Bachelor of Education (Primary)

On this page:

• Overview
• Why Study at Sydney University?
• Course Structure
• Professional Experience
• Course Outcomes
• Career Opportunities
• Staff

Overview

Course Duration: 4 years full-time
Assumed Knowledge: 2 units of Mathematics and 2 Units of English at HSC level or equivalent (bridging courses are available).

2006 UAI: 86.45
UAC Code: 511600
UAC Fee Code: 521600

This degree gives students a professional qualification to teach in a primary school and other contexts with young children (aged 5-12 years) in Years K-6.

Students undertake generalist units in education and professional studies as well as units of study in the sciences, social sciences and humanities offered by the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Economics and Business.

Why Study at Sydney University?

The Bachelor of Education (Primary Education) covers all the Key Learning Areas (primary subject areas) with special attention to the mandatory areas of Indigenous Education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Special Education. Similarly, professional experience (practice teaching) is integral to the program and commences in first year. In fourth year students can specialise in one of a number of year long elective units such as Creative Arts, Special Education, TESOL and Aboriginal Education.

Course Structure

Foundation education studies examine education as a social science and explore issues of policy and social theory. Professional studies provide specialist expertise in areas of primary curriculum. Courses undertaken outside the Faculty provide students with the opportunity to engage in subject areas of interest at a tertiary level. In the first year students also undertake a Science Foundations Unit, which provides a grounding in the four major science areas (Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geology).

Honours is awarded on the basis of achievement in the second, third and fourth years of the course.

• Education 1018 and 1019;
• Science Foundations 1 and 2;
• Creative Arts 1;
• Teaching and Learning: Literacy (including 8 days in-school experience);
• 2 Junior (level 100) units of study chosen from those offered by the Faculties of Arts, or Science, or Economics and Business. Eg History, English, Anthropology, Religious Studies, Philosophy, Government.

• Professional Experiences, comprising separate semester units of study in English, Mathematics, Physical Education, Indigenous Education, Beginning Professional Experiences (including 15 days practice teaching);
• Education foundation courses in Educational Psychology and Social Perspectives on Education;
• 2 Senior (level 200) units of study offered by the Faculties of Arts, Science, or Economics and Business. (Usually the follow-on from the junior units studied in Year 1)

• Two 300 Level one-semester Foundation units of study in Education (The unit of study “Positive Approaches to Special Education” is compulsory if you are seeking employment with the Department of School Education);
• Professional Experiences, comprising 15 days;
• Separate semester courses in Language, Mathematics, Human Society and its Environment, Drama, Personal Development and Health, Science and Technology Education, TESOL.

• One optional Foundation course in Education;
• Reading and Writing Research (the Honours qualifying course);
• Professional Studies, consisting of a total of 45 days in two blocks;
• Separate semester units in Multiliteracies, Mathematics, Teaching English to Students of non-English Speaking Backgrounds, Teaching Children with Special Needs, Teaching and Curriculum, Creative Arts, PE (Gym and Dance) Personal Development and Health, Science and Technology, and Human Society and its Environment;
• A Special Unit. Some of these currently being offered are: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; Information Technology; Languages Other Than English (LOTE); Special Education;
• and Aboriginal Studies.

Professional Experience

• Teaching and Learning: Literacy – 8 single days of observation (some limited teaching and reflection).

• Professional Experience 1 – 15 days of practice teaching

• Professional Experience 2 – 15 days of practice teaching

• Professional Experience 3 – 15 days of practice teaching
• Professional Experience 4 – 30 days of practice teaching including internship

Course Outcomes

The Bachelor of Education (Primary) prepares graduates who have:

• a broad general education with in-depth knowledge in at least one area;
  
  an evolving personal theory of education, based on an understanding of contemporary society, children's development, the variety of roles of teachers, and the purposes and functions of schooling;
  
  knowledge, attitudes and attributes required for the effective performance of the complex tasks and responsibilities of primary teachers;
• a capacity to construct, implement and evaluate appropriate programs of learning experiences for primary school children;
• the maturity and humanity necessary for professional teaching;
• an ability to maintain, enquire into, and evaluate their own professional development;
• ability to analyse critically new professional and policy developments.

Career Opportunities

Primary school teacher in a NSW government school and primary school teacher in a private school.

Staff