The Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7), Bachelor of General Science may be taken as a double degree program in four years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). Students who study part-time would normally be expected to complete the double degree program within eight years. The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law in conjunction with the Faculty of Science and Engineering. The double degree program of Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7), Bachelor of General Science requires completion of a total of 144 units.

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete, the double degree program may be eligible to exit with a Bachelor of Education Studies (108 units).

Course aims

The course aims to produce graduates:

  • with the knowledge, technical and creative skills to effectively teach within and across learning areas in the primary years of schooling (Reception to Year 7);
  • who have studied in fields relevant to teaching in primary schools, with at least one learning area specialisation;
  • able to apply their knowledge creatively and skilfully in a variety of educational settings and with diverse groups of students;
  • with the cognitive skills to critically review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge;
  • who are skilled professionals able to communicate effectively with students, parents, colleagues and other professionals;
  • who are able to work both independently and collaboratively;
  • who can recognise the importance of ethical behaviour in the teaching profession;
  • with an understanding of diversity as it applies in educational settings and in a range of educational contexts;
  • motivated to undertake ongoing professional learning through a variety of pathways;
  • who can understand and apply relevant scientific principles;
  • who can retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form;
  • with the ability to analyse and evaluate scientific information, evaluate data and solve problems;
  • who appreciate the role of science in society.

Learning outcomes 

In undertaking the double degree program graduate students will:

  • develop knowledge of, and skills in, curriculum particularly related to their areas of study and with a focus on the learning areas for the primary years (R-7);
  • achieve the knowledge and understanding that different disciplines provide and also work across disciplinary boundaries to actively create cross-curriculum links;
  • apply educational theory, knowledge and understanding to make informed professional judgements in diverse educational situations;
  • develop the metacognitive skills to engage critically in the complex thinking required in learning and teaching;
  • communicate effectively with school students in a range of engaging learning environments;
  • engage collaboratively with school and local communities in conversations that promote wellbeing and inclusivity for all learners;
  • reflect critically on different teaching theories and practices, on their own teaching and on their lives, in order to strive for excellence and creativity in their teaching roles;
  • work collaboratively with colleagues, school students, their families and the wider community towards achieving high quality learning outcomes;
  • act ethically and responsibly in a professional role;
  • use inclusive teaching practices that demonstrate an understanding and respect for diversity;
  • establish a broad educational foundation for on-going professional development and life-long learning;
  • retrieve and present scientific information, including communicating effectively with a variety of audiences in written and spoken form;
  • apply the theories, subject content and professional methodologies  in the science disciplines they have studied;
  • understand and describe the processes through which current scientific knowledge was developed;
  • analyse and critically evaluate ideas and data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems;
  • communicate scientific findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form;
  • understand the role of science in society, operate within the relevant regulatory frameworks and value ethical behaviour in scholarship and professional activity.

Credit

Limited credit may be granted for recognition of prior studies undertaken at the University or other approved tertiary institutions. Further information is on this page.

Program of study

To qualify for The Bachelor of Education (Primary R-7), Bachelor of General Science, a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study:

  • a Bachelor of Education component of 76.5 units;
  • a Bachelor of General Science component of 67.5 units.

The Bachelor of Education component must include:

  • 9 units of Education topics at First Year level
  • 13.5 units of Education topics at Second Year level
  • 27 units of Education topics at Third Year level including professional experience
  • 27 units of Education topics at Fourth Year level including professional experience.

The Bachelor of General Science component must include:

  • 36 units comprising any two groups below
  • 22.5 units of Science topics at level 2000 or above subject to pre-requisites*
  • 9 units of Science topics*

Except with the permission of the Board:

  • no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice
  • professional experience topics may not be attempted more than once.

Students should note that teaching practicum topics require full-time commitment for their duration.

