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Bachelor Of Science :: Bachelor Of Teaching :: Undergraduate :: Courses

Bachelor of Science :: Bachelor of Teaching

Teachers are all class!! They make a vital contribution to individual student lives and consequently to society in general. Each of us remembers the impact that great teachers have made on our lives. Hollywood has not missed this point and continually reminds us of the contribution of teachers with films like To Sir with Love, Dead Poets Society, Mona Lisa Smile, Mr Holland's Opus, and Children of a Lesser God. Avondale College seeks to support, develop, and continue this contribution by operating teacher education courses that prepare skilled Christian teachers, who are caring, and committed professionals in the contemporary workplace. Why not take up the NSW Government's challenge to 'Teach... and make a difference'.

Secondary education degrees are designed to prepare graduates for careers in secondary teaching. 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.

Avondale

Since its commencement in the late 1890s Avondale has offered teacher education programs. Today, Avondale graduates can be found in the private, independent and state school systems in Australia and New Zealand, and in schools operating in many other countries around the world. There is an increasing demand for Christian teachers. Graduates from Avondale are sought after by schools operating within the expanding Christian school sectors in Australia and New Zealand. No matter what school they find themselves in, Avondale graduates are making a difference and we are proud of the contribution that they make.

Courses in teacher education at Avondale are designed to foster an appropriate balance of personal and professional growth. While allowing for the unique expression of individual personality and respecting the right of individuals to free choice, Avondale is committed to supporting Christian ethics and values in its teacher education program

Why study at Avondale?

• Studies within a Christian context
  
• Small class sizes - know your lecturers personally
  
• Large range of instructional strategies
  
• Industry experience
  
• Links to nearby university campuses
  
• Strong professional experience component
  
• Staff strongly dedicated to assisting students achieve personal excellence
  

Each course in teacher education aims to provide a recognised qualification for entry into the teaching profession and fields of speciality that may be developed by experience and/or further study.

This goal will be achieved through:

• an introduction to the theoretical aspects of education.
  
• a familiarity with the practices and processes of teaching the various subjects of the school curriculum.
  
• classroom experience to reach a sufficient level of teacher skill and confidence to conduct his/her own classroom.
  
• in-depth study at the tertiary level in subjects that will serve as teaching fields or areas of individual development.
  
• a personal commitment to the purposes and practices of Christian education.
  

Accreditation

All Avondale Teacher Education degrees are accredited by the NSW Department of Education and Training.

The CRICOS registration numbers for the Secondary Education degrees are:
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching
Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Teaching
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching

State registration requirements

Endorsement of Avondale's Teacher Education courses by the New South Wales Government Teacher Qualification Advisory Panel qualifies graduates of the course for employment as teachers in the NSW State public system. Other Australian State governments have different requirements for teachers to become registered to teach in State schools, but normally registration in one State is considered as meeting the requirements for other States.

Information concerning certification requirements is available from the Dean of the Faculty. Students are advised to familiarise themselves with these requirements as responsibility for registration as a teacher rests with the student. This is particularly important for secondary education students.

Self disclosure & criminal record check

Current legislation requires Avondale students who will be engaged in professional experience involving children or young people to sign a self-disclosure form (Prohibited Persons Declaration) and consent to a criminal record check. All Avondale teacher education students are required to undergo these checks.

Course options

Bachelor of Education (Secondary) – BEd: 4-year degree
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching - BA/BTch: 4-year double degree
Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Teaching - BBus/Btch: 4-year double degree
Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching - BSc/BTch: 4-year double degree

Course components

Christian Studies subjects

These subjects are intended to contribute to the development of the caring and committed Christian teacher by allowing students to examine education from a holistic Christian perspective, and by encouraging them to explore the spiritual dimension of personhood and to act in a responsible Christian manner in every aspect of life.
In the education degrees the sequence is:
ED143 :: Christian Studies for Teachers I
CR243 :: Christian Studies II
ED343 :: Philosophy of Christian Education

Notes

1. SDA students may select the following alternative to CR243,:
   CY165 SDA History and Ministry of Ellen White
   
2. The following alternatives to CR243 are available to students of other faith traditions:
   NT160 :: Gospels A
   NT170 :: New Testament Epistles A
   EN223 :: The Bible as Literature - Distance Education
   EN264 :: Literature and Religion
   TH362 :: Comparative Religions
   

Discipline areas

Students may study to become secondary teachers in any of the following areas by enrolling in:

BEd (Secondary)

• Home Economics/Design and Technology
  
• Information Technology
  
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
  

BA/BTch

• English
  
• Geography
  
• History
  
• Mathematics
  
• Music
  
• Religious Studies
  
• Visual Arts
  

BBus/BTch

• Accounting
  
• Information Technology
  
• Management
  
• Marketing
  

BSc/BTch

• Biology
  
• Chemistry
  
• Food and Nutrition
  
• Geography
  
• Information Technology
  
• Mathematics
  
• Physics
  

Professional studies

The Professional Studies contribute 96 credit points and are common to each secondary education degree as follows:

