Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching

The Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching (BSc/BTch) course is for those wanting to teach in Christian, independent and state school systems in both Australia and overseas. Avondale's BSc/BTch is a highly practical degree that is designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills for a career in secondary science and mathematics teaching. 

This course is designed to be specific for teaching areas and electives from within the Science related teaching fields. 

At Avondale you are given the opportunity to complete one of your professional teaching experiences in a developing country. In the past this has taken teams of Avondale students to Cambodia, India, Nepal and The Kingdom of Tonga.

If you want to combine your love for Science and Mathematics you can choose from the following Science related teaching areas: 

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Food Technology
• Mathematics
• Mathematics/Physics
• Science

You can graduate with the ability to teach in two Science related teaching areas by completing a double major or major and minor selected from the above list.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching course, graduates will be able to:

• synthesise their personal and professional beliefs into a worldview that enables them to be effective and ethical teacher in Christian and other schools;
• create quality-learning experiences for a diverse range of students;
• construct academically rigorous, developmentally appropriate and socially equitable curricula in their discipline areas;
• apply principles of assessment, feedback and reporting to students, parents and other stakeholders;
• create and maintain safe and supportive learning environments;
• engage within their professional arena to understand current trends in their discipline area and in education both in Australia and internationally;
• embed the general capabilities of the Australian curriculum in their teaching (literacy and numeracy, information and communication technologies, critical and creative thinking, personal and social capability, ethical and cultural understanding);
• promote personal wellbeing practices as described by positive psychology and lifestyle medicine;
• create knowledge through research in an educational context;
• contribute to their community through service.

BSc/BTch graduates leave with the skills and potential to gain employment as a:

• Secondary School Teacher
• Secondary Science Teacher
• Tutor

To be eligible for entry into the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching, you must qualify for admission. General admission is based on your academic background. There are also specific admissions requirements for this course.

GENERAL ADMISSION CRITERIA

General admission requirements are met by any of the following:

1. Applicants with higher education study
   • Successful completion of at least one (1) semester (typically four (4) subjects) of a higher education degree/diploma; or
   • Successful completion of a bridging or enabling course, or other recognised tertiary preparation course; or
   • Successful completion of the first one (1) or two (2) semesters of the Diploma of General Studies
2. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
   • Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate IV level or higher.
3. Applicants with work and life experience
   • Appropriate scores in both the uniTEST and the Tertiary Online Writing Assessment (TOWA); or
   • An appropriate score in both the Multiple Choice and the Written English Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).
4. Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)
   • ATAR of 63.00*; or
   • OP of 15 or less; or
   • Satisfactory completion of Year 13 with NCEA Level 3 results, identifying University Entrance attainment; or
   • Successful completion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with a minimum of 24 points; or
   • Overseas secondary qualifications considered equivalent to Australian studies, as stated in the Admission to Higher Education Undergraduate Courses Policy
   
   *After adjustment factors have been applied

SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA

Most disciplines do not have specific admission requirements. Those that do are:

• Completed Personal Statement for Initial Teaching Training
• Chemistry: Recent HSC Chemistry (or equivalent) or recommendation from the School of Science and Mathematics and HSC Mathematics (or equivalent) or recommendation from the School of Science and Mathematics.
• Mathematics: Recent HSC Mathematics Extension 1 (or equivalent) or recommendation from the School of Science and Mathematics.
• Physics: Recent HSC Physics (or equivalent) or recommendation from the School of Science and Mathematics and HSC Mathematics Extension 1 (or equivalent) or recommendation from the School of Science and Mathematics.

