Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) (BPMU) - BEd(Primary&MiddleSchooling)

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: 908171; Fraser Coast campus: 918171; Springfield campus: 928171

CRICOS code (International applicants): 017698K

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In this section:

• Program focus
• Expressive arts major
• Music major
• Health and physical education major
• Lower primary (P-3) major
• Middle school: science major
• Special education major

Program focus

This degree prepares students for a career as a primary and middle school teacher with the opportunity to major in Expressive Arts, Health and Physical Education, Lower Primary (P-3), Special Education, Music Education and Middle School Science major, depending on which campus you attend. All of the majors are subject to quota.

We are currently redeveloping our programs for 2009. This area of study will remain available, but with greater flexibility.

Career opportunities

Teaching opportunities are available in primary schools and middle schools throughout Australia.

Expressive arts major

This major provides beginning educators with the opportunity to enhance their creative skills and knowledge and obtain a deeper understanding of the broad nature of the Expressive Arts area, thereby strengthening the beginning educator’s Expressive Arts capabilities in schools. This major is subject to quota.

Music major

This major provides beginning educators with the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge and obtain a deeper understanding of the broad nature of the Music area, thereby strengthening the beginning educator’s Music capabilities in schools. This major is subject to quota.

Health and physical education major

This major provides a balance of practical and theoretical work needed to teach Health and Physical Education in schools. Beginning educators with this major have the opportunity of working as either a general classroom teacher or as a specialist Health and Physical Education teacher. Entry into the Health and Physical Education major may require an application and an interview and is subject to a quota.

Lower primary (P-3) major

This major will provide beginning educators with an in-depth understanding of the nature of working with children in pre-school to Year 3. This major is subject to quota.

Middle school: science major

The major provides beginning educators who have the desire to teach Science in the Middle Years with additional content knowledge from across a broad range of science discipline areas. Beginning educators with the Middle School: Science major are in high demand in schools. This major is subject to quota.

Special education major

This major provides beginning educators with a deeper understanding of issues associated with special needs in classrooms, including the creation of inclusive classroom settings, behaviour management and teaching and communicating with children with high support needs and disabilities. This major is subject to a quota.

Professional accreditation

Graduates of this program who meet the 'good character' and other requirements of the Queensland College of Teachers (formerly the Board of Teacher Registration, Queensland) will be eligible for registration as a teacher in Queensland. Please note that the Board conducts a national criminal history check as a key element of its consideration of the suitability of all applicants for teacher registration.

Program aims

The Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) is a four year full-time on-campus program designed to prepare students for employment in primary and the newly emerging middle school sector:

• are reflective and ethical practitioners

• are innovators and navigators of change

• have a strong sense of self and place in the world

• are flexible and creative problem solvers

• are transformative intellectuals

• are socially just and empowering

• value diversity and inclusiveness

• are passionate learners and inspire learning in others

• are keen to accept responsibility, able to identify and optimise opportunities

• demonstrate a current pedagogical content knowledge base

• identify, enable and create opportunities for others to construct meaning and develop capacities to manage their own learning

• are engaged and collaborative members of a learning community

• are compassionate advocates for education and for their community.

Note: This level of award is required for teacher registration in Queensland. Applicants from other States or countries should check local requirements BEFORE enrolling in this program

Program objectives

The Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) seeks to:

• provide education professionals with opportunities to develop a range of teaching and learning skills and theoretical foundations of successful practice, to enable them to design, implement and evaluate programs and practices across a range of teaching and learning environments accommodating a broad range of learner characteristics, with particular reference to the primary and middle years of schooling

• encourage commitment and motivation such that graduates are keen to engage in ongoing professional development and continuous improvement

• enable successful graduates to obtain teacher registration in Queensland.

Admission requirements

Normal Entry (ONC-full-time)

Applicants who have completed Year 12 at a Queensland secondary school (or its equivalent) are eligible for consideration under the standard admission requirements. The overall position (or its equivalent) is used as the general basis for selection. Applicants must have obtained at least 'Satisfactory Achievement' or equivalent in English and must satisfy any pre-requisites for content studies from other Faculties.

Entry to the Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) may be subject to availability of places.

International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/UNIPREP program.

How to apply

Domestic students

Application for undergraduate programs may be made through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC). The same procedure applies whether you plan to study on-campus or by distance education.

