Bachelor of Education (Honours)

This course will prepare you for a career as a skilled, critical and effective educator in the early years sector, primary schools, secondary schools or a combination of these, allowing you to build a high level of expertise in one of eight specialisations:

• Early years education
• Early years and primary education
• Primary education (studied as a single degree or as part of a double degree course)
• Primary and secondary education
• Primary and secondary health and physical education
• Primary and secondary special education
• Secondary health and physical education
• Secondary education (only studied as part of a double degree course)

You will learn how to work with children and young people with varied needs to develop their creative, intellectual, physical, personal and social capabilities and how to foster their learning in diverse ways. Depending upon your specialisation, you will develop the skills and knowledge needed to teach in learning areas such as the arts and music, English, mathematics, civics and citizenship, physical education, health and wellbeing, science and humanities. Professional experience placements offered throughout the course in urban, rural, remote or international locations and educational settings will build your knowledge of teaching and learning. You will develop the skills needed to become a critical and effective educator and leader across educational settings.

Specialisations that include primary education or secondary education are accredited with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) (http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/). Graduates are eligible for registration with VIT and qualified for employment as a teacher in Australian schools. Registration with VIT is recognised by teacher regulatory authorities in all Australian jurisdictions. Students planning to register as teachers interstate or overseas should check registration requirements with local authorities in case additional requirements apply.

Specialisations that include early years education are accredited with the Australian Children's Education and Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) (http://www.acecqa.gov.au/). Graduates who intend to teach in a preschool or kindergarten program are required to be registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) (http://www.vit.vic.edu.au/).

Mandatory checks and security clearances

Before participating in a professional experience placement in any educational setting, students must meet specific security clearancessecurity clearances (http://monash.edu/education/current-students/professional-experience/teacher-placements/clearances/) that apply to the state or territory where the placement is being undertaken.

Double degrees

The primary education specialisation of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) may be studied in a course leading to a double degree; it can also be taken in a single degree course.

The secondary education specialisation of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) must be studied in a course leading to a double degree; it cannot be taken in a single degree course. You should seek the advice of the Faculty of Education in choosing your majors and specialisations in the partner course, to ensure that you meet the requirements for registration as a specialist teacher.

Each of the above two specialisations can be taken in combination with any of the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Computer Science
• Bachelor of Fine Art (visual arts specialisation only)
• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science

Taking a double degree combination will lead to the award of two degrees; the Bachelor of Education (Honours) in either the primary education or the secondary education specialisation and the degree awarded for the partner course.

In a double degree course, you will need to meet the course requirements for both degrees. Refer to the individual course entries for each course in your double degree.

Specialisations

Early years education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach infants and children from birth to five years of age in childcare, kindergartens and preschools. The curriculum spans birth to eight years of age and you will learn how to engage young children in meaningful learning through innovative pedagogical practice and how to effectively support children's transition to school. You will also learn how to help young children develop their creative, physical, personal, intellectual and social capabilities.

Early years and primary education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach infants and children from birth to 12 years of age in childcare, kindergartens, preschools and primary schools. You will learn how to engage young children in meaningful learning through innovative pedagogical practice and you will learn how to help them develop their creative, physical, personal, intellectual and social capabilities. You will also develop an understanding of how primary school aged children learn and how they can be effectively and creatively taught across all primary curriculum areas such as English and literacies, mathematics, arts education, humanities and social education, science, health and physical education, and studies of the environment and sustainability.

Primary education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach children aged from five to 12 years of age in primary schools from Foundation to Year 6. You will develop an understanding of how primary school aged children learn and how they can be effectively and creatively taught across all primary curriculum areas. In doing so, you will develop your personal knowledge of the curriculum areas you will teach, such as English and literacies, mathematics, arts education, humanities and social education, science, health and physical education, and studies of the environment and sustainability. In the single degree course, you will complete additional discipline studies in English and literacy, or mathematics and numeracy, or languages.

Primary and secondary education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach children and adolescents aged from five to 18 years of age in primary and secondary schools from Foundation to Year 12. At the primary level, you will develop an understanding of how primary school aged children learn and how they can be effectively and creatively taught across all primary curriculum areas. In doing so, you will develop your personal knowledge of the curriculum areas you will teach, such as English and literacies, mathematics, arts education, humanities and social education, science, health and physical education, and studies of the environment and sustainability. At the secondary level you will qualify as a specialist teacher in your specialist teaching area. Your unit choices within your discipline studies sequence will determine which area you become qualified to teach in secondary schools. You will focus on adolescent learning and the nature of secondary education including areas such as classroom teaching and practice in schools, curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation, education and its relationship to society, and discipline studies.

