Bachelor of Education (Primary)
2023 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2023 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Education (Primary) |
| Course Map | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| CRICOS course code | 015204J Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Warrnambool |
| Deakin course code | E359 |
| Approval status | This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7. |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Fees and charges
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
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). You’ll develop 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, you will learn how to teach across a wide range of subjects and specialisations, then discover how to put your skills into practice in the classroom.
With the option to combine your personal interests with a range of curriculum areas, you will undertake placements that enrich and solidify your studies. As a result, 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.
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
- language and literacy
- mathematics and numeracy
- science.
Differentiate yourself from other graduates with our International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) elective sequence pathway and complete some of your placements in IBPYP schools. This Deakin course is the only undergraduate teacher education program in Victoria to be accredited with the International Baccalaureate Organisation and to offer a recognised pathway for teaching in the IBPYP.
Broaden your perspective by taking part in our Global Education Program.* Through this program, you will learn more about Aboriginal culture and have the chance to experience remote 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.
* Overseas study programs to be confirmed in 2023 and beyond, subject to government travel restrictions.
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’ll be prepared to register with VIT as a registered educator.
Career opportunities
Studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) will equip you with the skills and knowledge for a successful career in education. Upon graduation you’ll be ready to teach in primary schools within the government, Catholic or independent education sectors. Graduates may also find work in other fields including:
- community services
- government agencies
- not-for-profit organisations.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
Participation requirements
Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.
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
Professional Experience Placement
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. Refer to the relevant unit guide.
Students are required to apply for a Working with Children Check. Apply online as a volunteer.
For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience office.
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
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.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and 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.
Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.
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 judgments 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 qualify for the award of Bachelor of Education (Primary), students must complete 32 credit points of study as follows:
- 26 core units;
- 4 credit points of primary subject specialisation
- 2 credit points of electives
- AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- No more than 10 credit points of units at level 1
- A minimum of 10 credit points of units at level 3 or above
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 are also required to complete two 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 required to meet academic progress and conduct requirements.
Contact Student Services for further unit enrolment advice.
* Students who do not pass the DTPA must seek advice from the course director.
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 (IB PYP or 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 IB PYP option, 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.
IB PYP Teaching and Learning Certificate*
If you would like to be eligible to apply for the IB PYP Teaching and Learning Certificate from the IBO, in addition to your core coursework you will need to successfully complete
- two elective units:
| EEG402 | Teaching in a Global World |
| ECL307 | Introduction to the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) 2023 is the final year of offer for this unit |
- your two x Yr 3 Professional Experience placements in IB PYP schools.
*NOTE: The IB PYP Teaching and Learning Certificate will no longer be offered to students from 2024.
Eligibility to apply for the IB PYP Teaching and Learning Certificate from the IBO, will require successful completion of EEG402 in Trimester 3 2023 (in addition to your required Professional Experience placements in IB PYP schools), as future offerings of EEG402 are not guaranteed from 2024.
Inclusive Education Elective Sequence
If you would like to complete the Inclusive Education sequence, you will need to successfully complete
- two elective units:
| EEI202 | Communication and Diverse Learners (Not offered 2023) |
| 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 | EEH301Nutrition, Growth and Development for Health Educators EEH315Teaching Sexuality and Relationship Education |
| Humanities | EEG302Place, Culture and Teaching in a Global Context EEG402Teaching in a Global World ASP216Ethics in Global Society |
| Indigenous Knowledges | IND102Aboriginal Australian Stories and Songlines IND203Caring for Country IND302Working 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 | ECL350Teaching EAL/D Students ALC104 Media Genres: Negotiating Textual forms and Pleasures [No longer available for enrolment] ACF213Contemporary Asian Cinema: Texts, Contexts and Experiences (replaces ALC104) ALL154Power and Politics in Children's Literature ALM101Making Social Media |
| Mathematics and Numeracy | SIT190Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs SIT191Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis SIT192Discrete Mathematics SIT194Introduction to Mathematical Modelling |
| Science | EES301Digital Technologies: Programming and Robotics |
| Special Educational Needs | EDU201Educational Psychology EEI302Introduction to Creative Arts Therapy Approaches and Practices HDS106Diversity, Disability and Social Inclusion |
| Visual Arts | EEI302Introduction to Creative Arts Therapy Approaches and Practices ACV101Painting in the Visual Arts ACV115Drawing and the Body in Visual Arts |
Specialisations
| Primary Specialisation | Specialisation Unit 1 | Specialisation Unit 2 | Specialisation Unit 3 | Specialisation Unit 4 (commencing 2020) |
| Health and Physical Education SP-E359007 | EEH203Sport and Exercise Practice | HBS110Health Psychology (Behaviour Change) | EEH302Health and Physical Education in the Curriculum | ECP400Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community |
| Languages SP-E359008 | Diploma of Languages units^ | Diploma of Languages units^ | ECL306Teaching and Learning Languages in Primary Contexts | ECP400Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community |
| Language and Literacy SP-E359002 | ALL153Literature for Children and Young Adults | ALL230Adapting Children's Texts Across Media | ECL351Diversity, Language and Literacy | ECP400Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community |
| Mathematics and Numeracy SP-E359001 | SIT176Mathematical Reasoning and Investigation | ESM215Problem Solving, Modelling and Mathematical Applications | ESM303Primary Mathematics Lesson Study | ECP400Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community |
| Science SP-E359003 | SLE111Cells and Genes OR SLE133Chemistry in Our World OR SLE103Ecology and the Environment | SLE123Physics for the Life Sciences | EES300Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education | ECP400Building 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 pre-requisite for ECL306. 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
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.
These experiences are supplementary to the 80-days of required professional experience and is organised by the Unit Teams.
Professional Experience Placement
Students are required to apply for a Working with Children Check. Apply online as a volunteer at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/.
For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience office.
Course duration - additional information
Delays in completing the placement could mean that the course will take longer to complete than the stated duration.
International students are required to study full-time to complete their course within the duration registered on CRICOS.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
Pre-service teachers from the Bachelor of Education (Primary) have opportunities to complete their third year placement or a component in the elective unit EEG302 – Place, Culture and Teaching in a Global Context. Eligibility for a GEP is restricted to students who have successfully completed a local practicum and are in at least the third year of their four year degree.