Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)/Bachelor of Arts
ObjectivesThe course aims to produce graduates who: * are flexible, literate, independent and well-informed, equipped with transferable skills highly valued in the workforce; * have achieved high levels of knowledge and understanding of the content, context and processes of learning and teaching within early childhood environments and engage critically with the knowledge as a means of ongoing professional practice; * have developed knowledge of, and skills in, curriculum particularly related to their areas of study with a focus on the years of early childhood; * can 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 role; * can use a wide range of literacies with confidence and competence; * can apply educational theory, knowledge and understanding to make informed professional judgments in diverse educational situations; * work collaboratively with colleagues, young children, their families and the wider community towards achieving high quality learning outcomes; * establish a broad educational foundation for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning; * achieve the knowledge and understanding that different disciplines provide and also work across disciplinary boundaries actively to create cross-curriculum links, and * appreciate the need for continuing professional development in their field of expertise. Learning outcomes In undertaking the double degree program, students will: * achieve high levels of knowledge and understanding of the content, context and processes of learning and teaching within early childhood environments and engage critically with this knowledge as a means of ongoing professional practice; * develop knowledge of, and skills in, curriculum particularly related to their areas of study with a focus on the years of early childhood; * 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 role; * use a wide range of literacies with confidence and competence; * apply educational theory, knowledge and understanding to make informed professional judgements in diverse educational situations; * work collaboratively with colleagues, young children, their families and the wider community towards achieving high quality learning outcomes; * establish a broad educational foundation for ongoing professional development and lifelong learning; * achieve the knowledge and understanding that different disciplines provide and also work across disciplinary boundaries actively to create cross-curriculum links, and * appreciate the need for continuing professional development in their field of expertise.
Entry requirementsDomestic students Prerequisites: None You can qualify for undergraduate courses through: * year 12 qualifications * mature age entry (STAT) * TAFE/VET qualifications * higher education transfers. Flinders also offers a range of special access schemes. International Students English language requirements . Additional requirements for all students: All students must have cleared a police check before they can undertake their compulsory practice teaching.
Academic titleBachelor of Education (Early Childhood)/Bachelor of Arts
Course descriptionThe Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) / Bachelor of Arts will:
* prepare you to become an effective teacher of children from birth to eight years of age in a range of community settings
* provide you with a rich liberal education, allowing for specialisation in two areas of choice.
As part of this double degree program you will:
* acquire knowledge about young children, their families, and the community services that provide for their care and education
* complete a major sequence and a minor sequence related to a selected 2 teaching specialisations in Arts chosen from about 40 different options.
A Teaching Practicum program is common to all Education degrees.
We aim to educate teachers who appreciate the complex nature of their work and practice in ways that promote a socially just, democratic and ecologically sustainable world.
What is Education?
Education encompasses teaching and learning specific skills and something less tangible but more profound: the imparting of knowledge, positive judgment and well-developed wisdom.
Why study Education at Flinders?
Our education courses:
* allow you to complete 2 degrees in 4 years
* provide specialised options for those who wish to teach at different levels within the education system
* prepare students to become effective and appropriately skilled teachers
* open a wider range of career options than conventional teaching programs
* promote a socially just, democratic and ecologically sustainable world.
Professional recognition
Graduates will be provided with an academic qualification which will enable them to apply for registration to the Teachers' Registration Board in South Australia, interstate and some overseas countries (exact requirements may vary).
The Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)/Bachelor of Arts 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, Law and Theology.
The double degree program of Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)/Bachelor of Arts requires completion of a total of 144 units.
A Lutheran strand is available for students wishing to teach in that system. Specialist language education topics are available for those students who wish to teach a language(s).
Eligible students can complete an honours degree in either Arts or Education (see below). Enrolment in the honours program is subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.
PROGRAM OF STUDY [December, 2008]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)/Bachelor of Arts 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 BEd component of 69 to 75 units;
* a BA component of 69 to 75 units.
