Program handbook

Description

The early years of any child's life are crucial to their later education and life experience. To be entrusted with teaching and caring for young children is an enormous responsibility but also a great privilege. Early childhood teaching is a truly rewarding professional career where you can really make a difference.

The Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)(Honours) program at the University of Newcastle aims to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for a highly successful career in teaching. Graduates of this program will be able to seek employment as Preschool and Early Childhood teachers, and K-6 (Primary) teachers in and beyond the New South Wales Government, Catholic, and Independent school sectors. The program aims to develop graduates who are inspirational teachers with the capability to act professionally, knowledgably and effectively in their educational destinations; insightful scholars with the capability to engage in rational enquiry into curriculum, policy and practice; and innovative leaders with the capability to play a constructive role in public discourse on and beyond education.


Program learning outcomes

On successful completion of the program students will have:

  • Inspirational teachers who act professionally, knowledgably and effectively
  • Insightful scholars who engage in rational enquiry into the theory and practice of education
  • Innovative leaders who play a constructive role in public discourse on education

Details

Information correct as atMar 29, 2024 11:36 am
Program code12366
AQF level

Level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree

Mode of delivery
  • Face to Face
Duration
  • Australian students - 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent.
Selection Rank

This program was not offered in 2021, there is currently no commencing student profile available.

Find out more about Selection Ranks

Term typeSemesters
Fees
Relevant University rules and policies

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Credit transfer

If you wish to apply for credit for studies completed at another institution, or if you are changing programs within the University and wish to transfer your credit to the new program, visit the University's credit website for more information on applying for credit.


Compulsory program requirements

Professional experience courses are scheduled to give students the opportunity to link theory with practice. Students start the first professional experience placement by observing the teacher and working with small groups in the centre. This is followed by initial experiences in teaching the full class under the direct supervision of the teacher. Students build on their teaching competencies during the 90 days of placement throughout the program, by the time of graduation they have developed the classroom skills and the professional aptitudes of a competent teacher. Some placements overlap with university vacations, so students should check the professional experience dates before booking travel. See Professional Experience Unit

Post-admission requirements

  • Anaphylaxis Training

    Anaphylaxis Training

  • Child Protection Awareness Training

    Child Protection Awareness Training

  • Working With Children Check

    Working With Children Check

Compulsory program requirements - Review of progress

In addition to meeting the University's overall requirements for academic progression, students must satisfactorily complete the following courses to progress in their program.

EDUC2186 - Quality Teaching and Student Learning K-6

EDUC4146 - Early Childhood/Primary Professional Experience

EDUC2066 - Teaching, Learning and Play in Early Childhood


Professional recognition

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority

Graduates of this program will be recognised as having Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) approved early childhood education and care qualification as Early Childhood Teachers (under the National Quality Framework (NQF)). Early childhood teachers can pursue careers as teachers in different early childhood settings, such as kindergarten, day care or preschool.

New South Wales Education Standards Authority

Graduates of an accredited initial teacher education program will be eligible for registration with the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA), and can pursue careers as teachers or educators in both the NSW Department of Education and Communities, Catholic Education and Independent school systems; and in public and private sectors both nationally and internationally.


Academic requirements for program completion

Total units required

320 units

Program duration

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 10 years maximum.

Program requirements

The program requires the successful completion of a total of (but no more than) 320 units that are normally offered as 40 units per semester for eight semesters.

Students are required to successfully complete:

Core Courses - 290 units

Compulsory Courses - 20 units (Ungraded Honours pathway) or 30 units (Graded Honours* pathway)

Electives - 10 units (Ungraded Honours pathway only)

Graded Honours* pathway available only to those students who meet and maintain the eligibility requirements; students will be required to complete 30 units of compulsory research courses. 

Students must complete a minimum of 40 units at each level (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000) with no more than 120 units at the 1000 level.

Students must only complete courses that form part of the program and must not complete more than 320 units.


Program planner

Current students program planner

Current students can plan their program using Program Planner.

Program Planner

Prospective student degree planner

If you're a prospective student considering studying this degree take a look at My Degree Planner to see what your study journey will look like.

Current students can plan their program using Program Planner.

Additional documents


Transition arrangements

2023 Program Revisions

This program was revised for implementation in Semester 1, 2023.

Core courses in the Graded Honours stream have been revised, EDUC4975 and EDUC4985 have been replaced with EDUC4975A and EDUC4975B. If you have already completed EDUC4975 and EDUC4985 you do not need to complete EDUC4975A and EDUC4975B.

Any further questions should be directed to your program advisor.

2021 Program Revision

The program was revised for implementation in Semester 1 2021.

