Bachelor of Primary Education Studies at Charles Sturt University

Bachelor of Primary Education Studies - Canada BPrimEdStud

CSU’s Bachelor of Primary Education Studies focuses on developing practical and professional skills based on theoretical and conceptual understandings of teaching. The aim is to prepare transformative and reflective teacher practitioners ready to assume their first teaching position.

About the course

The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies offered through Ontario Campus is underpinned by a belief that all children deserve good teaching. It is important that all students, regardless of their social and cultural characteristics, receive an education which maximises their life chances. This program is shaped in the belief that social transformation, rather than social reproduction, should be an outcome of schooling for all social and cultural groups presently recognised as disadvantaged.

CSU's Bachelor of Primary Education Studies presents teaching to preservice teachers as complex intellectual work worthy of sustained critical reflection. In so doing it attempts to develop task-appropriate characteristics such as enjoyment of intellectual challenge; critical reflection on policy, practice and curricula; the formulation of adequate justifiable educational goals and the capacity to choose strategies appropriate for achieving the goals. The focus of the program, therefore, is on teaching as a social, ethical endeavour requiring far more than mere technique to execute it well.

The course also focuses on developing a pride and pleasure in the profession of teaching by emphasising the belief that by involvement in the education of young children, graduates are contributing as purposeful and effective members of society.

Course aims and objectives

The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies aims to:

demonstrate an entry level understanding of professional teacher practice
communicate and interact effectively with children and others
demonstrate an accurate understanding of the way children learn
understand the characteristics, needs and interests of children
create for children a positive model of learning in stimulating environments
develop a commitment to justice and equity, and to treat children accordingly
enhance an understanding and respect for our cultural heritage, including the particular cultural background of Indigenous and ethnic groups
evolve a personal philosophy of education based upon a sound body of knowledge of theory and its relationship with practice, and to think reflectively about this relationship
value the pursuit of scholarly and intellectual endeavours.

Where will it take you

The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies prepares teachers to teach in primary–junior (JK–6) classrooms in Ontario.

Practical experience

The Practicum provides professional opportunities to learn about and apply the range of theoretical, conceptual, and procedural knowledge developed in the other courses in the program and provides an opportunity for candidates to make explicit their capacity to discern connections between theory and practice, e.g. their praxis.

Students will complete a minimum of 45 days of Block Practicum experience, split into four weeks in Term 1 in one school/division and five weeks in Term 2 in an additional school/division. They will also spend two days of every additional week of the semester in their Host Schools. This time in schools provides an opportunity for students to explore concepts, resources and strategies introduced in the academic component of the program.

Importantly, the students will complete block Practicum experiences with the same class they visit during the weekly program. This structure adds to the depth and authenticity of the professional experience program, and provides the students with the opportunity to develop a strong rapport with a cohort of children over an extended period of time - increasing the likelihood of the development of rich learning tasks that cater for the needs of individuals in these classes.

Credit

Upon admission, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies are awarded 176 points of credit for prior qualifications.

Additional requirements

Refer to the Additional requirements section for information on:

Laptop requirements
Proof of freedom from active tuberculosis
Police record check

NOTE: these requirements are not necessary for your application, but will need to be provided if you are selected for the program.

Graduation requirements

To graduate from the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points, which comprises coursework and the credit package granted upon admission.

NOTE: The Bachelor of Primary Education Studies program is offered under the written consent of the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities for the period from 24 December 2004 to 24 December 2009. Prospective students are responsible for satisfying themselves that the programs and the degrees will be appropriate to their needs (e.g., acceptable to potential employers, professional licensing bodies or other educational institutions).

Frequently asked questions

What happens after December 24, 2009 when the consent from the Ministry to offer this program expires?
Our approval from the Minister to offer the program stipulates that the dates of consent are made public. Consent is granted for a five-year period. The University is currently undergoing the normal five-year process of ‘consent renewal’ required by the Ministry. In the interim, the Minister has extended consent for CSU to continue offering the program until such time as our application for consent renewal is determined. This enables an intake of students in August 2010 and their continuation through the second term in spring 2011, allowing completion of the program and graduation.

When does the program start and finish?
The program will commence on Monday, August 24, 2009 and conclude on May 7, 2010. There will be holidays consistent with school breaks in December and March. During each session, candidates will be in schools two days a week, in class two days a week, and in class on selected Fridays. The graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, June 18, 2010.

Are there any exceptions to these timelines?
This program is only available full–time with all candidates enrolled in the same courses each semester and all candidates commencing and concluding their program on the dates indicated above.

Will I be able to work part-time?
It is very difficult to complete an intensive professional education program within one year while doing part-time work. Course assignments, and especially the practicum, require candidates to prepare many evenings and weekends.

How do I apply for this program and what is the deadline for applications?
Information regarding the application process is available online at the CSU Ontario website.

Are there any courses that are prerequisites for this program?
Since elementary teachers (JK–Grade 6) are required to teach all subjects, no specific subjects are considered prerequisites. Applicants will be given preference who demonstrate comprehensiveness in their undergraduate courses. Eligible applicants must hold either a three- or four-year Bachelor degree.

