum, such as:

health and physical education
languages (not available as an accelerated completion)
language and literacy
mathematics and numeracy
science.

Broaden your perspective by choosing to take part in our rural, regional, remote, or metropolitan placements. You will have the opportunity to learn within a diverse range of communities in Australia, or learn about intercultural education when you travel overseas – all while gaining credit towards your degree.

Before beginning your 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.

Indicative student workload

Typically 150-hours of learning and assessment activities per Deakin credit point (as per AQF Explanation).

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Education (Primary) is accredited with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a nationally accredited course. Upon graduation, you will be prepared to register with VIT as a registered educator.

Career opportunities

Deakin’s Bachelor of Education (Primary) will equip you with the practical skills, classroom experience and networks needed to begin a successful career in education. You’ll graduate ready to teach in primary schools setting in the public, Catholic or independent education sectors. Graduates may also find work across a diverse range of fields including in:

community services
government agencies
not-for-profit organisations.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

Participation requirements

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Teacher Education Graduation requirements

Students undertaking an initial teacher education course must pass an approved literacy and numeracy test in order to be eligible to graduate and apply for teacher registration. Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test.

Working with Children Check

Students will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.

Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.

Inherent requirements

It is expected that all students will be able to abide by, and ensure their behaviour is in accordance with the Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct.

Immunisations

Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.

For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience Office.

Pathways

Don’t quite meet the entry requirements for this course? The Associate Degree of Education (E200) can be used as a guaranteed entry pathway into the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and counts as credit towards your first year of study*. You’ll gain a solid foundation of relevant knowledge and be ready to transition seamlessly into your goal degree.

The Bachelor of Education (Primary) provides an approved pathway from the Associate Degree of Education (E200)*. On successful completion of the Associate Degree of Education students are eligible to articulate (or pathway) into the Bachelor of Education (Primary) into the second year of the course.

Applicants who have completed the Advanced Diploma of Rudolph Steiner Education may articulate into the Bachelor of Education (Primary). Applicants are advised to contact the Faculty (details above) for course advice and credit arrangements.

All Applicants into E359 Bachelor of Education (Primary) must complete an additional selection tool for non-academic attributes. Deakin University is using the Casper test. Casper is an online, video-scenario based situational judgement test, designed to measure non-academic suitability for teaching.

* Specific units of study must be completed within E200 for full credit to be granted. You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system. We recommend speaking with one of our student advisers before selecting your units. Students are also required to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career – as part of the entry requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Primary).

Contact Hours

For each unit of study, you are expected to participate in at least three hours of formal contact each week of trimester. A minimum of 6-hours of study time in addition to the formal contact is also expected for each unit each week.

You will complete a minimum of 80-days supervised school experience over the duration of the course, providing hands-on experience in a primary school setting.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Acquire broad and coherent theoretical knowledge and understanding of education and the application of this knowledge and skills in teaching and learning, particularly for primary school contexts
Communication	Engage in appropriately diverse effective interpersonal, oral, written, digital and non-verbal communication with students, their parents or caregivers, colleagues and other stakeholders to demonstrate empathy, develop rapport and build professional teacher/ student/ parent/ caregiver relationships with trust for quality learning and teaching.
Digital literacy	Select, collect, use and create a range of digital teaching and learning resources and technologies to support student engagement and learning.
Critical thinking	Critically evaluate and synthesise contemporary research and theoretical perspectives relating to teaching, student learning, and using diverse assessment data to make judgements about the use of appropriate teaching, learning and assessment strategies.
Problem solving	Critically reflect on professional practice to generate creative, innovative and authentic solutions to a range of real-world problems encountered in the learning and teaching contexts and professional learning communities.
Self-management	Actively work and learn independently with responsibility taken for professional actions and judgements
Teamwork	Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals, families and members of the wider community who share responsibility for student learning and their wellbeing.
Global citizenship	Engage in professional, intercultural and ethical approaches that addresses social justice, equity, diversity, and sustainability issues.

