Course description
The course facilitates the development of reflective, educated, culturally aware and responsive individuals, able to function effectively as beginning teachers in the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, and committed to their continuing professional learning. It also supports the retention of indigenous students in secondary schools, especially through fostering support roles.
This course is based upon a set of underlying themes which include social justice, change and social analysis. These themes address issues related to indigenous students in secondary schools and are integral to the educative approach which has been developed to meet the specific needs of these students. This course uses an educational methodology which has been developed in cognisance of participants' current skills and needs. The methodology will also develop the participants' skills to work with students to maximise their educational potential in an environment of marginalisation.
The course has as its foundation the conviction that the quality of education in a society is closely associated with the preparation of teachers. Their professional expertise, attitudes and values equip them to develop in others sound knowledge, skills and ideals and a capacity and readiness to undertake responsibility in the community. Quality of education depends also on teachers being prepared to meet the challenge of continued growth in knowledge, accelerating technological development, social change and heightened community expectations.
Graduates of this course are eligible for employment in both government and non-government schools.
This course is offered in mixed mode. Students are required to attend two compulsory residential schools on campus each semester and to complete course work and assignments within their home communities. Online support is provided between residential schools and academic support is available to students who require it through the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS). Professional Experience is also a compulsory component of each course and is taken in block-periods that extend from 1 to 10 weeks. This course is offered full-time or part-time.
BTeach/BA
320 cp
Minimum duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time. This course is normally studied over 5 years full time.
Course available at: Sydney (Strathfield), NSW
EFTSL value of units: All 10 cp units in this course have an EFTSL value of 0.125. Units with a cp of a multiple of 10 have corresponding EFTSL values.
1. Definitions
“Major”: 80 cp from prescribed units in one discipline or approved interdisciplinary area, normally including at least 10 cp at introductory level and at least 60 cp at advanced level.
“Minor”: 40 cp from prescribed units in one discipline or approved interdisciplinary area, normally including at least 10 cp at introductory level and at least 20 cp at advanced level.
2. Requirements of Completion of the Degree42
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete:
1. 320 cp consisting of:
1. 160 cp in Arts units, consisting of a Major in History or Literature, a Minor in Indigenous Studies plus four units from the Bachelor of Arts which may be
1. another Minor, or
2. two units of Sociology and two other Electives;
and
1. 160 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:
1. 80 cp from Education Studies;
2. 60 cp from Curriculum Studies;
3. 20 cp Internship;
and
2.
1. 3 Professional Experience units; and
2. 1 Community Engagement unit.
Schedule of Unit Offerings
Prerequisite (Pre), co-requisite (Co) and incompatible (Inc) units are indicated in parentheses where applicable.
Arts Units
Units from the following disciplines listed in the Schedule of Unit Offerings for the Bachelor of Arts degree:
Major
History
Literature
Minor
Indigenous Studies
The second Minor may be selected from the following list
History
Literature
Theological Studies
Majors
Literature
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
ENGL102 10 Australian Literature: An Introduction
ENGL104 10 Introduction to Literature
ENGL202 10 20th Century Literature
ENGL205 10 Australian Children’s Literature
ENGL208 10 Creative Writing
ENGL215 10 Literature for Young Adults
ENGL217 10 Popular Literature
ENGL222 10 Literature and Visual Text
ENGL223 10 Colonial and Post Colonial Literature
ENGL228 10 Special Author, Period or Theme Study
History
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
HIST102 10 Australia to 1890
HIST107 10 Modern Australia
HIST204 10 Australian Family History
HIST205 10 Australian Social History
HIST206 10 Comparative History of Immigrant Peoples
HIST213 10 Pacific History
HIST215 10 Later Modern Europe
HIST218 10 Women in Australian History
HIST219 10 History and Cultures of South East Asia
HIST224 10 Rise of the United States
HIST228 10 Australian Popular Culture
HIST308 10 Historiography
Theological Studies
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SHBS100 10 Introduction to the Bible
SHCT100 10 What Christians Believe
SHCP203 10 Christian Theological Ethics
SHCT202 10 Christian Symbol, Ritual and Sacrament
Indigenous Studies
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SOAB100 10 Cultures and Identity in Australian Indigenous Communities
SOAB200 10 Indigenous Lives
SOAB201 10 Contemporary Issues in Indigenous Australia
SOAB202 10 Australian Policies and their Impact on Society in an Indigenous Context
Elective Studies
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SOCI100 10 Introduction to Sociology
SOCI204 10 Sociology of Culture43
Education Units
Education Studies
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SDFD127 10 Contexts for Learning and Development
SDFD133 10 Understanding Learning
SDFD220 10 Teaching and Managing Learning Environments
SDFD221 10 Creating Inclusive, Safe and Supportive Schools
SDFD307 10 Educational Assessment
SDFD447 10 Diversity in the Classroom
SDFD452 10 Transition to the Profession
SDFD454 10 Curriculum Literacies
Curriculum Studies
Core Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SDTS210 10 Teaching and Learning: Preparing for the Contexts of the Field
Electives Curriculum and Teaching Units44
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SDAB302 10 Indigenous Studies Curriculum 1
SDAB400 10 Indigenous Studies Curriculum 2
SDLA438 10 English Curriculum and Teaching 1
SDLA439 10 English Curriculum and Teaching 2
SDRE527 10 Religious Education Curriculum and Teaching Studies 1
SDRE528 10 Religious Education Curriculum and Teaching Studies 2
SDSS420 10 History Curriculum and Teaching 1
SDSS421 10 History Curriculum and Teaching 2
SDSS438 10 Society and Culture Curriculum and Teaching 1
SDSS439 10 Society and Culture Curriculum and Teaching 2
Electives
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SDFD212 10 Professional Ethics in Education
SDRE306 10 Indigenous Spirituality 1
Internship
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SDFX409 20 Internship
Professional Experience Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
SDFX207 0 Community Engagement Program
SDFX214 0 Professional Experience Secondary 2
SDFX312 0 Professional Experience Secondary 3A
SDFX313 0 Professional Experience Secondary 3B
42 Requirements for working with children: Requirements for working with children: All students enrolled must have the appropriate approvals before they may enter a classroom. In NSW it is: Working with Children Check.
43 The prerequisite requirement for SOCI107 Sociological Research Methods will be waived for the students enrolled in the Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts (Indigenous Studies).
44 20 cp are to be taken from one Curriculum and Teaching Studies area which builds on the discipline minor already taken.
To be eligible to enrol in a Curriculum and Teaching Studies sequence, a student must either have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite study prescribed for that Curriculum and Teaching Study or be able to demonstrate knowledge or skills approved by the Course Co-ordinator as equivalent. In the case of Religious Education, the designated Theological Studies units provide co-requisites.
