Undergraduate: Course rule and topic information

All course rules are currently under review and new course rules will apply from 2011.
As a result topic details may change. Further information on the new course structures will be made available by mid-2010.

Bachelor of Education (Middle School)/Bachelor of Arts

(BEd(MS),BA)

Program of study
Honours degree

INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Education (Middle School)/Bachelor of Arts may be taken as a double degree program in four years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). Students who study part-time would normally be expected to complete the double degree program within eight years. The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology.

The double degree program of Bachelor of Education (Middle School)/Bachelor of Arts requires completion of a total of 144 units.

A Lutheran strand is available for students wishing to teach in that system.

Eligible students can complete an honours degree in either Arts or Education. Enrolment in the honours program is subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

COURSE AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to produce graduates who:

• are flexible, literate, independent and well-informed, equipped with transferable skills highly valued in the workforce;
• can teach within and across learning areas;
• have developed studies in depth in two specific areas relevant to teaching in middle schools (Years 6 to 10);
• are able to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of educational settings with diverse groups of students; and
• have the capacity to undertake ongoing professional study through a variety of pathways.

Learning outcomes

In undertaking the double degree program, student will:

• achieve high levels of knowledge and understanding of the content, context and processes of learning and teaching within the school environment and engage critically with this knowledge as a means of ongoing professional practice;
• develop knowledge of, and skills in, curriculum
• reflect critically on different teaching theories and practices, on their own teaching, and on their lives, in order to strive for excellence and creativity in their teaching role;
• use a wide range of literacies with confidence and competence;
• apply educational theory, knowledge and understanding to make informed professional judgements in diverse educational situations;
• work collaboratively with colleagues, school students, their families and the wider community towards achieving high quality learning outcomes;
• establish a firm educational foundation for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning;
• achieve the knowledge and understanding that different disciplines provide and also work across disciplinary boundaries to actively create cross-curriculum links; and
• appreciate the need for continuing professional development in their field of expertise.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Limited credit may be granted for relevant topics taken at the University or other institutions.

Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete, the combined program may be eligible to exit with a Bachelor of Arts, but only on completion of 108 units of approved BA topics.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2009]

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Middle School)/Bachelor of Arts, a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

• a BEd component of 69-75 units;
• a BA component of 69-75 units.

The BEd component must include:

• 9 units of Education topics at First Year level;
• 12 units of Education topics at Second Year level including professional experience;
• 24 units of Education topics at Third Year level including teaching practice;
• 24-30 units of Education topics at Fourth Year level including teaching practice, dependent upon elective choices.

The BA component must include:

• 33 units of one Arts major sequence selected from the majors available as listed in the Introduction of the BA Course Rule, except for Business Economics or Education;
• 21 units of one Arts minor sequence from another major sequence selected from those available, or from the list of minor sequences available;
• either 15 or 21 units of electives (9 units at first level and 12 units at upper level or 9 units at first level and 6 units at upper level).

Except with the permission of the Board:

• no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice;
• teaching practicum topics may not be attempted more than once.

Students should note that teaching practicum topics require full-time commitment for their duration.

More specific rules related to majors and minors in the Bachelor of Arts can be referred to in the BA course rule.

First Year

Semester 1

BA major topic*	4.5
BA minor topic*	4.5
BA elective topic*	4.5

EDUC1101

Key Educational Ideas

4.5

Semester 2

BA major topic*	4.5
BA minor topic*	4.5
BA elective topic*	4.5

EDUC1201

Ways of Explaining Education

4.5

Second Year

Semester 1

BA major topic*	6
BA minor topic*	6

EDUC2302

Teaching Literacy and Numeracy in Middle School: Policy Documents to Practice

6

Semester 2

BA major topic*	6
BA minor topic*	6

EDUC2403

Development, Learning and Inclusive Teaching (6-12)

6

Third Year

Semester 1

BA major topic*	6
BA elective topic*	6

EDUC3503	Curriculum Studies Specialisation 1: Middle School/Secondary	6
EDUC3667A	Lecture for Professional Teaching Practice 3B (6-10)	0

Semester 2

Education elective topic from approved list

6

EDUC3608

Integrated Curriculum Studies

6

Non-semester

EDUC3667

Professional Teaching Practice 3B (6-10)

6

Fourth Year

Semester 1

EDUC4700	Curriculum Studies Specialisation 2 (MS/Sec)	6
EDUC4705	Social and Cultural Worlds of Learning	6

Non-semester

EDUC4778

Professional Teaching Practice 4B (6-10)

6

Semester 2

BA major topic*	6
BA elective topic* OR Education topic	6

EDUC4802

Teaching Indigenous Australian Students

6

*Topics selected from BA major and minor sequences listed in the BA course rule.

Honours degree

1. A full-year program consisting of 36 units of dedicated honours topics taken after the completion of the student's ordinary education degree.
2. An alternative program for students who have completed, to a sufficiently high standard (a GPA of 5.5 or higher), the first 108 units towards their particular Bachelor of Education double degree program. Admission will also depend upon the School of Education being able to provide adequate resources to supervise and manage the student's proposed research project. The general requirement of the Honours program in Education is the successful completion of 36 units of honours Education topics. However, in the alternative program, students will take 18 of these units concurrently with the relevant double degree program as part of their fourth year of study. An overload of 6 units will be required in each semester of that year. Eligible students will enrol in a three-semester program commencing in the fourth year of their double degree program.

Year 4

Semester 1 (6-unit overload)

EDUC7000	Introduction to Research in Education (Honours Topic)	6
EDUC4700	Curriculum Studies Specialisation 2 (MS/Sec)	6
EDUC4778	Professional Teaching Practice 4B (6-10)	6
EDUC4705	Social and Cultural Worlds of Learning	6

Semester 2 (6-unit overload)

EDUC7001	Research Methods in Education: Directed Study (Honours Topic)	6
EDUC7002	Preparation for Research Thesis (Honours Topic)	6
EDUC4802	Teaching Indigenous Australian Students	6
	BA topic	6

Year 5

Semester 1

EDUC7003

Honours Thesis in Education (Honours Topic)

18