Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) prepares graduates for a career teaching in a wide range of educational settings with children from birth to 12 years old.

Teaching today requires graduates with an awareness of social, cultural and developmental issues. This course includes child development, sociology, Indigenous studies and research methods. Skills in interpersonal communication, leadership and special needs are developed in university-based workshops and in workplaces that cater to the needs of children in communities across our region and in urban centres. Curriculum studies in this course meet the requirements for teaching children in all Key Learning Areas from Kindergarten to Year 6 in primary schools.

The program equips students with the professional skills required to foster positive development and learning in children, whether they are in childcare services, preschools or in primary schools.

The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) is grounded in the belief that graduates should continue to develop as scholars and teachers, and be practitioners who reflect on their own practice, and who are strong advocates for children and their families.

Please note: Indigenous students in the Teacher Education in the Community program enrolled at Dubbo Campus will be studying via mixed-mode.

Additional requirements

• Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership requirement
• National Criminal Record Clearance  

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.

Your course is recognised by industry

This course is accredited with the NSW Institute of Teachers until 31 December 2013.

Graduates from this program will also have a qualification that is accepted by the Victorian Institute of Teaching for teacher registration.

Workplace learning

Professional experience in early childhood and primary school settings is a vital component of the program, comprising five subjects in the course.

From first year to fourth year, students gradually assume more responsibility for planning, teaching and management of classroom settings, as they progress through a range of experiences. This part of the course aims to enable students to develop an understanding of various early childhood services and the school system. It helps students to plan and implement learning experiences for young children under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Settings include those for children under three, three to five years, the first years of school, and middle and upper primary classes.

Opportunities exist for placement in a range of locations. Students undertake placements in both under fives and primary settings in the final professional experience in Session 8. These experiences are supported by qualified staff in the teaching setting and by University supervisors.

National Criminal Record Check

Students may be required to undergo a criminal record check and/or complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration under the Child Protection Act 1998 as part of professional experience requirements. These checks are intended to identify people who might, because of convictions for such things as violence or sexual offences, put students/clients' personal safety or health at risk. Traffic violations and other minor offences are not of interest.

As such, prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a criminal record clearance or complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration may limit practicum opportunities in some organisations and industries. Furthermore, criminal convictions involving violence or sexual offences may limit continued enrolment in a course and/or employment opportunities after completing the course.

If you have any queries regarding these matters, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Course Director.

The latest facilities

To make sure students have experience in using equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:

• computer laboratories
• specialist curriculum rooms for early childhood, creative arts, language, science, numeracy, human movement, etc.
• access to early childhood settings on campus

Throughout the course, students use a range of technologies to communicate with children, teachers and other professional colleagues in this country and overseas. This technology includes email, the internet, video and digital cameras, CD/DVD and other forms of electronic information exchange.

Subjects in the course will be supported by online technology to ensure students have access to the latest ideas and research from around the world. There are opportunities to gain skills in the production of media appropriate to the teaching of a range of children, and students learn to evaluate the impact of media on learning.

Special admission requirements

Admission requirements

To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:

1. previous studies, and
2. other attainments and experience.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English language proficiency

The University has minimum requirements for English language proficiency prior to entry to our courses. Some courses also have a requirement for a higher entry or exit level of English proficiency. More information on English language requirements.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership - Employment Requirement

AITSL has introduced changes to the assessment criteria for English language proficiency to be consistent with teacher registration requirements in Australian states and territories, as per below:

English Language proficiency requirements

An Academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Test Report Form (TRF) that shows:

• a score of at least 7.0 for Reading and Writing; and
• a score of at least 8.0 for Speaking and Listening.

The IELTS test scores must appear on a single IELTS TRF and be the result of a test undertaken during the 12 month period prior to submitting an application.

OR

An applicant has completed study assessed by AITSL as comparable to at least four years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education (university) study, that results in a qualification/s comparable to the education level of an Australian bachelor degree or higher, (must include a recognised initial teacher education qualification) in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.

New South Wales Institute of Teachers - Employment Requirement

ACCEPTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTS
The tests and results which are accepted by the NSW Institute of Teachers are listed below.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The IELTS test for academic purposes is an appropriate test for prospective teachers. The Institute requires that the applicant needs to attain a minimum overall score of 7.5 including a minimum result of 8.0 in both the speaking and listening modules and 7.0 in reading and writing. The test is widely accepted as an international standard for English language skills. Testing and locations can be found at www.ielts.org.

Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT)
The applicant must have Band A in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. This test has been developed for teachers intending to teach in the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET). DET requires relevant teachers to undertake the PEAT. The DET has advised that Band A is required for teaching in government schools. It is available at the University of NSW Institute of Languages. The website is www.lang.unsw.edu.au/PEAT/. Only the DET may refer teachers to undertake PEAT.

International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR)
The applicant must have a score of at least 4+ in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing. This test was originally developed as the ASLPR (Australian Second Language Proficiency Rating). It was developed at Griffith University and is available in a form specifically designed to test language proficiency in the teaching context. The website is www.islpr.org.

EXCEPTIONS
The following applicants generally do not need to complete one of the approved language tests:

• applicants for whom English is their first language
• applicants who have gained the majority of their qualifications in English, in a country where English is the main language. These countries are: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), Republic of South Africa and the United States of America
• applicants who can provide evidence that they have successfully taught in English in a school in a country where English is the main language for a substantial period of time

CURRENCY OF RESULTS
The Institute has accepted the advice of the test providers regarding the length of currency of results. Applicants who submit results from IELTS must submit results from a test taken within a period of two years of their application for provisional or conditional accreditation. Applicants who submit results from ISLPR must submit results from a test taken within a period of twelve months of their application for provisional or conditional accreditation. A successful PEAT does not lose currency.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2