Undergraduate - Course1514 - Bachelor of Primary Education

This is a specialised course designed to fully prepare students for careers as teachers in primary schools. It provides graduates with a comprehensive background in primary education. Students study a range of units that provide them with essential understandings relating to children's learning and teaching, and units that cover each of the learning areas of the primary school curriculum.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• effectively plan and deliver primary and middle school* educational programs
• understand and engage in curriculum development and comprehend the learning areas taught in primary schools
• articulate how child development underlies professional practice and the philosophical underpinnings of primary teacher education
• understand and appreciate the cultural contexts of schooling and the diversity of the student population
• respond to the needs of children, their families and communities in a flexible and innovative way.

* Optional specialisation for Gippsland students.

Students must complete teaching practice which consists of a minimum of 80 days of satisfactory supervised school experience. Students will only be given permission to complete a placement in their place of employment in exceptional circumstances and if they will receive the required level of supervision. Where permission is granted, students will not be permitted to undertake more than 50 per cent of the placement in their place of employment. Students must be available to undertake placements on a full-time basis and attend their placement for full days at times determined by the faculty.

Graduates are eligible for registration and employment as primary school teachers in the government, Catholic and independent school systems in Victoria. Students undertaking the middle school option available at Gippsland will be eligible for registration and employment in Victoria to teach P-10 in their discipline area for the secondary years. For interstate and overseas positions, applicants are advised to check with local authorities.

This course consists of core and elective education units and disipline studies, incorporating compulsory and elective units, and teaching placements.

Students on the Peninsula campus complete a broad selection of ten discipline units in the Faculty of Education.

Students on the Gippsland campus complete two discipline sequences (six units plus four units), or three discipline sequences (two units plus four units plus four units) in other partner faculties. One of these sequences must be in the area of science or mathematics.

Middle school specialism (Gippsland only)

Gippsland students have the option of completing a middle school specialisation where their four education electives will be replaced with two middle school units and two specialism units (for teaching years 7-10) related to their chosen discipline sequences. These students will be required to do a minimum 25 days placement in a secondary school and a minimum 55 days placement in a primary school. Students who complete this option are qualified to teach from Prep to Year 10.

First year

Semester one

• EDF1303 Learning and educational inquiry 1*
• EDF1305 Entering the profession 1

Peninsula only

• EDF1120 Multicultures in Australian society
• EDF1124 Music fundamentals

Gippsland only

• discipline sequence one
• discipline sequence two

Semester two

• EDF1304 Learning and educational inquiry 2*
• EDF1306 Spaces of difference

Peninsula only

• EDF1121 Exploring science
• EDF1126 Information and computer technology in education

Gippsland only

• discipline sequence one
• discipline sequence two

Second year

Semester one

• EDF1308 Early literacy*

Peninsula only

• EDF2123 Exploring mathematics
• EDF3125 Children's literature: Issues and analysis
• one general elective**

Gippsland only

• EDF3006 Adolescent development and learning or education elective
• discipline sequence one
• discipline sequence two

Semester two

• EDF2302 Re-imagining children's learning*

Peninsula only

• EDF2125 Fitness leadership
• EDF2127 Art fundamentals
• one general elective**

Gippsland only

• EDF2330 The middle years: A period of transition or education elective
• discipline sequence one
• discipline sequence two

Third year

Semester one

• EDF2301 Multiliteracies: Mediating the world
• EDF3301 Numeracy

Peninsula only

• EDF2120 Indigenous issues
• one general elective**

Gippsland only

• one general elective** or specialism one (7-10)
• discipline sequence two, or discipline sequence three

Semester two

• EDF2304 Early numeracy
• EDF2306 Global educational contexts: Policy, practice and research
• EDF3311 Understanding space and place*

Peninsula only

• EDF1125 Sustainable futures

Gippsland only

• discipline sequence two or discipline sequence three

Fourth year

Semester one

• EDF2303 Movement, environment and community
• EDF3303 Integrating the curriculum 1: Creative exchange
• EDF4311 Professional contexts 1*

Peninsula only

• one general elective**

Gippsland only

• one general elective** or specialism two (7-10)

Semester two

• EDF3304 Integrating the curriculum 2: Different places
• EDF3306 Literacy
• EDF4312 Professional contexts 2*
• EDF4314 Entering the profession 2

* Includes a number of days of fieldwork or professional placement. Refer to unit entry for details.

** General electives are selected from the list at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/general-electives.html.

Bachelor of Primary Education