Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies

The early years of any child's life are crucial to their later development - emotionally, educationally and physically. 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/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies is a four-year integrated double degree program that prepares students for teaching children from birth to eight years old. The program consists of an Early Childhood Studies component and an Education component.

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

The program prepares you to teach children from birth to eight years. In the first three years, you have experiences in a range of field work and practicum of early childhood settings - child care centres, pre-schools and Kindergarten to year two classes. The fourth your culminates in a 10 week internship in a setting of your choice: childcare centre, pre-school with children aged nought to five years, or Kindergarten to year two school class with children aged five to eight years.

Graduates qualify for registration with the NSW Department of Community Services for employment in Early Childhood Services. They also qualify for employment by 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.

Completed TAFE Diploma of Community Services (Children's Services CBC) or equivalent will give specified credit in the following courses: EDUC1003, EDUC1005, EDUC1006, AART1020, EDUC2002, EDUC2100, EDUC2047 and SOCA1040.

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.

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 in the double degree programs can only be undertaken after the successful completion of 270 units of that double degree specialisation, including both practica required prior to the semester of internship enrolment. Internship is a Semester 2 course. Semester 1 enrolment is only available to students whose advertised program is due to end at the end of semester 1.

The program requires the successful completion of 320 units comprising:

• 190 units in the Teaching component.
• 130 units in the Early Childhood component.
• A 10 week internship.

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 a 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.