POST ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Working with children check(s)
• Child protection awareness training
• ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training
• National Literacy and Numeracy Test (LANTITE)
• Fitness for Teaching

For more information, visit the post-admission requirements for teacher education students.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Overseas applicants will have their entry qualifications assessed in accordance with the Admission to Higher Education Undergraduate Courses Policy as well as the International Students Policy

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to demonstrate proficiency in English, as stated in the Admission to Higher Education Undergraduate Courses Policy

Course duration: Four years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
Study mode: On-campus with distance education available for some units

Maximum time to complete: 10 years

The BSc/BTch course is designed to successfully prepare secondary teachers by combining studies in science and mathematics with studies in education. It consists of thirty-two 6 credit point units (192 credit points) studied over eight semesters full-time or the equivalent part-time. A full year of discipline units is completed prior to the first scheduled professional teaching experience to ensure teachers have adequate knowledge to successfully complete their first teaching experience. The course composition is set out below.

The course structure is based on eight semesters (each of 13 weeks in duration), with four units normally taught in each semester.

The course is comprised of:

• 17 Education Units (13 Core Education Units + 4 Curriculum and Pedagogical Studies Units)
• 14 Discipline Units (This can be completed in different ways and is shown below)
• 1 Core Discipline Unit (WHPE10101 Foundations of Wellbeing)

Secondary Students within the BSc/BTch normally complete their discipline units as shown below:

Double Major

6 x Units to make up a major in one area of study
6 x Units to make up a major in another area of study
1 x Science Elective Units (depending on combination of major and minor chosen)
1 x Core Mathematics Unit (Students doing a Mathematics major or minor replace this core with a second elective)
 

Major and Minor

6 x Units to make up a major in one area of study
4 x Units to make up a minor in a second area of study
3 x Science Elective Units (depending on combination of major and minor chosen)
1 x Core Mathematics Unit (Students doing a Mathematics major or minor replace this core with a fourth elective)
 

TEACHING FIELDS

The following major and minor teaching fields are available in the BSc/BTch degree:

Majors

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Food Technology
• Mathematics
• Science

Minors

• Food Technology
• Geography
• Mathematics

 

Unit Sequence - Even Year Commencement

 

Year	Semester	Suggested Units
1	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	WHPE10101 Foundations of Wellbeing	EDUC13101  Developing Your Core Competencies
	2	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC10102 Child Development & Learning	EDUC10101 Developing Literacy & Numeracy for Teachers
2	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC23100 Introduction to Teaching	EDUC25103 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - Planning & Assessment
	Professional Teaching Experience I (July - 15 days)
	2	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC20100 Exploring a Christian Worldview	EDUC20104 Indigenous Education
3	Professional Teaching Experience II (February - 10 days)
	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC25104 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - ICT & Learning	EDUC23101 Managing the Secondary Classroom
	Professional Teaching Experience III (July - 15 days)
	2	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC351xx Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - __________	EDUC351xx Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - __________
4
	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC33101 Promoting Health & Wellbeing in Schools	EDUC30101 Professional Development: Preparation for the Workplace
	Professional Teaching Experience IV EDPX30001 (Mid Year - 40 Days)
	2	EDUC30102 Students with Special Education Needs	EDUC30105 Exploring a Philosophy of Christian Education	EDUC30108 Educational Research & Diversity	EDPX30001 Professional Experience

 

Unit Sequence - Odd Year Commencement

 

Year	Semester	Suggested Units
1	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	WHPE10101 Foundations of Wellbeing	EDUC13101  Developing Your Core Competencies
	2	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC10102 Child Development & Learning	EDUC10101 Developing Literacy & Numeracy for Teachers
2	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC23100 Introduction to Teaching	EDUC25103 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - Planning & Assessment
	Professional Teaching Experience I (July - 15 days)
	2	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC351xx Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - __________	EDUC351xx Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - __________
3	Professional Teaching Experience II (February - 10 days)
	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC25104 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - ICT & Learning	EDUC23101 Managing the Secondary Classroom
	Professional Teaching Experience III (July - 15 days)
	2	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC20100 Exploring a Christian Worldview	EDUC20104 Indigenous Education
4	Professional Teaching Experience IV (June - 10 days)
	1	Discipline Unit	Discipline Unit	EDUC33101 Promoting Health & Wellbeing in Schools	EDUC30101 Professional Development: Preparation for the Workplace
	Professional Teaching Experience IV EDPX30001 (Mid Year - 40 Days)
	2	EDUC30102 Students with Special Education Needs	EDUC30105 Exploring a Philosophy of Christian Education	EDUC30108 Educational Research & Diversity	EDPX30001 Professional Experience

 

 

Secondary Teaching areas of study include:

Biology, Chemistry, Food Technology, Geography, Mathematics, Science.