If you completed Year 12 at a Queensland secondary school you will be assessed for entry on the basis of your Overall Position (OP) or equivalent score. Year 12 students from other states or territories are considered for entry on the basis of their UAI, ENTER or TER. Other applicants will be based on their overall Rank. You should ensure you submit your application by the closing dates.

International students

This program is offered to international students. An international student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and how to apply.

Program fees

Student contribution amount

For domestic students who are offered Commonwealth supported places, the Government pays some money directly to the University, but students are also required to make a contribution. This contribution is called the ‘student contribution’. For more information about student contribution amounts, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ fees.

International fees

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the International Fee Schedule provided by USQ International.

Program structure

To be awarded a four year Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling), normally a beginning educator must have completed 32 units at undergraduate levels 1-4. At the discretion of the Program Coordinator, up to four units may be completed at postgraduate level.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 9 years to complete this program.

Core courses

Areas of study and related courses

The Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) is a 32 unit program made up of 26 core courses (including seven 2 unit integrated courses, embedded professional experience, and an internship), and 6 extended studies courses. Responsibility for meeting program requirements rests with individual students. Students should ensure that they adhere to the recommended enrolment patterns (included in the Handbook), appropriate to their intended areas of teaching.

Major studies

In the Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling), students choose either:

• major (6 units)

• minor (4 units) + electives (2 units), or

• electives (6 units).

Further information on the courses available to choose from can be found at the Faculty of Education website

Students may choose to major in one of the following areas:

Fraser Coast Campus

• Lower Primary

• Special Education.

Springfield Campus

• Lower Primary

• Health and Physical Education

• Expressive Arts

• Music

• Special Education.

Toowoomba Campus

• Health and Physical Education

• Middle School: Science

• Special Education

• Lower Primary (P-3).

Recommended enrolment patterns for Major studies are listed below. Students choose six courses from those listed in each area.

In this section:

• Expressive arts major
• Health and physical education major
• Lower primary (P - 3) major
• Middle school: science major
• Music major
• Special education major
• For continuing students only - Information and communication technologies in education major
• For continuing students only - Literacy/childrens literature major
• For continuing students only - Middle years of learning
• For continuing students only - Middle school: mathematics and technology
• For continuing students only - Second language teaching major

Expressive arts major

Available at Springfield

Health and physical education major

Available at Springfield and Toowoomba

Lower primary (P - 3) major

Available at Fraser Coast, Springfield and Toowoomba

Middle school: science major

Available at Toowoomba

Music major

Available at Springfield campus only

Special education major

Available at Fraser Coast, Springfield and Toowoomba

For continuing students only - Information and communication technologies in education major

For continuing students only - Literacy/childrens literature major

For continuing students only - Middle years of learning

For continuing students only - Middle school: mathematics and technology

For continuing students only - Second language teaching major

Minor or option studies

Students choose four courses from those listed in each area below unless otherwise specified:

Minors will be offered in the above major areas at the campuses indicated..

Australian Indigenous Studies: Four courses to be completed from ANT1001, KNL1001, KNL1002, KNL2001 , KNL3001.

Health and Physical Education: Students should complete the following four courses: EDU2462 ,EDU3461, EDU3462 and EDU4461.

Expressive Arts : Students should complete the following four courses: EDU1452, EDU3457, EDU2453 and EDU4451.

Literacy/Children's Literature: Four courses to be completed - choices should be discussed with the Coordinator of the area.

Students who choose a minor from one of the other Faculties within the University will complete four courses within a particular discipline area. The courses offered are listed in the Option Studies section of this Handbook. Students should use the code for the chosen option study as indicated in the Option Studies section.

Religious Education: This minor is offered cross-institutionally through the Australian Catholic University. This minor gives students a sound basis to apply for teaching positions in Catholic schools. Contact the Program Administration Office for further information.

Elective courses

Electives may be selected from among any undergraduate courses (including those which form part of the majors and minors listed above) for which students have successfully completed any pre-requisite courses.

Practical experience

Requirements for Supervised Professional Experience (SE) in Primary and Middle Schooling Program

Students enrolling in this program are required to undertake 117 days of embedded professional experience. At least 80 days must occur in an approved educational environment under direct supervision (SE). Professional experiences sometimes occur outside the usual University teaching weeks. Travel to settings outside the Toowoomba, Springfield and Fraser Coast area may be necessary to complete the professional experience component of this program.