I don't complete my undergraduate degree until after June, will my application still be assessed?
Applicants are expected to hold a Bachelor degree from an accredited degree-granting institution conferred no later than June of the year of application. If you complete your undergraduate degree after June (but before August 1), assessment of your undergraduate studies would be based on courses completed by the previous December. If you then qualify for an interview and are successful, you would be accepted provisionally, contingent on providing us with the official degree-granting transcript.

Some universities, especially those outside Ontario, calculate marks in a different way. How will you calculate my average?
Your average is calculated based on your last 10 full university course equivalents. Assessment of applicants who are in the process of completing their final year of undergraduate studies will be based on courses completed by the previous December.

Why do I need a police records check?
Without a satisfactory police record check the schools will not allow candidates to participate in practice teaching. Questions regarding this process should be directed to the Ontario Education Services Corporation:
Fax: 416–593–7858
Email: oesc–cseo@opsba.org

Please note that the police records check is not required with your application but will be necessary if you are selected to commence the program.

What does the fee cover?
The fee will cover all your tuition for the program (i.e. the 10 courses). No other fees apply. However, candidates need to purchase textbooks and possibly an inexpensive musical instrument, e.g. recorder, glockenspiel (totalling approximately CAD$900).

When will fees be payable?
Fees for the 2009/10 year will be CAD$16,500, paid in two instalments: the first in June when you accept your offer of admission to the program; and the second in December, prior to the beginning of second term.

Is financial assistance available for this program?
CSU Ontario has made application for OSAP designation, and is awaiting approval.

"I am not going through OSAP for a student loan, as I have heard they can be somewhat problematic when it comes to paying them back. Instead I am getting a student line of credit from TD Canada Bank. Just like a regular line of credit, only you have a very low interest rate (the same as a student loan) and you do not have to pay it back until one year after you graduate your program, and there is no time limit to pay it back. You can take as long as you want and the interest rate will never change. However, unlike OSAP you cannot get a different amount loaned to you for undergraduate and graduate studies, so the maximum amount you can borrow is CAD$8,000, even for graduate studies."

The Ontario College of Teachers also offer a CAD$2,000 scholarship for which students are eligible to apply. Go to the Joseph W Atkinson Scholarship Award for more information.

What practicum and in-school experiences are there in this program? Where will these practicums be completed?
The CSU Ontario program is based on strong links between the theoretical and practical components of the program. Candidates will be placed in schools from the first week of school in each term , and then two days a week thereafter. Both public and Catholic schools in Halton and surrounding boards will be used. In addition, there will be teaching blocks in Fall (late November/early December for three weeks) and Spring (late April/early May for four weeks.) Each term will be spent in a different division (Primary or Junior). This intensive practice teaching experience allows candidates, who are grouped in schools in teams of four-six, to make a significant contribution to, as well as learning from, the school community.

Can I arrange a practicum in a school close to my home?
No. CSU places Teacher Candidates in schools in group of four-six from the first week of September onward. Candidates remain in the school for an entire term to learn as much from being part of the school culture as they will from the specific classroom in which they do their practicum. This requires CSU to arrange partnerships with specific schools in school boards with whom we have an established partnership.

In which school boards does CSU place candidates?
CSU currently places candidates in Halton, Halton Catholic, Hamilton-Wentworth, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic, Peel , Dufferin-Peel Catholic, Upper Grand and Toronto District School Boards.

Why can't candidates pick a particular school in these boards in which to do their practicum?
Schools apply to CSU to be considered as Host Schools and are specifically selected for the opportunities they can provide for CSU Teacher Candidates. For this reason, the school that is closest to your home may not be one of the CSU Host Schools. Host Schools must also be within reasonable driving distance of CSU–Ontario to facilitate supervision and evaluation by Faculty Supervisors.

Do I have to be Catholic to do a placement in a Catholic School?
Yes. Catholic Boards prefer that all candidates doing placements in their schools are Catholic.

What options will there be for candidates who want to teach in Catholic schools?
Students will have the opportunity to take a Catholic Education religion course. This would be in addition to the core program and a supplementary fee would apply. The fee is CAD$410 for 2009/10.

Will there be another intake into the program in the second session?
There will be only the one fall intake for the 2009/10 school year.

I completed my degree outside Canada. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes, you can apply, but your qualifications will need to be assessed by our Admissions Office to ensure that they are equivalent to a Canadian Bachelor degree, and you may need to provide evidence of your English Language Proficiency. It is each student's responsibility to ensure that they meet all other requirements for registration with of the Ontario College of Teachers.

Will I be required to have a laptop computer?
A laptop computer with the capacity for wireless connectivity and internet access is a requirement for acceptance into this program. (Laptop Specifications) You will need to bring your laptop on the days you have classes.

Will information sessions be held for this program?
Dates for information sessions about the program and the application process will be posted on the Information Sessions webpage.

Is there an academic requirement or minimum grade point average (GPA) to get into the program?
Yes, selection for the program is based on 60% academic achievement and 40% experience. You must have a minimum GPA of 70 in your final ten full university degree credits.

Do I need a TB test?
Yes – proof of freedom from active tuberculosis is required to participate in practice teaching. See the Additional requirements section for details.
Please note that TB test results are not required with your application, but will be necessary if you are selected for the program. Information regarding the TB test will be posted on the website after offers to the program have been made.

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