Bachelor of Teaching / Bachelor of Arts

A good teacher can have a profound effect on a young person's outlook on education, their career aspirations and life generally. If you have a real commitment to helping young people get the most out of their education, a passion for learning, rapport with people and a sense of humour, then you will find teaching a truly rewarding professional career where you can make a difference.

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts is a four-year integrated double degree program that prepares students for Primary teaching or teaching English or Social Science in Secondary Schools, depending on Program Structure undertaken.

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts program is available at Port Macquarie in the Primary Teaching specialisation only. The following Key Learning Areas (KLA's) are available:

• English (LING3200, ENGL3007, LING3060)
• Creative Arts (Fine Arts, Music, Drama)(AART1240, AART1310, MUSI2016, MUSI2003)
• Human Society and its Environment (ABOR1110(online), ABOR1420(online), SOCA3060, HLSC2241(online)).

Courses available at Port Macquarie are highlighted on the Port Macquarie Enrolment Grid (see Additional Information).

The Social Science Specialisation prepares students for teaching within the Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) Key Learning Area (KLA). There is a wide range of courses in HSIE including: Aboriginal Studies; Ancient History; Business Studies; Economics; Georgraphy; Legal Studies; Modern History; Studies of Religion and Society and Culture.

Students may apply to complete an alternative program (available at Callaghan only) commencing in Year 4 in order to qualify for employment as a Special Education teacher, in addition to their teaching specialisation. Entry into the Special Education option is competitive, and students wishing to undertake this specialisation should contact the School of Education for information regarding selection criteria, application and course enrolment.

The University of Newcastle runs one of the largest, most comprehensive and highly respected teacher education programs in Australia.

In the first three years, you undertake studies in the education and teaching specialisation components of the program. The fourth year is devoted to teaching studies, culminating in a 10-week internship. Primary students complete curriculum method courses for all six key learning areas of the curriculum, and then choose discipline courses to support those key learning areas. Secondary English students major in English, but can also combine this with other discipline studies in areas such as drama, languages (not available at Central Coast Campus) or history. Secondary social science (only available at Newcastle) students are advised to take their major study in economics, geography, business studies or history, and choose from a broad range of arts and social science areas for a minor.

Graduates qualify for employment with the NSW Department of Education and Training and Catholic and Independent schools.

Current Australian Year 12 Students:

Apply for entry through UAC. Entry based on UAI or equivalent.

Non school leavers and previous Australian Year 12 students:

Apply for entry through UAC. Entry based on:

• Previous Year 12 studies and/or
• Higher education, tertiary, post-secondary qualifications and/or
• Overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications.
• Relevant vocational experience.

International Students

International students currently undertaking:

• an Australian Year 12 in Australia
• an Australian Year 12 outside Australia
• an International Baccalaureat (IB) in Australia

Apply for entry through UAC. Entry based on UAI or equivalent.

All other international students:

Apply direct to International Admissions. Entry based on overseas qualifications considered equivalent to Australian qualifications, as well as satisfying English language requirement.

Band 4 English for Secondary teaching; Band 4 English and Band 4 Mathematics for Primary teaching. Students who do not demonstrate this level on entry, including non-school applicants, will be required to complete an additional equivalent unit/s as concurrent study or demonstrate equivalent standing.

Credit transfer arrangements with TAFE NSW and other education providers are under continuous negotiation. For more information about articulation arrangements please see the University's website, at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/credit

To qualify for admission to the double degree with Honours in Teaching, a student must achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) equal to or greater then 5.5 over the final two years of their program of study.

The School of Education within the Faculty of Education and Arts is committed to achieving the University of Newcastle's number one strategic priority of making 'high quality education of professionals a defining feature' of study at the university. To achieve this strategic priority our programs incorporate both traditional and innovative approaches to professional experience. Students will complete the equivalent of 80 days professional experience in relevant school settings in a four-year Bachelor program; or 60 days of professional experience in the Master of Teaching program. This matches the current NSW Institute of Teachers (NSWIT) draft requirements for professional experience in two-year postgraduate initial teacher education programs.

Graduates of an accredited initial teacher education program will be eligible for registration with the NSW Institute of Teachers, and can pursue careers as teachers or educators in both the NSW Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education and Independent school systems; and in public and private sectors both nationally and internationally.

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts is available for international students at Callaghan campus. There is no option for international students to enrol at Port Macquarie.

The Faculty of Education and Arts accepts the responsibility for providing reasonable accommodations for international students, in liaison with the International Development Services unit support team, which offers practical assistance and advice to international students.

All new International Students will be provided with an Orientation of the Faculty of Education and Arts and the University at the commencement of each semester.

There is a designated International Students Liaison Officer in all Schools within the Faculty of Education and Arts. This Officer is available to International Students as a representative and also to seek guidance and advice from.

The Faculty of Education and Arts accepts responsibility for providing reasonable accommodations for students with special needs, in liaison with the Student Support Unit, which offers practical assistance and advice to students with a disability or chronic illness.

Prior to graduation the Department of Education and Training requires evidence that students have developed computer competencies in the areas of basic skills and pedagogy. Students are required to satisfactorily demonstrate these competencies during specific courses in the program.

The program requires the successful completion of 320 units.

Many course areas require students to complete a prescribed sequence of courses. This means that students must enrol in courses in a particular order to satisfy the requirements. Such requirements are mandatory when they lead to professional accreditation or when they involve the progressive acquisition of knowledge and/or skills. Before enrolling, students must consult the School responsible for the course areas to ensure that they are satisfying its requirements. Failure to undertake courses in the required sequence may result in timetable clashes and/or inability to complete the award in the minimum time.

Courses must be completed in recommended sequence as per the Enrolment Grid. See Further Information to download the grid.

The Education component consists of courses offered in four strands:

• Teaching and Learning (including Special Education);
• Professional Preparation (Primary) or Specialist Teaching Methods (Secondary)
• Professional Experience; and
• Research.

Primary Teaching Specialisation

The Arts component consists of prescribed courses and Key Learning Area (KLA) Extended Study courses. Students select 60 units from the KLA's. It is recommended that students study 40 units from one KLA and 20 units from another KLA. Students must select a minimum of two courses (20 units) from a KLA. Courses are subject to annual review and course options may change.

Students intending to study a language other than English must consult with the Program Convenor for the Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts (Primary).

Secondary English Teaching Specialisation

The Arts component consists of a major (90 units) in English and a minor (50 units) in another area; Drama, Languages, Modern History and Film Studies being the most popular areas. It is not necessary for Secondary English teachers to take a second teaching course area and therefore candidates may choose to do more than 90 units in English. However, it is recommended that students have a second teaching course area to enhance their employment opportunities as teachers. It is strongly recommended that students undertake some study of Shakespeare and Australian literature within their major.

Students may also refer to the Bachelor of Arts information for a list of available courses for their major and minor studies that may not be listed below.

Secondary Social Science Teaching Specialisation

For the Arts component, students are advised to complete their major study in Geography, Modern History, Business Studies, Ancient History or Economics. The Social Science minor may be taken from one of these areas or from one of the other HSIE KLA course areas listed above. Students are required to complete courses in a 90 unit major and 50 unit Social Science minor, or complete courses in a 70 unit major, 40 units of one Social Science minor and 30 units of another Social Science minor.