Primary and secondary special education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach children and adolescents from five to 18 years of age in primary and secondary schools from Foundation to Year 12 and will equip you with specialist knowledge and skills for working in inclusive and special education settings. At the primary level, you will develop an understanding of how primary school aged children learn, including those with special needs, and how they can be effectively and creatively taught across all primary curriculum areas such as English and literacies, mathematics, arts education, humanities and social education, science, health and physical education, and studies of the environment and sustainability. At the secondary level you will focus on adolescent learning and the nature of secondary education, especially for students with special needs, including areas such as classroom teaching and practice in schools, curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation, education and its relationship to society, and discipline studies.

Primary and secondary health and physical education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach children and adolescents from five to 18 years of age in primary and secondary schools from Foundation to Year 12 and enable you to work more broadly in community, recreational and sporting settings. You will qualify as a generalist primary school teacher, specialist health and physical education primary school teacher and a secondary school teacher with health and physical education as your specialist teaching areas. At the primary level, you will develop an understanding of how primary school aged children learn and how they can be effectively and creatively taught across all primary curriculum areas such as English and literacies, mathematics, arts education, humanities and social education, science, health and physical education, and studies of the environment and sustainability. At the secondary level you will focus on adolescent learning and the nature of secondary education including areas such as classroom teaching and practice in schools, curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation, and education and its relationship to society.

Secondary health and physical education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach adolescents from 12 to 18 years of age in secondary schools from Year 7 to Year 12 as a specialist teacher of health and physical education, health and human development and a third subject area of your choice, such as outdoor education and environmental studies. It will also prepare you to work more broadly in community, recreational and sporting settings. You will develop an understanding of adolescent learning and the nature of secondary education including areas such as classroom teaching and practice in schools, curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation, and education and its relationship to society.

Secondary education

This specialisation will qualify you to teach adolescents from 12 to 18 years of age in secondary schools from Year 7 to Year 12 as a specialist teacher in two specialist teaching areas. Your unit choices within the partner degree course will determine which two areas you become qualified to teach in secondary schools. You will develop an understanding of adolescent learning and the nature of secondary education including areas such as classroom teaching and practice in schools, curriculum planning, implementation and evaluation, and education and its relationship to society.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 8, the Bologna Cycle 1 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

1. demonstrate advanced knowledge, skills and capabilities relevant to your specialisation and discipline(s)
2. understand education policy, theories, research principles and methods and apply these to pedagogical practice
3. understand and implement relevant curriculum and pedagogy for learners in Australian and international contexts
4. understand the ways in which environmental, social and economic conditions of learners influence their education
5. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the educational issues associated with diversity and inclusion
6. develop teaching and learning strategies and understandings that encompass differentiated and inclusive approaches appropriate for diverse learners in varied contexts, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their histories, languages and cultures
7. engage learners and communities in education for a more equitable and sustainable world
8. work independently and collaboratively as a professional beginning educator to solve complex problems in educational contexts
9. use and creatively integrate information and communication technologies to enhance learning
10. demonstrate a high level of competence as a knowledgeable, articulate and reflective practitioner positioned to become a future leader in education
11. engage with relevant professions and communities to become an ethical leader and practitioner who critically responds to education priorities and who can apply an understanding of legal responsibilities to your work
12. design and conduct research to develop your understanding of the field of education
13. demonstrate understanding of and commitment to continued professional learning to improve practice.

Students who have studied at the tertiary level may be eligible for credit for prior studies.credit for prior studies. (http://monash.edu/education/future-students/apply/credit/) Refer to the Early years educationEarly years education (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/aos/early-years-education/ug-specialisation-edu-early-years-education.html) and the Early years and primary educationEarly years and primary education (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/aos/early-years-and-primary-education/ug-specialisation-edu-early-years-and-primary-education.html) entries for specific credit information for these specialisations.

Students must satisfactorily complete supervised professional experienceprofessional experience (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/edu-03.html) as outlined for their specialisation. For advice on professional experience intervention, support and unsatisfactory progress refer to the Professional experience intervention and support policyProfessional experience intervention and support policy (http://monash.edu/education/current-students/policies-and-procedures/professional-experience-intervention-and-support-policy/).

The specialisations in this course are accredited by professional bodies. Refer to Professional recognitionProfessional recognition (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/undergrad/edu-04.html) for information.

The course develops through the four themes of Part A. Education studies, Part B. Curriculum studies, Part C. Discipline studies and Part D. Professional studies. The nature and balance of units required among these themes will differ depending upon your specialisation.

Part A. Education studies

These studies provide the theoretical foundations of education that underpin the teaching and learning of children and young people in varied education settings. You will study contemporary theories of child or adolescent development, focusing on the age range relevant to your specialisation. You will also study sociology, psychology, diversity and inclusion, the broad principles of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, and develop an understanding of the relationship between education and society at local, national and global levels. These studies emphasise educational inquiry and will ensure that your teaching is informed by current research and practice. You will acquire the foundation to move into leadership roles as your career progresses.

