1. About Bachelor of Education (Primary)
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is a four-year full-time course that prepares students as primary teachers. Completing this course qualifies you to apply for provisional registration to teach with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) in Christian schools, government schools, Catholic schools and independent schools in Victoria. Registration requirements may be different in other states and countries.
Eastern College Australia’s School of Education teaches from a Christian perspective. All units engage with Christian ideas, and there is a core of theological units to challenge, broaden and connect students’ faith with their educational vocation.
The course is designed for school leavers and mature students. Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) can be applied for in terms of previous tertiary studies. Intakes are in both Semester 1 and Semester 2. Due to the scheduling of offerings, students who commence in Semester 2 may require up to 9 semesters to complete. Students may be able to fast track their studies or lighten their load after the first year by completing units in the College’s Summer School.
The Bachelor of Education (Primary) is integrated with the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), and the Bachelor of Arts. Students can transfer easily from one course to the other in the first two years of study. This provides great flexibility as we recognise that students’ early goals can modify as their studies progress.
Classes are small and support from the experienced teaching staff is timely.
Description
The course has 32 units with 90 days of professional experience included as part of a number of units.
All students undertake a compulsory minor (four units) in the College’s Christian Foundations core, plus compulsory 9 units in Education (General) and 10 units in Education (Primary).
Students will also undertake a major (6 units) in one of the following fields:
- Mathematics
- English
- History
- Humanities
- Theology
- Visual Arts
Students will also undertake a stream of units (3 units) that is a different field to their major in one of the following fields:
- Mathematics
- English
- History
- Theology
- Visual Arts
Professional Experiences includes two blocks of 5 days of observation, one in a primary and one in a secondary school, followed by three placements of 15,10 and 25 days each in primary schools, and a final placement of 30 days in a primary school. The professional experiences integrate closely with the Education units to provide a holistic learning experience for students in a supportive yet challenging environment.
Course Outcomes
- Apply broad and coherent knowledge of learning theory, and the physical, social-emotional, intellectual and spiritual development of students from 4 - 12 years old and how they learn.
- Demonstrate and apply coherent knowledge of primary school contexts, contemporary Australian and Victorian Curriculum, and pedagogical content knowledge to create, plan for, and implement effective teaching and learning to support diverse learners.
- Create and maintain supportive, safe and inclusive learning environments, including in the integration of ICT.
- Assess and use assessment to provide feedback, report on student learning, and inform planning and teaching for students’ learning needs.
- Take responsibility and accountability for their own learning to identify, engage in and apply professional learning and reflective practices, individually and collaboratively.
- Engage professionally, collaboratively and relationally with colleagues, students, parents/carers, external professionals and the community.
- Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of society and its condition and impact on education.
- Critically examine the implications of worldview for educational practice and articulate a Christian worldview for education.
- Review critically, analyse, evaluate, and synthesise theory and practice for education and two disciplines.
- Apply planning, problem solving and decision-making skills compassionately in response to social needs and injustice.
- Present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas using exemplary interpersonal, written and digital communication skills.
Delivery locations
- Wantirna (Full)
- Online (Partial)
Course Structure
Students must complete 192 credit points (cp) consisting of the following:
- Christian Foundations for Educators Core (24 cp)
- Education Studies Core (54 cp)
- Primary Education Studies Core (48 cp)
- A major (36 cp) and a stream (18 cp) in different fields
- A specialisation to have deeper knowledge and teaching skills related to one primary learning area in English (Primary English Specialisation) or Mathematics (Primary Mathematics Specialisation) (12 cp)
Pathways
Depending on the units chosen and how far through the course they are a student may exit with a Diploma of Arts, Associate Degree in Arts or a Bachelor of Arts. Additional units may be required to meet the requirements of these courses.
Other Requirements
All units must be passed for graduation including the professional experience components of any unit including professional experience.
The final professional experience unit must be completed in the last semester of study.