Requirements for Non-Supervised Experience (NSE) in Primary and Middle Schooling Program

Students are required to undertake thirty-five days Non Supervised Experience (NSE). These non supervised experiences are intended to (i) expand students' understanding of the diverse contexts in which learning can take place; (ii) raise awareness of factors influencing the teaching-learning process; and (iii) provide opportunities for involvement in relevant educational, workplace or profession development activities. Five days are connected to and form a part of course PRI1142 Identity and Culture in Education, and 30 days are connected to PRT4000 Internship: Primary and Middle School Educators .

Eligibility to Undertake Professional Experience in Queensland Educational Settings

Under the terms of the Commission for Children and Young People Act (Qld. 2000), students undertaking professional experience are considered to be volunteers engaged in regulated employment. As such, all students must apply to the Commission to be issued with a notice that they are suitable to work in child-related employment. As part of this application, the students must consent to the Commission conducting a criminal history check as the key element of the process of determining suitability. All applications for a suitability notice must be made at the local campus of the university at the commencement of their program. Students who do not make application, or who do apply but are subsequently deemed unsuitable , will not be able to undertake the professional experience components of the program.

Further information, including a list of serious offences which could lead to a student being deemed unsuitable, are available from the Commission's website at http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/

IT requirements

Students will be expected to have access to a computer with common productivity software (e.g. word processing, email, web browser).

Exit points

Students who are unable to complete the full 32 unit requirement of this program may, subject to Program Coordinator approval, be eligible to exit this program with the following qualifications. The relative number of professional education units and content units are detailed for each qualification. Students who wish to exit at these points must meet the requirements outlined in the following table.

Honours

Honours

Admission Requirements

Normal Entry (ONC-full-time)

Entry may be subject to availability of places. Selected students will be offered the opportunity of following the Honours pathway after completion of the first three or four semesters of study in the Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) program. Students gaining a minimum GPA of 6.0 over the first three semesters will be considered for selection. Each year students will be invited to apply for the Honours pathway, offers being determined on the basis of academic merit and the annual quota set for the Honours program.

Program Structure

The Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling) may be awarded with Honours. The class of honours to be awarded to a student is dependant upon:

• the Grade Point Average calculated from the grades achieved in the courses studied in, or transferred to, the program

• the grade achieved by the student in the Honours Courses,FET8801 Research Methods in Education,EDU4351 Supervised Project 1and EDU5351 Supervised Project 2 (unless the student is exempted from these courses).

Students enrolled in the Honours pathway will need to maintain a GPA of at least 4.0 to graduate with Honours. The level of Honours awarded will be determined by a weighting formula that accounts for performance across the four-year program as follows:

Note: Honours students who fail to meet the requirements of the above levels of award will be eligible for the award of the Pass Degree where they have passed all Honours courses and have satisfied the requirements for the award of Bachelor of Education (Primary and Middle Schooling). Entry into the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education requires First Class or Second Class Div A Honours.
Core Courses

Courses EDU4351 Supervised Project 1 and EDU5351 Supervised Project 2 together constitute the Honours dissertation with a total word length of between 10,000-15,000 words.
Minor or option studies

A major of five courses will only be allowed when the focus of the Honours research and dissertation is in the same area as the major.
Recommended enrolment pattern

It is strongly advised that students who intend following the Honours pathway discuss enrolment details with the relevant Program Coordinator as early as possible to ensure an appropriate study pattern.

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment pattern
• Recommended enrolment pattern - Springfield fast-track students only

Recommended enrolment pattern

The following pattern over four calendar years of full-time study will ensure that all program requirements can be completed. Responsibility for meeting program requirements rests with individual students. Students should ensure that they adhere to the recommended enrolment patterns (included in the Handbook).

Recommended enrolment pattern - Springfield fast-track students only

The following pattern over three calendar years of full-time study will ensure that all program requirements can be completed. Responsibility for meeting program requirements rests with individual students. Students should ensure that they adhere to the recommended enrolment patterns (included in the Handbook and on the web as well).

Note: There will be a GPA requirement of 5.5 for all students commencing Fast Track in 2008. That GPA must be maintained to remain in the Fast Track.

No new enrolments for Fast Track will be admitted from 2009 onwards.