Part B. Curriculum studies

These studies develop the knowledge and skills you will need to become a skilled and effective educator who is able to draw on an ever-growing and flexible repertoire of strategies to suit particular children, educational contexts and learning outcomes. You will learn how to design, plan and implement engaging, innovative and productive learning experiences in order to meet diverse learners' needs.

For students specialising in early years education, content knowledge and discipline studies are integrated within the curriculum studies theme, and the emphasis is on exploring young children's learning holistically in diverse contexts, through a range of pedagogical perspectives and practices.

For students specialising in primary education, the focus of curriculum studies is on how primary school aged children learn and how you can effectively and creatively teach them in the key learning areas including English and literacies, mathematics, creative arts, technology, science, health and physical education, social education and studies of the environment and sustainability.

For students specialising in secondary education, the focus is on deepening your understanding of teaching and learning strategies, theories and practice related to your discipline, preparing you to engage secondary students in purposeful learning.

Part C. Discipline studies

These studies will develop your content knowledge in the subjects you will be teaching in schools or other education settings.

In early years education, discipline studies are integrated into the curriculum studies theme.

In primary education you will take discipline studies in a range of areas to complement teaching in the primary years. In the single degree course, you will choose a discipline area in English and literacy, or mathematics and numeracy, or a language. In the double degree course, you will take studies towards the partner degree in a discipline of your choice.

In secondary education you will typically take discipline studies to teach two learning areas from a range of subjects including history, visual arts, science, mathematics, English, economics, and information technology and computing. You will take these studies within the partner degree course in disciplines of your choice from the available specialist teaching areas.

In health and physical education you will take studies in a dual health and physical education discipline and another discipline of your choice from the available specialist teaching areas.

In special education you will develop approaches to meet the special needs of learners, in primary and secondary schools or other educational settings, and focus on the fields of diversity and inclusive education.

Part D. Professional studies

These studies will provide you with an understanding of professional identity and leadership as well as professional experience through the completion of supervised placement in settings relevant to your teaching specialisation. Professional experience connects the theoretical components of the other themes with practical aspects of teaching and learning. The number of days of professional experience required for professional registration will depend upon your specialisation. You will also undertake research units to develop your understanding of research principles and methods and the skills and capacities to design and conduct research with some independence.

The course requires 204 points comprising at least 108 points in the Education studies, Curriculum studies and Professional studies themes, and up to 96 points relating to Discipline studies. For students enrolled in a double degree course, 96 points of Discipline studies are completed through the partner degree course.

The course develops through the four themes of: Part A. Education studies, Part B. Curriculum studies, Part C. Discipline studies and Part D. Professional studies. The nature and balance among these themes will differ depending upon your specialisation.

The units required for each specialisation are detailed below. The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2016handbooks/maps/map-d3001.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

You must satisfactorily complete supervised professional experience as indicated for your specialisation. Permission to complete a placement in your place of employment will only be given in exceptional circumstances and if the required level of supervision is available. Where permission is granted, you will not be permitted to undertake more than 50% of the placements in your place of employment. You must be available to undertake placement on a full-time basis and attend your placement at times determined by the faculty.

Units are six credit points unless otherwise stated.

Specialisations

• Early years education
• Early years and primary education
• Primary education
• Primary and secondary education
• Primary and secondary special education
• Primary and secondary health and physical education
• Secondary health and physical education
• Secondary education

Postgraduate coursework

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Education (Honours) you may be eligible for up to 48 points of credit in masters courses offered in the faculty including:

• Master of Counselling
• Master of Education (coursework)
• Master of Leadership
• Master of TESOL

Postgraduate research

If you achieve a minimum weighted average mark of 65 per cent over the course you meet the eligibility requirements for entry into the Master of Education by research.

If you achieve a minimum weighted average mark of 70 per cent over the course and a minimum mark of 70 per cent in EDF4100 (Researching teaching and learning) and EDF4101 (Research project in education) you are eligible to apply for admission into the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and will complete additional research preparation equivalent to a further 12 credit points prior to the confirmation of your PhD candidature.

You may exit the single degree course early and apply to graduate with the following, provided you have satisfied the following award requirements:

(a.) Bachelor of Education Studies after successful completion of 144 credit points of study including:

• a minimum of 96 credit points of education studies including a minimum of 48 credit points at level 3 or higher

(b.) Partner degree after successful completion of 144 credit points of study including:

• fulfilment of all partner degree course requirements

(c.) Bachelor of Education Studies and partner degree after successful completion of 192 credit points of study including:

• a minimum of 96 credit points of education studies including a minimum of 48 credit points at level 3 or higher
• fulfilment of all partner degree course requirements.