Core Course replacements are listed below. Continuing students in the program who have not yet successfully completed the pre-2021 course/s will now be required to complete the replacement course.

  • EDUC2103 Schooling, Identity and Society has been replaced with EDUC1103 Schooling, Identity and Society.
  • EDUC4749 Advanced Numeracy Studies has been replaced with EDUC3055 Pedagogies of Numeracy from Birth to 12 Years.
  • EDUC4940 Research and Critique has been replaced with EDUC4955 Education Honours I: Introduction to Education Research.
  • EDUC4990 Honours III: Thesis and Project (20 units) has been replaced with EDUC4975 Honours III – Thesis A and EDUC4985 Honours IV – Thesis B.

Program structure

Students can plan their program using Program Planner. It is recommended students review the program handbook in conjunction with using Program Planner.

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Core

Complete the following core courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
EDUC1048Becoming a Teacher: Primary and Early Childhood Context
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC1055Foundations of Child Development
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC1070Foundation of Creative Arts for Early Childhood and Primary Teachers
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC1103Schooling, Identity and Society
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
HIST1051The Australian Experience
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
LING1000Foundations of Language - Primary and Early Childhood contexts
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
MATH1900Elementary Mathematics
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
PUBH1020Foundations of Early Childhood Health and Well-Being
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
SCIM1040Foundations of Science and Technology
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2066Teaching, Learning and Play in Early Childhood
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2102Educational Psychology: Learners and the Learning Process
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2186Quality Teaching and Student Learning K-6
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2744K-6 Science and Technology
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2746K-6 Society and Environment
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2747K-6 PDHPE
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2748K-6 Literacy 1
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC2749K-6 Numeracy
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
ABOR3500Aboriginal Education, Policies and Issues
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC3055Pedagogies of Numeracy from Birth to 12 Years
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC3065Culture, Diversity and Inclusion in Early Childhood and Primary School Settings
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC3066Early Childhood Education and Care: Children's places
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC3075Multiliteracies, Communication and the Young Child
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC3103Inclusive Education in Early Childhood and Primary Settings
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
EDUC3745K-6 Creative Arts
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC4025Leadership, Advocacy and Administration in EC Settings
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Online)
10 units
EDUC4146Early Childhood/Primary Professional Experience
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
20 units
EDUC4175Pedagogies of Reading and Writing: Birth to 12 Years
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC4955Education Honours I: Introduction to Education Research
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units

Graded Honours

Complete the following core courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
EDUC4965Education Honours II: Research Design and Methods
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
EDUC4975AHonours III - Thesis A
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units
EDUC4975BHonours IV - Thesis B
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
10 units

Ungraded Honours

Complete the following compulsory courses to fulfil the requirements of this program.

CodeTitleTerm / Location Units
EDUC4035Inquiry into Early Childhood Philosophy and Practices
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 1 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units
EDUC4182Research as Practice
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Callaghan)
  • Semester 2 - 2024 (Central Coast)
10 units

Electives

Electives 10 unit requirement

Complete 10 units of electives to fulfil the requirements of the program. Electives can be used to extend and complement your core studies with more courses in the same field of study, or from areas that might be of interest to you. Electives can be chosen from all courses available at the University that do not have any other conditions (such as a course requisite) applied to them.

10 units

Honours

All students who complete the requirements of the program will be eligible for ungraded Honours. High performing students may be eligible to undertake the Graded Honours stream. Students admitted to the graded Honours stream are required to successfully complete 30 units of research courses. The criteria for the determination of class of Honours are detailed in the Bachelor Honours Policy [000990] located in the University Policy Library. See Program Convenor for further information regarding eligibility for Graded Honours.


Additional information

Through the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, students can access a free suite of NUPrep preparation courses as well as Academic Learning Support.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can draw on the assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka Institute.

International students intending to seek accreditation to teach should seek clarification of accreditation requirements with their proposed/intended employment authority prior to undertaking the program. Responsibility for clarification of suitability of undergraduate qualifications for employment with an employing authority rests with the student.


International students

All International Students enrolled in the program will be provided with an orientation to familiarise them with the rules, expectations, facilities and services offered by the University. Please visit our International Students website to find out more about the support services available to international students.


Additional support

AccessAbility provides advice and reasonable adjustments to Students with a medical or health condition or disability. If you require adjustments to undertake your program, contact the Student Support Advisors - AccessAbility before semester or early in the semester. They will work with the College or School to ensure that this happens in a timely manner.

Please note: All students must fulfil the inherent requirements of the programs and courses they are undertaking. While reasonable adjustments can be made, these adjustments cannot compromise academic integrity. It is the student's responsibility to check all the requirements of courses, and consider the effects of any medical condition or disability on their ability to complete course requirements. More information is available online.