Other teaching areas including Physics may be able to be completed within an Avondale degree via cross institutional study after consultation with the course convenor.

 

Components and Descriptions

Core Education Units

These units cover a range of current educational topics designed to prepare pre-service teachers to successfully teach young people. These units involve a variety of topics including: Classroom Management; Child Development and Learning; and Students with Special Education Needs.

Curriculum and Pedagogical Studies Units

These units provide pre-service teachers with the opportunity to apply quality-teaching principles to specific teaching areas. Literacy education, classroom safety, curriculum development, ICT and teaching strategies are each dealt with specifically for normally two chosen teaching areas.

Secondary Major

Students complete six units in one area of study to complete a major. It is possible to complete two majors within the BSc/BTch.

Secondary Minor

Students complete four units in a second area of study to complete a minor. Minors from other degrees may be available, subject to timetable constraints and with the approval of the Course Convenor of the Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching and the Course Convenor of the Bachelor of Science.

Science Elective Units

Students are able to choose up to four 6 credit point units in the discipline of science as electives.

Core Mathematics Unit

Students complete a mathematics core unit to provide essential background knowledge for other science units. Students completing a Mathematics major or minor replace this core unit with an additional elective.

Core Discipline Unit

All students complete Foundations of Wellbeing (WHPE10101).This unit is a core discipline unit for all Secondary students in a combined degree and provides students with a foundational understanding of holistic health.

 

Content of the Course of Study - All units are worth 6 Credit Points unless otherwise stated

Core Education Units

• EDUC10101 Developing Literacy and Numeracy for Teachers
• EDUC10102 Child Development & Learning
• EDUC13101 Developing Your Core Competencies
• EDUC20100 Exploring a Christian Worldview
• EDUC20104 Indigenous Education
• EDUC23100 Introduction to Teaching
• EDUC23101 Managing the Secondary Classroom Environment
• EDUC30101 Professional Development: Preparation for the Workplace
• EDUC30102 Students with Special Education Needs
• EDUC30105 Exploring a Philosophy of Christian Education
• EDUC30108 Educational Research & Diversity
• EDUC33101 Promoting Health & Wellbeing in Schools
• EDPX30001 Professional Experience

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogical Studies Units

• EDUC25103 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Planning & Assessment
• EDUC25104 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – ICT & Learning

and normally at least two units from the following list covering their chosen teaching areas.

• EDUC35104 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Biology
• EDUC35105 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Chemistry
• EDUC35108 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Geography
• EDUC35112 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Mathematics
• EDUC35118 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Technologies 
• EDUC35121 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - Science

Core Mathematics Unit

• MATH16000 Mathematics IA or MATH16400 General Mathematics

Core Discipline Unit

• WHPE10101 Foundations of Wellbeing

Biology Major

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35104 in addition to these units

• BIOL15000 Introductory Biology
• BIOL15100 The Diversity of Life
• BIOL26200 Ecology
• BIOL26400 Microbiology
• BIOL37300 Australian Flora and Fauna
• BIOL37500 Genes and Genetic Technologies

Chemistry Major

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35105 in addition to these units

• CHEM16000 Chemistry IA
• CHEM16100 Chemistry IB
• CHEM21000 Organic Chemistry
• CHEM24000 Inorganic Chemistry
• CHEM34000 Physical Chemistry
• CHEM39000 Research Project in Chemistry

 

Food Technology Major units

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35118 in addition to these units

