Bachelor Of Education (primary) :: Undergraduate :: Courses
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree is designed to prepare primary teacher graduates to competently teach the entire range of K–6/7 key learning areas (KLAs). Graduates are qualified to teach in the Seventh-day Adventist Church school system both in Australia and overseas, as well as in the wider educational sector of government and non-government schools. The honours option allows selected students to complete a program in research methodology and conduct their own research under supervision. Furthermore, this program enhances the efforts of high potential students to influence professional practice through research and facilitates access for students to proceed to research-based studies at Masters or Doctoral level.
Duration
Four years full-time or equivalent part-time.
Credit points
192 credit points.
Mode of delivery
On campus.
Accreditation
The degrees are accredited by the NSW Department of Education and Training.
Entry requirements
The general entry requirements for Avondale College degree courses are stated in the Academic Policies section of the Handbook.
General Admission Requirements
Course structure
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is an integrated course of 192 credit points normally spread over four years of full-time study. The course requirements include 105 days of professional experience between semesters in February and July of each year. The course is comprised of Christian Studies, Discipline electives, curriculum studies, education studies, and professional development and experience.
Christian Studies
These subjects address the religious, ethical and social value emphases of Avondale College’s philosophy of education derived from its Seventh-day Adventist faith tradition.
In the education degrees the sequence is:
*SDA students may select the following alternative to CR243:
#The following alternatives to CR243 are available to students of other faiths:
All students may substitute an approved subject from the Faculty of Theology for either CR243.
Discipline electives
Primary education students may select three undergraduate-level subjects chosen from outside the Faculty of Education. These subjects contribute to expertise in a teaching field or to personal development. Discipline electives are normally taken in either one or two teaching fields. However, students are encouraged to specialise by taking all three of their Discipline electives from one key learning area (KLA) of the primary school curriculum. Students who choose this option will have their specialisation acknowledged on their academic transcript.
Curriculum studies
Curriculum studies focus on content and methods of teaching for the key learning areas of the primary school curriculum. Students are familiarised with both NSW State and Seventh-day Adventist syllabus documents with the intention that they should be prepared to teach effectively in either government, independent, or church-related schools.
Education subjects
Education subjects provide a theoretical base to the teaching/learning process.
Education electives
Education electives are subjects chosen from within the Faculty of Education, which contribute to the professional development of the trainee teacher. Students are to choose one of the following.
Professional development and experience subjects
Professional development and experience subjects address the teaching strategies, skills and practices involved in teaching in the primary classroom and provide opportunities for continuous school-based professional experience, offering increasing responsibilities within a variety of school settings for periods of two to six weeks at a time. The course requires a total of 105 days of professional experience.
Summary of minimum requirements in the BEd (Primary) degree
| Component of course |
Credit Points |
| Christian Studies Subjects |
18 |
| Discipline Elective |
18 |
| Education Subjects |
36 |
| Curriculum Subjects |
72 |
| Professional Development and experience |
48 |
| TOTALS |
192 |
Discipline electives
Learning Area (KLA) Specialisations
Students may choose from two different areas or specialise by choosing all three of their discipline electives from the same key learning area (KLA) of the Primary School curriculum. If the student chooses to specialise, the three discipline electives (18 credit points) will be combined with the compulsory curriculum studies subject in that key learning area to form a 24 credit point specialisation. Normally two 100-level subjects must be taken and followed by a 200-level subject. This specialisation will be acknowledged on the transcript. Suggested sequences include:
Specialisation in English KLA
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
For this specialisation students may choose all of their subjects from either Communication or English, or a combination of subjects from both Communication and English.
Communication
English
Specialisation in Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) KLA
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
For this specialisation students may choose all of their subjects from either Geography or History, or a combination of subjects from both Geography and History.
Geography
History
Students not intending to take 200-levels in History, may select:
Specialisation in Creative Arts KLA—Option 1 (Music)
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
Specialisation in Creative Arts KLA—Option 2 (Visual Arts)
Quotas may apply for some of these subjects
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
or choose from the following list. Note that if more than one of these subjects is taken, a given specialty module cannot be taken more than once. Students intending to progress to 200-level in Visual Arts should follow the regular sequence in Visual Arts as listed above.
Specialisation in Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PD/H/PE) KLA
Quotas may apply for some of these subjects.
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
For this specialisation students may choose all of their subjects from either PDH or from PE, or a combination of subjects from both PDH and PE.
Personal Development and Health
Physical Education
Specialisation in Mathematics KLA
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
NOTE: Available to those who only wish to do one or two subjects in Mathematics
Specialisation in Science and Technology KLA
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
For this specialisation students may choose all of their subjects from either Biology or Chemistry or Physics, or a combination of subjects from two or all of the sciences.
Biology
(Subject choice must be discussed with the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics)
Physics
(Subject choice must be discussed with the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics)
NOTE: Available to those who wish to do only one Physics subject
Specialisation in Religion KLA
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
Specialisation in Information Technology
(not specifically a KLA, but useful across all KLA and school settings)
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
Accounting Option
Choose up to 18 credit points from:
Degree structures
The standard course structure for the BEd (Primary) degree follows. Variants are available from course coordinator. Flexibility in the sequence of most subjects is possible.
Bachelor of Education (Primary) Standard Structure