2. Essential requirements for admission
English Language Requirement
Previous Higher Education Study
- Successful partial or full completion of a course of higher education study conducted in Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or the USA; OR
- IELTS Academic: Overall 7.5 with the following required in each of the skill areas: speaking 8.0, listening 8.0, reading 7.0 and writing 7.0; OR
- International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR): Level 4 required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing; OR
- Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT): Band A required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Where a student applies for entry with advanced standing from a course of study undertaken in a country other than Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or the USA they must successfully complete one of the following English proficiency tests at the specified level before being granted their award.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic: Overall 7.5 with the following required in each of the skill areas: speaking 8.0, listening 8.0, reading 7.0 and writing 7.0; OR
- International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR): Level 4 required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing; OR
- Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT): Band A required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
The College will accept a certified copy of the test results. These results must be less than 24 months old at the date of application for graduation.
Where the student is transferring from an Eastern College Australia award which requires a lower level of English Language Proficiency, the student will not be admitted to the BEd(Primary) until they meet the English Language Proficiency requirements.
Applicant with Vocational Education and Training Study
- Secondary studies completed in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the USA; OR
- IELTS Academic: Overall 7.5 with the following required in each of the skill areas: speaking 8.0, listening 8.0, reading 7.0 and writing 7.0; OR
- International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR): Level 4 required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing; OR
- Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT): Band A required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing
Recent School Leaver
- VCE with English units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English as a Second Language (ESL) or 25 in any other English other than ESL or equivalent; OR
- IELTS Academic: Overall 7.5 with the following required in each of the skill areas: speaking 8.0, listening 8.0, reading 7.0 and writing 7.0; OR
- International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR): Level 4 required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing; OR
- Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT): Band A required in each of the areas of speaking, listening, reading and writing
3. Admission Criteria
The College is committed to ensuring that potentially high-quality employable graduates are admitted to the College in line with State and national expectations. These high standards and the successful completion of all the studies enable students to be able to be registered by the Victorian Institute of Teaching upon successful completion of the course.
All applicants will be required to meet the College Admission Criteria/General Entry Requirements for all Courses namely the interview and an endorsed character reference form.
Interview
All applicants will be interviewed as part of the application process. During the interview, applicants will be asked the following questions and assessed as to their suitability for entering the teaching profession.
- Motivation to Teach
- What has led you to applying for this course?
- Strong Interpersonal /Communication skills
- Tell me about events/organisations that you have been part of and the roles you played
- Willingness to Learn
- Tell me about what you did when faced with a task you had to complete but lacked the skills or information
- Tell me about something you have been really keen to learn and what you did about it
- Resilience
- We all get knock backs, things not working out. Tell me about your experience of this and how you responded
- Self-efficacy
- How do people become good teachers?
- Conscientiousness
- Undertaking a tertiary study has high demands. Tell me about what you consider will be important?
- Organisational and planning skills
- In completing your previous study/work tell me how you went about planning and organising your work
Students will be marked against a rubric located here
Students will also be asked about the following to determine suitability for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) or to explore the Diploma of Arts specialising in the Education Studies pathway.
- Problem solving ability
- Students will be presented with a scenario and asked “What would you do? How would you respond?”
Other Requirements
All students will be required to complete a Working With Children Check (WWCC) prior to commencing their professional experience. Overseas students can obtain the WWCC after arriving in Australia.
All students will need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students before graduation and this is expected to be completed after attempting 48 or more credit points of study. This is usually at the end of their first year of study in the course.
A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within the past two years)
ATAR Based Admission
Minimum ATAR required for consideration to enter in next intake 70 or equivalent in the International Baccalaureate, VCAL or interstate and international studies.
Other Admission Options
Students who had exceptional circumstances in the completion of their secondary studies may be admitted with evidence of difficulties from the secondary institution, medical practitioners and/or other professionals who can attest to the impact upon the prospective student’s ATAR.
B. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
Students must have successfully completed a Certificate IV or above
C. Applicants with higher education study
Students with previous higher education study, including successful completion of Eastern College Australia’s Diploma of Arts may be admitted to the course.
Advanced standing may be granted for a maximum of 96 credit points in recognition of studies completed at a University recognised under Section 4.4.2 and 4.3.33 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
To be admitted under this category the applicant must provide evidence that the qualifications held are recent and relevant to the course for which application is being made and demonstrate an ability to read and write in English at a level necessary to satisfactorily study an undergraduate degree.
Where the student is transferring from an Eastern College Australia award which requires a lower level of English Proficiency, the student will not be admitted to the BEd(Primary) until they meet the English Proficiency requirements.
