Login

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



Sem
1 ED143 :: Christian Studies for Teachers I Discipline elective ED156 :: Communication and Information Management PP170 :: Professional Development & Experience IA
Professional Expeience (July, 2 weeks)
2 CP288 :: Curriculum Studies - Science & Technology I CP298 :: Curriculum Studies - Mathematics I ED295 :: Multicultural Education & Indigenous Studies PP171 :: Professional Development & Experience IB
Professional Experience (February, 2 weeks)
3 CR243 :: Christian Studies II ED260 :: Theories of Development and Learning CP225 :: Curriculum Studies - English I PP270 :: Professional Development & Experience IIA
Professional Experience (July, 3 weeks)
4 CP270 :: Curriculum Studies - Religion CP299 :: Curriculum Studies - Mathematics II CP285 :: Curriculum Studies - Human Society & Its Environment PP271 :: Professional Development & Experience IIB
Professional Experience (February, 2 weeks)
5 CP215 :: Curriculum Studies - Creative Arts I ED206 :: Computers, Learning and Curriculum Theory CP230 :: Curriculum Studies - Physical Education PP370 :: Professional Development & Experience IIIA
Professional Experience (July, 4 weeks)
6 CP216 :: Curriculum Studies - Creative Arts II Discipline elective CP226 :: Curriculum Studies - English II PP371 :: Professional Development & Experience IIIB
Professional Experience (February, 2 weeks)
7 CP231 :: Curriculum Studies - Personal Development & Health Discipline elective ED300 :: Individual Differences & the Atypical Child PP375 :: Professional Development & Experience IVA
Professional Experience (July–August, 6 weeks)
8 ED343 :: Philosophy of Christian Education ED300 :: Individual Differences & the Atypical Child CP289 :: Curriculum Studies - Science & Technology II PP376 :: Professional Development & Experience IVB