Education subjects

ED158 :: Literacy and Numeracy for Teachers
ED216 :: Computers, Learning & Practitioner-based Research
ED260 :: Theories of Development and Learning
ED295 :: Multicultural Education & Indigenous Studies
ED300 :: Individual Differences & the Atypical Child

Education elective

In semester eight students choose one education elective from the following list:
ED303 :: Sociological Perspectives
ED342 :: TEACHING ENGLISH SECOND/OTHER LANGUAGE-METHODOLOGY
ED348 :: Teaching English as Second/Other Language (TESOL)
ED326 :: Music Education
ED344 :: Art Education
ED375 :: Science in Education
ED395 :: Health and Adolescence

In some courses, students are required or strongly recommended to choose a discipline specific elective that will further contribute to expertise in curricular applications in their chosen teaching field/s.

Curriculum studies

Curriculum Studies subjects focus on content and methods of teaching for the various teaching fields/specialisations in the secondary 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 competently in either government, independent, or church-related schools. The Curriculum Studies in particular discipline areas (subjects with CZ codes) are required for both the major and minor teaching fields.

Professional experience

The Professional Development and Experience subjects address the teaching strategies, skills and practices involved in teaching in the secondary classroom and provide opportunities for continuous school-based professional experience offering increased responsibilities within a variety of school settings, for periods of two to six weeks at a time. Students are involved in a total of 80 days of professional experience.

SP170 :: Professional Development & Experience IA
SP171 :: Professional Development & Experience IB
SP270 :: Professional Development & Experience II
SP370 :: Professional Development and Experience III
SP375 :: Professional Development & Experience IVA
SP376 :: Professional Development & Experience IVB

Course Structure

The BSc/BTch is a four-year program of 192 credit points combining studies in Science with professional studies in Education. The BSc strand and the BTch strand each contribute 96 credit points to the combined degree.

Admission requirements

Click here for general admission requirements for Avondale degree courses.
Additional requirements for the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching are as follows:

Biology

1. HSC (or equivalent) Chemistry, or
   
2. An HSC (or equivalent) Science subject and Chemistry Bridging Course, or
   
3. In the absence of HSC (or equivalent) Biology, a UAI of 70 and Chemistry Bridging Course or at least Year 11 Chemistry, or
   
4. Recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.
   
5. HSC (or equivalent) Biology is recommended.
   

Chemistry

1. HSC (or equivalent) Chemistry, or recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics, and
   
2. HSC (or equivalent) Mathematics, or recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.
   

Food and Nutrition

1. HSC (or equivalent) Chemistry, or
   
2. An HSC (or equivalent) Science subject and Chemistry Bridging Course, or
   
3. In the absence of HSC (or equivalent) Biology, a UAI of 70 and Chemistry Bridging Course or at least Year 11 Chemistry, or
   
4. Recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.
   
5. HSC (or equivalent) Biology is recommended.
   

Information Technology

1. HSC (or equivalent) Mathematics is recommended.
   

Mathematics

1. Recent HSC (or equivalent) Mathematics Extension 1, or recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.
   

Physics

1. HSC (or equivalent) Physics, or recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics and
   
2. HSC (or equivalent) Mathematics Extension 1, or recommendation of the Faculty of Science and Mathematics.
   

English language proficiency requirement

Applicants from a country where English is not the first language will need to demonstrate proficiency in English
to enter Secondary Education degrees and associated double degrees.
This may be done in one of the following ways:

1. Provide documentary evidence that all secondary schooling was conducted in the English language AND evidence of a satisfactory pass in English in a British 0-lever examination or local equivalent.
   
2. Obtain an overall IELTS score of 6.0 or better with no individual band score less than 6.0 in all Faculties except the Faculty of Nursing and Health; or
   
3. IELTS score of 6.5 or better with a written score of at least 6.5 and with no individual band score of 6.0 or less for applicants to courses in the Faculty of Nursing and Health; or
   
4. TOEFL score of 550 with no score less than 4.0 in the Test of Written English in all Faculties except the Faculty of Nursing and Health; or
   
5. TOEFL score of 575 with no score less than 4.5 in the Test of Written English for applicants to courses in the Faculty of Nursing and Health; or
   
6. Computer-based TOEFL score of 213 with no less than 4.0 in the essay rating in all Faculties except the Faculty of Nursing and Health; or
   
7. Computer-based TOEFL score of 230 with no less than 4.5 in the essay rating for applicants for courses in the Faculty of Nursing and Health; or
   
8. Successful completion within the last two years of at least two years of tertiary study conducted in the English language in Australia or another country in which English is the official language.
   

Applicants from other countries will have their qualifications assessed by the Admissions Office. Overseas applicants are also required to satisfy Australian Government visa requirements.

Teaching fields

Major and minor teaching fields
Biology
Chemistry
Food & Nutrition
Geography
Information Technology
Mathematics
Physics

Other majors may be available subject to timetable constraints and approval of the Deans of the Faculties of Science & Mathematics and Education.

Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching standard structure