The Bachelor of Education Studies, Bachelor of Disability Studies requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law.

This double degree is only available to transfer into after at least 72 units of study have been attempted (excluding topics for which a Withdraw, Not Fail (WN) has been recorded) in either the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Special Education), Bachelor of Disability Studies; Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7 and Special Education), Bachelor of Disability Studies; Bachelor of Education (Middle and Secondary Schooling/Special Education), Bachelor of Disability Studies; or Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Special Education.

Students who complete this degree will NOT meet the professional experience requirements to qualify for registration with the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia.

Students in the Bachelor of Education double degree programs listed above are reminded that they may choose to exit with either a Bachelor of Education Studies after 108 units or they may be eligible to transfer to the 144 unit Bachelor of Disability and Developmental Education and apply for credit for topics already completed.


Course aims

Learning outcomes

Program of study

Course aims

The course aims to produce graduates who:

  • are able to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of educational, disability, health and human services settings
  • have the cognitive skills to critically review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge;
  • are able to apply their knowledge creatively and skilfully in a variety of settings;
  • are able to communicate effectively;
  • are able to work both independently and collaboratively;
  • have the capacity to undertake ongoing study through a variety of pathways;
    • have developed knowledge and skills in one school curriculum learning area.

Learning outcomes 

At the completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the philosophical, sociological and psychological perspectives of disability and special learning needs;
  • demonstrate knowledge of similarities and differences in human development and the characteristics between and among individulas with and without disabilities and diverse learning needs;
  • demonstrate research and evaluation skills relevant to disabiity and special education;
  • identify, critically examine and debate issues and solve problems relating to disability and special needs;
  • apply educational theory, knowledge and understanding to make informed professional judgements in diverse educational situations;
  • communicate effectively with a variety of audiences for a range of purposes about matters relevant to the education of children and young people;
  • demonstrate the knowledge and skills that provide a foundation for being able to work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve high quality, equitable outcomes for young people and the wider community;
  • acquire a knowledge and understanding of the content, context and processes of learning and teaching;
  • use a wide range of literacies with confidence and competence;
  • develop the metacognitive skills to engage critically in the complex thinking required in learning and teaching;
  • establish a firm educational foundation for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education Studies, Bachelor of Disability Studies, a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, selected from one of Option A, B, or C:

Option A - Early Childhood

Year 1 topics

 DSRS1201  Perspectives of Disability and Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS1211  Introduction to Neurological Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS1215  Communication and Language  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1120  Teaching and Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1221  Play, Learning and Development  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1224  Foundations of Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1228  Students with Learning and Behavioural Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3522  Pedagogies of Belonging  (4.5 units)

Year 2 topics

 DSRS2231  Augmentative and Alternative Communication  (4.5 units)
 DSRS2234  Direct Instruction  (4.5 units)
 DSRS2236  Practicum B: Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4104  Early Intervention and Play for Young Children with Diverse Learning Needs  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2321  The Expressive Arts in Early Childhood  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2323  Students with Numeracy Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2421  Literacy and Numeracy (Birth-4) (4.5 units)
 EDUC2423  Students with Literacy Difficulties  (4.5 units)

Year 3 and 4 topics

 DSRS3233  Practicum C - Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (9 units)
 EDUC4731  Assessment and Programming in Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4732  Functional Curriculum Design for Students with Disabilities  (4.5 units)

Option - Education Topics

Select 22.5 units from:

 EDUC3618  Numeracy and Multiliteracies in Design and Technology  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3622  Thinking and Working Mathematically  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3623  Health and Physical Education in Early Childhood  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4721  Differentiation for Diverse Learners (Primary)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4722  Critical Pedagogies for a Changing World  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4723  Investigating Early Years Curriculum and Pedagogy  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4724  Thinking and Working Scientifically in the Early Years  (4.5 units)

Option - Disability Studies Topics

Select 31.5 units from:

 DSRS3221  Positive Behaviour Support  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3222  Counselling  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3234  Case Management  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3235  Community Development and Funding in Human Services  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4101  Leisure, Arts and Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4102  Technological Applications and Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4103  Community Rehabilitation for People with ABI  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4108  Applied Counselling & Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4109  Autism Spectrum Disorders  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4110  Transition to Adult Life for Young People with Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4111  Introduction to Intellectual Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4112  Sensory, Physical and Multiple Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 HLTH3102  Qualitative Methods in Social Health Research  (4.5 units)

Option B - Primary R-7

Year 1 topics

 DSRS1201  Perspectives of  Disability and Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS1202  Lifespan Development   (4.5 units)
 DSRS1211  Introduction to Neurological Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS1209  Human Diversity  (4.5 units)
 DSRS1215  Communication and Language  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1120  Teaching and Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1224  Foundations of Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1228  Students with Learning and Behavioural Difficulties  (4.5 units)