Approved by Faculty Board

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Education (Primary) students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first year of study
ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first year of study
26 credit points of core units
4 credit points of primary subject specialisation
2 credit points of course electives
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 10 credit points at level 3 or above

academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Note:

This course includes 80-days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA)*. This must be complete in the final year of study. Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards. * Students who do not pass the DTPA must seek advice from the course director.
Students are also required to complete 2 zero (0) credit point units ELN010 and ELN011 as part of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) in order to graduate from their course. Students are expected to attempt the tests within the first year of their course. Students who do not attempt the tests within their first year may be unable to progress with their studies until an attempt has been made.

Course structure

Core Units

Year 1

ELN010

Australian Literacy Test (zero (0) credit points)

ELN011

Australian Numeracy Test (zero (0) credit points)

ECL101

Understanding Early Reading Development

EES102

Foundations of Science Knowledge and Practice

ETP101

Perspectives On Learning and Teachers' Work

ETP102

Social Contexts of Education

EEO101

Humanities Through Experiential Pedagogy

SIT106

Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics

ECA100

Engaging and Exploring Arts Education

EEH116

Primary Physical Education

Year 2

ECL210

Multiliterate Learners in Early Years Environments

EEH217

Student Health and Wellbeing

ESM211

Children and Mathematics: Developing Mathematical Concepts

ETP200

Classroom Relationships

IND202

Australian Indigenous Education: Recognition, Relationships and Reconciliation

EES245

Primary Science Education 1

Plus:

2 credit points of specialisation units from the table below;

Year 3

ESM310

Teachers and Mathematics: Creating an Effective Classroom

ETP300

Educating Students with Additional Needs

ETP303

Curriculum and Pedagogy

ECL310

Multiliterate Learners in Middle Years Environments

EEA311

Primary Arts Education: Focussed Study

Plus:

2 x 1 credit point elective units (Inclusive Education pathway students take specific elective units)
1 credit point specialisation unit from the table below;

Year 4

EEO410

Humanities Inquiry Pedagogy

ECL410

Literacy Teacher - Researchers in New Times

EES440

Primary Science Education 2

ESM410

Professional Practice and Mathematics: Designing An Inclusive Program

EST400

Primary Technology Education: Creativity and Design

ETP400

Assessment: Ways of Knowing Learners

ETP403

University-To-Work Transition

Plus:

1 credit point specialisation unit:

ECP400

Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community

Electives

In your course you have two electives. These can be made up by completing the Inclusive Education option OR a combination of two units from the recommended electives listed below.

You will be able to deepen your studies in your chosen specialisation or develop breadth through pursuing studies in other area(s) of interest. However you are not limited to this list for your electives.

Inclusive Education Elective Sequence

If you would like to complete the Inclusive Education sequence, you will need to successfully complete

two elective units:

EIE702

Teaching and Learning in the Inclusive Classroom

ECE404

Inclusive Education for Young Children

You will be supported to focus on inclusive education practices during your Year 3 Professional Experience placements

Recommended Electives

These recommended electives have been clustered in discipline areas but you may select from two different disciplines.

Health and Physical Education

EEH301

Nutrition, Growth and Development for Health Educators

EEH315

Teaching Sexuality and Relationship Education

Humanities

EEG302 Place, Culture and Teaching in a Global Context [No longer available]

EEG402

Teaching in a Global World

ASP216

Ethics in Global Society

Indigenous Knowledges

IND102

Aboriginal Australian Stories and Songlines

IND203

Caring for Country

IND302

Working Alongside Aboriginal Communities

Languages

Concurrent enrolment in a Diploma of Languages with up to two credit points given for two electives on evidence of completion.

Language and Literacy

ALC104 Media Genres: Negotiating Textual forms and Pleasures [No longer available for enrolment]

ECL350

Teaching EAL/D Students

ACF213

Contemporary Asian Cinema: Texts, Contexts and Experiences

ALL154

Critical Issues in Children's Literature

ALM101

Making Social Media

Mathematics and Numeracy

SIT190

Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs

SIT191

Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis

SIT192

Discrete Mathematics

SIT194

Introduction to Mathematical Modelling

Science

EES301 Digital Technologies: Programming and Robotics [No longer available for enrolment]

Special Education Needs

EDU201

Educational Psychology

EEI302

Introduction to Creative Arts Therapy Approaches and Practices

HDS106

Diversity, Disability and Social Inclusion

Visual Arts

EEI302

Introduction to Creative Arts Therapy Approaches and Practices

ACV101

Painting in the Visual Arts

ACV115

Drawing and the Body in Visual Arts

Specialisations

Primary Specialisation - Health and Physical Education (SP-E359007)

Specialisation Unit 1

EEH203

Sport and Exercise Practice

EEH315

Teaching Sexuality and Relationship Education

HBS109

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Specialisation Unit 2

HBS110

Health Psychology (Behaviour Change)

Specialisation Unit 3

EEH302

Health and Physical Education in the Curriculum

Specialisation Unit 4

ECP400

Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community

Primary Specialisation - Languages (SP-E359008) (Unavailable in Accelerated E359 course offering)

Specialisation Unit 1

Diploma of Languages units^

Specialisation Unit 2

Diploma of Languages units^

Specialisation Unit 3

ETL710

Teaching and Learning in Languages Classrooms

Specialisation Unit 4

ECP400

Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community

Primary Specialisation - Language and Literacy (SP-E359002)

Specialisation Unit 1

ALL153

Literature for Children and Young Adults

Specialisation Unit 2

ALL230

Adapting Children's Texts Across Media

ALL260

Australian Literature

Specialisation Unit 3

ECL351

Diversity, Language and Literacy

Specialisation Unit 4

ECP400

Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community

Primary Specialisation - Mathematics and Numeracy (SP-E359001)

Specialisation Unit 1

SIT176

Mathematical Reasoning and Investigation

SIT103

Database Fundamentals

Specialisation Unit 2

ESM215

Problem Solving, Modelling and Mathematical Applications

MAF101

Fundamentals of Finance

Specialisation Unit 3

ESM303

Primary Mathematics Lesson Study

Specialisation Unit 4

ECP400

Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community

Primary Specialisations - Science (SP-E359003)

Specialisation Unit 1

SLE111

Cells and Genes

SLE133

Chemistry in Our World

SLE103

Ecology and the Environment

Specialisation Unit 2

SLE123

Physics for the Life Sciences

Specialisation Unit 3

EES300

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Specialisation Unit 4

ECP400

Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community

^ Deakin has four options for languages study: Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish:
Concurrent enrolments in A221 Diploma of Arabic or A222 Diploma of Chinese, or A223 Diploma of Indonesian, or A224 Diploma of Spanish or equivalent with up to 4 credit points of RPL are given upon the completion. Completion of 3 units from any of A221 or A222 or A223 or A224 and enrolment in one further unit of A221, A222, A223 or A224 or equivalent are prerequisite for ETL710. The Diploma can be undertaken concurrently with another course and is of 3 years part-time duration with eight credit points. There are two options for each Diploma: i) for students with no background in the language; or ii) an advanced study for those with Year 12 level (or equivalent) in the language.

Work experience

Professional Experience Placement

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is undertaken under the banner of Professional Experience Placements; however, it is important to note the other activities that have been undertaken throughout the review period that contribute to WIL outcomes. Students in ECL410 and EES440 complete these units through an embedded school-based delivery model to support the application of knowledge in practice and with the support of classroom-based teachers.

Students will satisfactorily complete 80-days of professional experience placement in primary education settings, as outlined below:

Year 1: 5-days days in primary school settings

Year 2: 10 days in primary school settings

Year 3: 10 and 15 days (25 days in total) in primary school settings

Year 4: 2x20 days (40 days in total) in primary school settings

The School of Education Professional Experience Office makes all arrangements for preservice teacher placements. The number of professional experience days align with requirements of external regulatory authorities (Victorian Institute of Teaching VIT).

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.