Bachelor of Education (Primary)
2025 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: 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
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
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 [No longer available]
| 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]
| 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]
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 |
OR
| EEH315 | Teaching Sexuality and Relationship Education |
OR
| 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 |
OR
| 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
Choose two Specialisation units from:
| SIT176 | Mathematical Reasoning and Investigation |
| SIT103 | Database Fundamentals |
| ESM215 | Problem Solving, Modelling and Mathematical Applications |
| MAF101 | Fundamentals of Finance |
Specialisation Unit 2
| ESM303 | Primary Mathematics Lesson Study |
Specialisation Unit 3
| ECP400 | Building Leadership Capacity in the School and Wider Community |
Primary Specialisations - Science (SP-E359003)
Specialisation Unit 1
| SLE111 | Cells and Genes |
OR
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
OR
| 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.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.