Year 2 topics

 DSRS2231  Augmentative and Alternative Communication  (4.5 units)
 DSRS2234  Direct Instruction  (4.5 units)
 DSRS2236  Practicum B:  Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2322  Learners and their Development (Primary)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2323  Students with Numeracy Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2422  Mathematics Curriculum Studies  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2423  Students with Literacy Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3523  Expressive Arts Curriculum Studies: Visual Arts, Drama, Media, Music and Dance  (4.5 units)

Year 3 and 4 topics

 DSRS3233  Practicum C - Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (9 units)
 EDUC4731  Assessment and Programming in Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4732  Functional Curriculum Design for Students with Disabilities  (4.5 units)

Option - Education Topics

Select 27 units from:

 EDUC3524  Health and Physical Education Curriculum Studies  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3620  Relationships for Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3624  Science, Design and Technology Curriculum Studies  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3625  Numeracy and ICT across the Curriculum  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4721  Differentiation for Diverse Learners (Primary)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4725  English Curriculum Studies  2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4726  Social Sciences Curriculum Studies:  History and Geography  (4.5 units)

Option - Disability Studies Topics

Select 27 units from:

 DSRS3221  Positive Behaviour Support  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3222  Counselling  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3234  Case Management  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3235  Community Development and Funding in Human Services  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4101  Leisure, Arts and Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4102  Technological Applications and Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4103  Community Rehabilitation for People with ABI  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4104  Early Intervention and Play for Young Children with Diverse Learning Needs  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4108  Applied Counselling & Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4109  Autism Spectrum Disorders  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4110  Transition to Adult Life for Young People with Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4111  Introduction to Intellectual Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4112  Sensory, Physical and Multiple Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 HLTH3102  Qualitative Methods in Social Health Research  (4.5 units)

Option C - Secondary

Year 1 topics

 DSRS1201  Perspectives of Disability and Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS1215  Communication and Language  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1120  Teaching and Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1224  Foundations of Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1228  Students with Learning and Behavioural Difficulties  (4.5 units)

Plus choose 13.5 units of Teaching Major topics*

*Students who studied in the Bachelor of Education (Middle and Secondary Schooling/Special Education), Bachelor of Disability Studies prior to 2017 may replace the 13.5 units of Teaching Major topics with:

 DSRS1202  Lifespan Development   (4.5 units)
 DSRS1211  Introduction to Neurological Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 Plus 4.5 units of Teaching Minor topics

Year 2 topics

 DSRS2234  Direct Instruction  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2320  Learners and their Development (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2323  Students with Numeracy Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2420  Teaching Indigenous Australian Students  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2423  Students with Literacy Difficulties  (4.5 units)

Plus choose 13.5 units of Teaching Major topics#

#Students who studied in the Bachelor of Education (Middle and Secondary Schooling/Special Education), Bachelor of Disability Studies prior to 2017 may replace EDUC2420 Teaching Indigenous Australian Students and the 13.5 units of Teaching Major topics with:

 DSRS2231  Augmentative and Alternative Communication  (4.5 units)
 DSRS2236  Practicum B:  Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 Plus 9 units of Teaching Minor topics

Year 3 and 4 topics

 DSRS2231  Augmentative and Alternative Communication  (4.5 units)**
 DSRS2236  Practicum B:  Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)**
 DSRS3233  Practicum C - Disability and Community Rehabilitation  (9 units)
 EDUC4731  Assessment and Programming in Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4732  Functional Curriculum Design for Students with Disabilities  (4.5 units)

**Students who completed DSRS2231 and DSRS2236 in Year 2 must select 4.5 units of Teaching Minor topics and an additional 4.5 units of Option - Education topics.

Option - Education Topics

Select 4.5 units from:

 EDUC3620  Relationships for Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3626  Contemporary Issues in Middle Schooling  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3628  Numeracy and ICT across the Middle & Secondary Curriculum  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4720  Differentiation for Diverse Learners (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)

Option - Disability Studies Topics

Select 40.5 units from:

 DSRS3221  Positive Behaviour Support  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3222  Counselling  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3234  Case Management  (4.5 units)
 DSRS3235  Community Development and Funding in Human Services  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4101  Leisure, Arts and Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4102  Technological Applications and Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4103  Community Rehabilitation for People with ABI  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4104  Early Intervention and Play for Young Children with Diverse Learning Needs  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4108  Applied Counselling & Rehabilitation  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4109  Autism Spectrum Disorders  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4110  Transition to Adult Life for Young People with Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4111  Introduction to Intellectual Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS4112  Sensory, Physical and Multiple Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 HLTH3102  Qualitative Methods in Social Health Research  (4.5 units)

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Teaching Major/Minor

A 27 unit Teaching Major consists of:

  • 9 units of Year 1 topics;
  • 9 units of Year 2 topics; and
  • 9 units of Year 2 or Year 3 topics.

An 18 unit Teaching Minor consists of:

  • 9 units of Year 1 topics; and
  • 9 units of Year 2 or Year 3 topics.

Teaching Majors/Minors must be selected from: