Program Overview

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Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours)

The Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) aims to prepare graduates who demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, professional practice, and professional engagement, and who are innovatively responsive to the changing and challenging demands of being educators in the 21st century.

Program Overview

• The program equips graduates with the knowledge and skills to promote effective and inclusive learning in a range of educational settings.
• This is achieved through theoretical and practical studies spanning professional studies (specific learning area curriculum and pedagogical studies), education studies (addressing current educational foci), and through a curriculum-specific specialism.
• Our graduates understand the complexities of educational communities and the ways in which they can effectively contribute to learning environments aligned to their R-6 Primary qualification.

Program Structure

• The Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) is a four-year degree.
• Preservice teachers will complete 144 units of study comprising 29 courses that are specific to teaching children from Reception to Year 6.
• The fourth and final 'capstone' year is designed as a professional Honours year, wherein the six final year courses meet AQF level 8 (or level 7 advanced for elective courses), and preservice teachers apply and extend their skills in research, through a site-based inquiry grounded investigation.

Courses

The following are the courses included in the program:

First Year

• Theories of Learning
• Foundations in Learning and Teaching 1: Learning through Play
• Professional Experience 1: Introduction to Educators' Practices
• Introduction to Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
• English Curriculum: Language
• Foundations in Arts Education
• Design and Technology Education
• Primary Specialism 1

Second Year

• English Curriculum: Reading
• Health and Physical Education
• Humanities and Social Sciences Education
• Primary Specialism 2
• Professional Experience 2: Curriculum and Pedagogy
• Mathematics Education 1
• Teaching and Learning in Aboriginal Education
• Foundations in Learning and Teaching 2: Creating Positive Learning Environments

Third Year

• Professional Experience 3: Informed Planning (HP)
• Primary Mathematics Education 2
• Science Education
• Inclusive Education
• English Curriculum: Text Production
• Foundations in Learning and Teaching 3: Educating for Diversity and Inclusion
• Primary Specialism 3

Fourth Year

• Honours Educational Research: Theory, Literature and Policy
• Honours Research Methodology: Methods and Ethics
• Primary Specialism 4
• English Curriculum: Programming
• Elective
• Professional Experience 4 (Honours): Inquiry into Practice

Electives

A range of electives are available, including but not limited to:

• Arts Specialism
• Technologies Specialism
• English Specialism
• HaSS Specialism
• Health and Physical Education Specialism
• Languages Specialism
• Mathematics Specialism
• Science Specialism
• Religious Education (Catholic Studies)
• Teaching Children with Disabilities
• Teaching in Rural and Regional Locations
• Developing Languages Programs
• Brain Development in the Early Years
• Peers, Relationships and Health
• Teaching and Learning of Motor Skills
• Arts Across the Early Childhood Curriculum

Admission Criteria

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

• Recent secondary education: Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent, and qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points.
• Higher education study: Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above.
• Vocational Education and Training (VET): Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma or above.
• Work and life experience: Qualify for Special Entry, or complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past.

Essential Requirements for Admission

In accordance with national teacher education program standards, applicants must also fulfil non-academic entry requirements. All applicants will be required to submit a 400-600 word Teaching Capabilities Statement with their application, about their motivation to teach, addressing the topics: 'Explain what you think teaching involves. Outline the personal and academic qualities you possess that will enable you to become an effective teacher. Describe your attitude to learning and provide an example of something you have learned that was meaningful'.

English Language Entry Requirements

In addition to meeting academic entry requirements, international students who speak English as a second or additional language must also meet the University's English language entry requirements. The minimum language requirements for this program are:

• IELTS total: 7.0
• IELTS reading: 7.0
• IELTS writing: 7.0
• IELTS speaking: 7.0
• IELTS listening: 7.0

Fees

The tuition fee for this program is AUD$32,800 per annum (per 1.0 EFTSL) for students enrolled in 2025.

CRICOS Code

The CRICOS code for this program is G.

Professional Accreditation and Recognition

Successful completion of this program provides a recognised academic qualification which will enable graduates to apply for teacher registration in South Australia, interstate and some overseas countries.

Program Director

The Program Director for the Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) is Mrs Shaan Gilson.

Related Degrees

Related degrees include the Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) (Mount Gambier) and the Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) (Whyalla).