The BEd component must include:
* 9 units of Education topics at First Year level;
* 12 units of Education topics at Second Year level including professional experience;
* 24 units of Education topics at Third Year level including teaching practice;
* 24 to 30 units of Education topics at Fourth Year level including teaching practice, dependent upon elective choices.
The BA component must include:
* 33 units of one Arts major sequence selected from the majors available as listed in the BA course rule, except for Business Economics or Education;
* 21 units of one Arts minor sequence from another major sequence selected from those available, or from the list of minor sequences available;
* either 15 or 21 units of electives (9 units of first level and 12 units at upper level or 9 units at first level and 6 units at upper level)
Except with the permission of the Board:
* no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice;
* teaching practicum topics may not be attempted more than once.
Students should note that teaching practicum topics require full-time commitment for their duration.
More specific rules related to majors and minors in the Bachelor of Arts can be referred to in the BA course rule.
First Year
Semester 1
BA major topic*
4.5
BA minor topic*
4.5
BA elective topic*
4.5
EDUC1102
Key Educational Ideas in Early Childhood
4.5
Semester 2
BA major topic*
4.5
BA minor topic*
4.5
BA elective topic*
4.5
EDUC1202
Ways of Explaining Early Childhood Education
4.5
Second Year
Semester 1
BA major topic*
6
BA minor topic*
6
EDUC2303
Literacies and Numeracies in Early Childhood
6
Semester 2
BA major topic*
6
BA minor topic*
6
EDUC2404
Exploring the Relationship Between Learning and Development
6
Third Year
Semester 1
EDUC3665A
Lecture for Professional Teaching Practice 3E (Early Childhood)
0
BA major topic*
6
BA elective topic*
6
EDUC3509
Expressive Arts in Early Childhood: Visual Art, Design Technology, Drama, Media and Music
6
Semester 2
EDUC3607
Curriculum Studies (Science and Physical Education Focus)
6
EDUC3508
Partnerships, Parents and Participation
6
Non-Semester
EDUC3665
Professional Teaching Practice 3E (Early Childhood)
6
Fourth Year
Semester 1
EDUC4704
Curriculum Studies: Mathematics, Society and the Environment, and Health
6
EDUC4705
Social and Cultural Worlds of Learning
6
Non-Semester
4.5
EDUCxxxx
Professional Teaching Practice 4E (0-8 years)
6
Semester 2
BA major topic *
6
BA elective topic* OR Education topic
6
EDUC4802
Teaching Indigenous Australian Students
6
* Topics selected from BA major and minor sequences listed in the BA course rule.
Honours degree
There are two pathways to an Honours degree in Education:
1. A full-year program consisting of 36 units of dedicated honours topics taken after the completion of the student's ordinary education degree.
2. An alternative program for students who have completed, to a sufficiently high standard (a GPA of 5.5 or higher), the first 108 units towards their particular Bachelor of Education double degree program. Admission will also depend upon the School of Education being able to provide adequate resources to supervise and manage the student's proposed research project. The general requirement of the Honours program in Education is the successful completion of 36 units of honours Education topics. However, in the alternative program, students will take 18 of these units concurrently with the relevant double degree program as part of their fourth year of study. An overload of 6 units will be required in each semester of that year. Eligible students will enrol in a three-semester program commencing in the fourth year of their double degree program.
The study pattern for the alternative three-semester program is as follows:
Year 4
Semester 1
(6-unit overload)
EDUC7000
Introduction to Research in Education (Honours Topic)
6
EDUC4704
Curriculum Studies (JP/P)
6
EDUC4705
Social and Cultural Worlds of Learning
6
EDUCxxxx
Professional Teaching Practice 4E (0-8 years)
6
Semester 2
(6-unit overload)
EDUC7001
Research Methods in Education: Directed Study (Honours Topic)
6
EDUC7002
Preparation for Research Thesis (Honours Topic)
6
EDUC4802
Teaching Indigenous Australian Students
6
BA topic
6
Year 5
Semester 1
EDUC7003
Honours Thesis in Education (Honours Topic)
18
Specific rules related to requirements of a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) can be referred to in the BA course rule.