Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Fine Arts

As a teacher of visual arts subjects, you will guide students through their journey to the knowledge and skills that will enable them to become confident artists both in Australia and in other cultures. You will be able to share your talent and knowledge with enthusiastic young people who are developing their interests in the creative arts.

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Fine Art program prepares students to teach visual arts, principally for the secondary school and at the same time provides the necessary practice and critical skills necessary for the development as a practitioner in the visual arts.

Students may apply to complete an alternative program 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 and application. The internship placement will be in a special education setting, which may or may not be in the local area.

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 training specialisation components of the program. The fourth year is devoted to teaching studies, culminating in a 10 week-internship.

In the Fine Art component you will have opportunities to study courses such as drawing, painting, sculpture, digital media, ceramics, fibre arts and art history. There are also course selection available in illustration, design or video. Students are able to major in a specific studio area.

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Fine Arts program is an accredited teacher education qualification that enables graduates to teach visual arts in government and non-government schools in NSW, other Australian states and Territories and overseas. As a result of completing the program graduates have the potential to pursue careers in a variety to art and education-related enterprises: secondary teaching, teaching in Special Education, curriculum development and planning, education in museum/gallery, art practitioner, arts policy and community arts.

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.

Visual Arts Teaching: Visual Arts

Students applying for credit transfer will need to obtain advice from the Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Fine Art Program Convenor on course requirements including the possible need to complete compulsory courses relevant to the professional preparation of a secondary visual arts teacher.

Credit transfer agreement with TAFE NSW and other education providers are under continuous negotiation. For more information about articulation agreements 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 than 5.5 over the final two years of their program of study.

From 2009, for students entering their third year of study embedded honours will be assessed under the new rules.

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.

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. Students may also elect to complete one or more courses in computer digital imagemaking as part of the visual arts component of their program. Students must have at least 10 units in 2D, 3D and Photomedia.

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.

The Internship is completed in the final year of the program and students must have completed at least 270 units including all required practice teaching components prior to enrolment in the Internship. Internship is a Semester 2 courses. Semester 1 enrolment is only available to students whose formal program is due to end at the end of Semester 1.

The program comprises 320 units comprising 180 units of Teaching (Group 1) courses and 140 units of Visual Arts (Group 2) courses.

There are three main components in Teaching: professional preparation, visual arts teaching methods and school-based professional experience.

The Fine Art component consists of studies in studio practice and history and theory of the visual arts. Studio practice courses offer studies in 2D, 3D, Photomedia, Visual Communication (Design) and Video.

Many programs 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 area to ensure that they are satisfying its requirements. Failure to undertake courses in the required sequence may result in timetable clashes and/or the inability to complete the award in minimum time.

Not all courses will be offered each semester.