Year 1 topics

36 units comprising

 EDUC1120  Teaching and Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1222  English Curriculum Studies 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1226  Professional Experience: Year 1 (Primary R-7) (0 units)

plus 13.5 units of General Science topics from one group
plus 13.5 units of General Science topics from a second group

Year 2 topics

36 units comprising

 EDUC2322  Learners and their Development (Primary)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2325  Professional Experience: Year 2A (Primary R-7) (0 units)
 EDUC2422  Mathematics Curriculum Studies  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2425  Professional Experience: Year 2B (Primary R-7) (0 units)
 EDUC2420  Teaching Indigenous Australian Students (4.5 units)

plus 4.5 units of General Science topics from the first group
plus 4.5 units of General Science topics from a second group
plus 9 units of any Science topics at level 2000 or above*
plus 4.5 units of Science topics*

Year 3 topics

36 units comprising

 EDUC3523  Expressive Arts Curriculum Studies: Visual Art, Drama, Media, Music and Dance  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3524  Health and Physical Education Curriculum Studies  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3529  Professional Experience: Year 3A (Primary R-7) (0 units)
 EDUC3620  Relationships for Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3624  Science and Design & Technology Curriculum Studies  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3625  Numeracy and ICT Across the Curriculum  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3641  Professional Experience: Year 3B (Primary R-7) (4.5 units)

plus 4.5 units of any Science topics at level 2000 or above*
plus 4.5 units of Science topics*

Year 4 topics

36 units comprising

 EDUC4721  Differentiation for Diverse Learners (Primary)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4725  English Curriculum Studies 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4726  Social Sciences Curriculum Studies: History and Geography  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4741  Professional Experience: Final Assessment (Primary R-7) (4.5 units)
 EDUC4820  The Professional Educator  (4.5 units)

plus 4.5 units of Education Elective Topics
plus 9 units of any Science topics at level 2000 or above*

*Science topics can be any topics for which the prerequisites are met from the following prefix groups: BIOL, BIOD, BTEC, CHEM, COMP, CTEC, EASC, ENGR, ENVS, FACH, GEOG, MATH, NANO, PHYS OR STAT.

 

General Science Groups##

## where a topic is counted towards more than one group students must pick an extra first year science elective in its place.

GROUP 1 Mathematical Sciences

18 units comprising:

STAT1121 Data Science (4.5 units)
STAT1132 Statistics 1 (4.5 units)
Or
MATH1701 Mathematic Fundamentals A (4.5 units) and
MATH1702 Mathematic Fundamentals B (4.5 units)**

Plus:
MATH1121 Mathematics 1A (4.5 units) and
MATH1122 Mathematics 1B (4.5 units)

** Students without Year 12 mathematics must choose this pair of MATH1701 and MATH1702

GROUP 2 Biological Sciences

18 units comprising:

BIOL1101 Evolution of Biological Diversity (4.5 units)
BIOL1102 Molecular Basis of Life (4.5 units)

Plus
CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units) Or
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)***
And
CHEM1202 Chemistry for the Life Sciences (4.5 units)

OR
EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units) and
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)

*** Students without Year 12 Chemistry must choose CHEM1201 General Chemistry

GROUP 3 Earth and Environmental Sciences

18 units comprising:

EASC1101 Earth and Environmental Sciences (4.5 units)
EASC1102 Marine Sciences (4.5 units)
ENVS1001 Introduction to Environmental Investigations (4.5 units)
GEOG1001 Water Resource and Society (4.5 units)

GROUP 4 Technological Sciences

Select 18 units from:

COMP1101 Fundamentals of ICT (4.5 units)
COMP1102 Computer Programming 1 (4.5 units)
COMP1001 Fundamentals of Computing (4.5 units)
ENGR1201 Electronics (4.5 units)
ENGR1711 Engineering Design (4.5 units)

GROUP 5: Chemical and Physical Sciences

18 units comprising:

CHEM1101 Chemical Structure and Bonding (4.5 units)
CHEM1102 Modern Chemistry (4.5 units)

Plus 9 units from:
CHEM1201 General Chemistry (4.5 units)^
PHYS1701 Physics for the Modern World (4.5 units)
PHYS1101 Fundamental Physics I (4.5 units)
PHYS1102 Fundamental Physics II (4.5 units)

^ Students without Year 12 Chemistry must choose CHEM1201 General Chemistry as their option before enrolling in CHEM1101 and CHEM1102