D. Applicants with work and life experience
Require secondary studies demonstrating an ATAR (or equivalent) of 70 or above or Recognition of Prior Learning at a level equivalent to Certificate IV or higher. Applicants may also choose to complete Eastern College Australia’s Diploma of Arts specialising in Education Studies which will give one year’s advanced standing into the Bachelor of Education.
4. How to Apply
You can apply directly to the College via our online application form available at https://apply.eastern.edu.au
5. Advanced standing/academic credit/recognition of prior learning (RPL)
You may be entitled to credit for prior learning, whether formal or informal. Formal learning can include previous study in higher education, vocational education, or adult and community education. Informal learning can include on the job learning or various kinds of work and life experience. Credit can reduce the amount of study needed to complete a degree.
For further information about credit and recognition of prior learning please see https://www.eastern.edu.au/admissions/information or call the College on 9790 9200 and speak to the Registrar
Specialisations
| English Stream | Stream |
| History Stream | Stream |
| Mathematics Stream | Stream |
| Theology Stream | Stream |
| Visual Arts Stream | Stream |
| Primary English Specialisation | Specialisation |
| Primary Mathematics Specialisation | Specialisation |
| English Major | Major |
| History (Ed) Major | Major |
| Humanities Major | Major |
| Mathematics Major | Major |
| Theology Major | Major |
| Visual Arts Major | Major |
| Christian Foundations for Educators | Core |
| Education Studies | Core |
| Primary Education Studies | Core |
Units attached to this course
| Unit Code | Unit Name |
|---|---|
| AR540 | Arts and Creativity |
| AR546 | Arts and Spirituality |
| AR641 | Creative Practice Foundations: Drawing |
| AR643 | Creative Practice Foundations: Painting |
| AR742 | Contemporary Drawing Practice |
| AR745 | Integrated Art Practice |
| AR746 | Aesthetics and the Visual Arts |
| CF501 | Living in Christ |
| CF503 | Introduction to the Bible |
| CF604 | Faith, Reason and Justice |
| CF701 | Integration of Vocation and Faith |
| ED520 | Developmental Learning and Pedagogies |
| ED521 | Educational Decision Making |
| ED621 | Ecology and Management of Learning Environments: School Observation (5 days) |
| ED623 | Integrating ICT Across the Curriculum |
| ED631 | Curriculum, Assessment and Data: School Observation (5 days) |
| ED722 | Students with Additional Needs: Professional Experience 2B |
| ED724 | Learners, Educators and Social Contexts: Professional Experience 2A |
| ED732 | Professional Identity and Engagement: Ethics and the Law |
| ED733 | Assessment, Data and Curriculum: Professional Experience 1A |
| EN503 | Literature and Worldview |
| EN504 | Right Writing |
| EN601 | English Literature: 14th to 18th Century |
| EN602 | English Literature: Blake to the Present |
| EN662 | Write Creatively |
| EN701 | Australian Literature |
| EN736 | Modern Literature |
| ES610 | Primary English |
| ES611 | Primary Mathematics |
| ES612 | Primary Health and Physical Education |
| ES613 | Primary Arts |
| ES614 | Primary Humanities |
| ES615 | Primary Science |
| ES624 | Primary Technologies |
| ES712 | Primary Specialist: English & Professional Experience 1B |
| ES713 | Primary Specialist: Mathematics & Professional Experience 1B |
| ES718 | Primary Numeracy |
| ES719 | Primary Literacy |
| GE501 | Climate Change: Past, Present and Future |
| GE601 | Environmental Sustainability: The Global Challenge |
| HS501 | Early Twentieth Century History: From Chronicling to Understanding |
| HS570 | The World We Live In: World History Since 1945 |
| HS602 | Christian History in a Digital Age |
| HS636 | Contact, Conflict and Reconciliation |
| HS637 | Radicals, Reformers and Revolutionaries |
| HS701 | Silenced Voices Speaking |
| HS735 | Empires and Globalisation |
| MT560 | Basic Calculus |
| MT580 | Statistics for Decision Making |
| MT610 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations |
| MT640 | Linear Algebra with Application |
| MT740 | Advanced Calculus |
| MT780 | Advanced Statistics |
| PR731 | Professional Experience: Primary (30 days) |
| SS502 | Indigenous Australia and the Nation |