Bachelor of Teaching/
Bachelor of Health and Physical Education

Summary

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Health and Physical Education program prepares students to teach personal development, health and physical education.

The program aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge for the teaching profession and at the same time develop strengths in personal development, health and physical education.

Career opportunities

Graduates qualify for employment with the NSW Department of Education and Training, and Catholic and Independent Schools. They may also gain employment in sports coaching, recreation officers, health promotion or in the fitness industry.

Entry requirements

Recommended Studies: Any two units of English plus Personal Development Health and Physical Education, plus Biology, or Chemistry or Physics.

Additional entry requirements: All teacher education students must complete a Criminal Record Check and a Prohibited Employment Declaration to be able to undertake practical course requirements.

How to apply

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 or 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 Baccalaureate (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 requirements.

Description

IMPORTANT! You must read the Undergraduate Degree Rules. Click here to view.

The Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Health and Physical Education is a four-year integrated double degree program that prepares students to teach in the areas of Personal Development, Health and Physical Education in secondary schools.

Candidates undertake mandated discipline studies in Physical Education, Health and Sports Science. In the Education component of the degree, courses are offered under four strands: Teaching and Learning (including Special Education); Specialist Teaching Methods; Professional Experience, and a school-based research project. The final year of the program consists entirely of teaching studies and professional preparation culminating in an internship.

Credit Transfer Agreements

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

Program Structure

This program requires the successful completion of 320 units comprising:

• 180 units of Group 1 courses (Teaching), and
• 140 units of Group 2 courses (Health and Physical Education).

Professional Experience and Internship

The professional experience and internship courses for each specialisation area in all double degree programs must be completed in the prescribed sequence, with at least one professional experience course relating to the specialisation of the Internship. All students will be required to complete Child Protection Training before being allowed into schools. Additionally all students must sign a declaration stating they are not a prohibited person before being allowed into schools or other service organisations. At least one practical component of the program is to be undertaken at a location remote from Newcastle. Students are required to do practicum components as part of their program and may be required to do these at various times throughout the program.

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.

Department of Education and Training requirements

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.

Special Education

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. Students who are successful in receiving a place in the Special Education option replace the courses marked ** in under Program Requirements with the courses from the Special Education program (listed below). The Internship placement will be in a special education setting, which may or may not be in the local area.

Program Requirements

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 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. To establish offer status click on the course code for the course and follow the links to timetabling information.

The following table sets out the approved program for students commencing in 2003 or after. Students who commenced prior to 2003 should visit the School of Education website at www.newcastle.edu.au/school/education/ or contact the School office for information on course selection.

Honours - Double Degree Programs

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.

Approved Courses

Special Education Option

Students who select the special education option replace courses marked with ** with courses from the Special Education program (listed below). Students wishing to undertake this specialisation should contact the School of Education for information regarding selection criteria and application.

Schedule

The relevant program schedule is available within the Degree Rules and Schedules section of the Policy Library.