• DTFN11100 Food, Nutrition & Health
• DTFN21100 Food Production Systems
• DTFN21200 Food Science & Innovation
• HPFH20100 Nutrition, Development & Performance
• DTFN31200 Food Product Design Project

and one of the following units

• DTFN31100 Food Industry Experience (only for suitable students)
• HPFH36300 Social Nutrition & Health Promotion

Food Technology Minor units

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35118 in addition to these units

• DTFN11100 Food, Nutrition & Health
• DTFN21100 Food Production Systems
• DTFN21200 Food Science & Innovation
• HPFH20100 Nutrition, Development & Performance

Geography Minor

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35108 in addition to these units

• GEOH11100 Responding to Global Issues
• GEOH12000 Environmental Issues
• GEOP23000 Biophysical and Ecosystem Interactions
• GEOH31110 Cities and Urban Places

Mathematics Major

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35112 in addition to these units

• MATH16000 Mathematics IA
• MATH16100 Mathematics IB
• MATH26000 Calculus II
• MATH26100 Algebra II
• MATH36100 Algebra III
• MATH36400 Complex Analysis and Advanced Mathematical Methods

Mathematics Minor

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35112 in addition to these units

• MATH16000 Mathematics IA
• MATH16100 Mathematics IB
• MATH26000 Calculus II
• MATH26100 Algebra II

Science Major

Students enrol in EDUC25103, EDUC25104 and EDUC35121 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - Science in addition to these units

• PHYS16300 General Physics
• CHEM16300 General Chemistry OR CHEM16000 Chemistry IA
• BIOL15000 Introductory Biology OR BIOL15100 The Diversity of Life
• GEOH12000 Environmental Issues
• A 200 level CHEM, BIOL or GEOP coded unit
• A 300 level CHEM or BIOL unit

To find out more about any of the units listed here, copy the unit code and then search for that unit here.

Students need to do 80 days of professional experience in schools over four sessions.

Professional Experience is a critical component of initial teacher education and offers pre-service teachers enrolled in teaching degrees, work-integrated learning opportunities as part of their professional development. Avondale’s Professional Experience program is based on a framework of high-quality Professional Experience in Australian schools in order to provide high-quality experiences that will equip pre-service teachers to face the challenges and diversity of classrooms. All mentor teachers for domestic Professional Experience placements are registered teachers at the Proficient level or higher of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) standards.

Professional Experience placements occur regularly throughout all teaching degree programs at the times listed in the course structure.  It is the student’s responsibility to be available at those times. Pre-service teachers may experience a range of school settings, including public and independent schools, and one rural/regional school. Each school placement offers pre-service teachers the opportunity to apply their theoretical learning to real-life situations.

Transport to and from placement schools and accommodation and related costs are the responsibility of the student.

In addition to the listed admission criteria, students will need the relevant Working With Children Check applicable to any Australian state in which they choose to complete a placement. A supervised overseas placement may be allowable for one placement other than the final placement.

Students also need to be able to demonstrate their fitness for teaching. This means they are able to:

• maintain satisfactory academic progression prior to professional experience placement;
• act in a way that demonstrates sound cognitive, mental, emotional and physical health, and be able to cope with the varying demands of classroom situations;
• demonstrate the ability to cope effectively with stressful situations;
• demonstrate the ability to maintain duty of care while on placement;
• relate to students in an age appropriate and professional manner;
• be able to model appropriate literacy and numeracy skills both in the classroom and beyond.

Students who cannot demonstrate their fitness for teaching will not be allowed to do school placements.

The Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Teaching (BSc/BTch) is accreditated by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) and Avondale's self-accrediting process. Avondale is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

At the completion of the course students must be accredited with the state professional teaching body before practising in the classroom.  In NSW it is New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA).

Note: If students become ineligible to visit schools for professional placement or are barred from attending at a school for any reason, they will not be able to complete this degree.

Course Enquiries

Student Administration Services

Phone: +61 2 4980 2377
Email: study@avondale.edu.au
Monday-Thursday, 9.00am-5pm
Friday, 9.00am-12.00noon