Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) / 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 (Primary)/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies 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 educators, and K-6 (Primary) teachers in and beyond the New South Wales (NSW) Government, Catholic, and Independent school sectors. The program aims to develop graduates who are inspirational teachers with the capability to act professionally, ethically 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.

The Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)/Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies is taught by academics from within the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, whose research is deepening understandings of curriculum, policy, pedagogy, assessment, literacy, learning, and leadership across the education sector.

Graduates will have been provided with a solid foundation in Quality Teaching, a model of pedagogy widely adopted within the teaching profession and endorsed by educational leaders across the sector, that is informed by recent research from within the School of Education that has identified the elements of teaching that have significant influence on student performance and equity.

The program builds on existing strong partnerships with schools and Early Childhood settings in NSW, particularly those in the Hunter and Central Coast Regions. As an important and significant part of their program of study, students will have experienced a continuous engagement with the profession through participating in formal and informal professional experiences in and across a range of educational contexts and settings. The professional experience opportunities in the program will have allowed students to study teaching as it unfolds in diverse educational settings, to develop their professional dispositions, and to demonstrate their attainment of graduate teacher standards. These professional studies will have culminated in a special course designed to support them as New Scheme Teachers, to effectively monitor, evaluate, plan and keep records of their ongoing professional learning, and to report on their attainment of the NSW Institute of Teachers' standards for "professional competence" once they enter the teaching profession.

Opportunities exist for employment in educational settings in NSW Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education and Independent school systems; and in public and private school sectors both nationally and internationally.

A Graduate Certificate in Theology http://www.newcastle.edu.au/program/12211.html can provide training and development in theology for prospective teachers who are looking for a competitive edge when seeking employment in religious schools, especially the Catholic School system.

The program can be undertaken concurrently with either an undergraduate or postgraduate teacher training program. You will need to ensure that you are able to meet the demands of both programs.

For further information on how to apply please see FAQ's - Grad Cert Theology Admission Procedure document in the 'further information' section above.

Admission to this program is available to Australian students, residents and international students. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/what-can-i-study/undergraduate-programs/how-to-get-in/ for information on how to gain entry.

You may also be eligible to receive bonus points if you will be receiving an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR). Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/what-can-i-study/undergraduate-programs/how-to-get-in/domestic-students/options-for-entry/bonus-points.html to see if you may be eligible.

HSC or equivalent.

Band 4 Mathematics and Band 4 English in NSW HSC. Students who do not meet this requirement on entry will have to demonstrate equivalent achievement before graduation as per NSW Institute of Teachers requirements.

HSC study in the area of your preferred teaching specialisation if completing the BTeach (Primary).

• National Police Certificate
• Working with Children Check
• Prohibited Employment Declaration

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, go to http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/credit-transfer/ and click on ‘How to Apply for Credit’.

Students in this program may elect to complete a 40 unit embedded Honours program, assuming they meet and maintain the eligibility requirements. These requirements are determined by the Academic Senate, and can be found on the University website.

Students must undertake 40 units of research courses, namely EDUC4955 Education Honours I: Introduction to Education Research (10 units), EDUC4965 Education Honours II: Research Design and Methods (10 units) and EDUC4990 Honours III: Project and Thesis (20 units). See Program Convenor for further information regarding eligibility for Honours.

The programs in the School of Education incorporate both traditional and innovative approaches to professional experience. Students will complete the equivalent of 90 days professional experience in relevant school settings in a four-year Bachelor program. This matches the current NSW Institute of Teachers (NSWIT) requirements for professional experience in four-year undergraduate initial teacher education programs. NOTE: All teacher education students are required to do one professional experience placement of 20 days at a location outside of the local region (ie. in other parts of NSW or Australia). Students normally do this "out-of-area" placement in the third year of the program. IMPORTANT: Some professional experience placements occur during university vacation times. Please check the professional experience website for placement dates before you book a holiday. http://www.newcastle.edu.au/faculty/education-arts/peu/education/

In addition to its approval as a K-6 qualification by the NSW Institute of Teachers, this program has been approved as a 0-5 qualification by the Early Childhood Education & Care Directorate of the NSW Department of Education and Communities. Specifically, through its accreditation process the ECECD has determined that the program:

• Does meet the required qualifications for the position of Authorised Supervisor under Part 2 Clause 16 (2) (c) of the "Children's Services Regulation 2004".

• Does meet the required qualification for the position of Primary Contact Staff Member for Children under Two Years under Part 4 Clause 52 (2) (a), (b), (c), or (d) of the "Children's Services Regulation 2004".

• Does meet the required qualifications for the position of Teaching Staff Member under Part 4 Clause 52 (4) (a) or (b) or (c) of the "Children's Services Regulation 2004".

International students must comply with the University of Newcastle's English language proficiency requirements. 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 http://www.newcastle.edu.au/students/international/student-support/ to find out more about the support services available to international students.

Students with disabilities who require reasonable adjustments to undertake their program should contact the Disability Support Service before semester or early in the semester. Some adjustments need up to 4 weeks lead time to organise, so it is imperative that early contact is made. The Disability Support Service and relevant Faculty and School officers will work together to ensure reasonably adjustments are provided 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. Please visit http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/disability/ for more information.

International applicants 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 applicant.

All students can access additional learning development mechanisms provided by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/unit/ctl/lsp/

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.