Course summary

Make a positive difference in the education and upbringing of the next generation of young people. Our combined degree will qualify you to work with children through their formative years – in early childhood centres and in primary school settings.

Alongside primary education, you’ll explore the principles and pedagogies of teaching in early childhood education and care (ECEC); the development and learning of children across the life span; the role of families and communities in ECEC; your role as an educational leader in ECEC settings; with significant blocks of in-school professional placement.

This course includes a specialisation in English, in addition to the Australian curriculum studies in English; Mathematics; Science and Technology; Human Society and Its Environment; Creative Arts; and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.

The block professional teaching experiences, combined with volunteer activities and embedded site visits will provide you with a deep understanding about the role of a teacher. As you will be interacting with children and young people, upon enrolment you will be expected to apply and attain a valid Working with Children Check for your state or territory. See professional experience requirements.

As a graduate, you will be qualified as an early childhood educator and a primary school teacher in Queensland and New South Wales. Please note your application must include a personal statement outlining your non-academic capabilities. See education non-academic requirements.

Make a positive difference in the education and upbringing of the next generation of young people. Our combined degree will qualify you to work with children through their formative years – in early childhood centres and in primary school settings.

Alongside primary education, you’ll explore the principles and pedagogies of teaching in early childhood education and care (ECEC); the development and learning of children across the life span; the role of families and communities in ECEC; your role as an educational leader in ECEC settings; with significant blocks of in-school professional placement.

This course includes a specialisation in English, in addition to the Australian curriculum studies in English; Mathematics; Science and Technology; Human Society and Its Environment; Creative Arts; and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.

The block professional teaching experiences, combined with volunteer activities and embedded site visits will provide you with a deep understanding about the role of a teacher. As you will be interacting with children and young people, upon enrolment you will be expected to apply and attain a valid Working with Children Check for your state or territory. See professional experience requirements.

As a graduate, you will be qualified as an early childhood educator and a primary school teacher in Queensland and New South Wales. Please note your application must include a personal statement outlining your non-academic capabilities. See education non-academic requirements.

You will complete both a Primary and an Early Childhood major.

The Primary major equips you for a career teaching in primary schools and includes studies in areas of teaching and learning, behaviour management, childhood development, and curriculum studies in English; Mathematics; Human Society and Its Environment; Science and Technology; Creative Arts; and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.

The Early Childhood major includes studies in early childhood development; teaching principles and practices; play and pedagogies; and units that target early childhood professional development such as leadership, advocacy and issues in early childhood education. 

All students need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to undertaking the first professional experience placement.

Please note: Some units in this course are only delivered online.

Course Learning Outcome

Demonstrate analytical thinking, critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Demonstrate cognitive and technical skills which show broad understanding and depth relevant to the education profession.

Demonstrate an ability to identify and solve problems with intellectual independence.

Demonstrate an ability to develop innovative and creative responses to challenges in an educational setting.

Demonstrate knowledge of ethical, legal and human rights principles in education settings.

Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to legislative requirements and codes of conduct relevant to the education profession.

Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of the relevant curriculum frameworks.

Demonstrate a solid knowledge of the pedagogy of effective educational practice.

Demonstrate the capacity for self-reflective learning and critical thinking with responsibility and accountability in professional practice.

Demonstrate skills in maintaining or advancing information and literacy skills to keep currency with pedagogical practice and professional development.

Communicate clearly, coherently and independently with exposition of knowledge and ideas in both oral and written forms.

Demonstrate teamwork skills and leadership in professional and learning community settings.

Demonstrate an understanding of and respect for diversity in others and self identify and apply proactive and inclusive strategies to encourage and support student engagement.

You complete a program of in-school professional teaching experiences during the course, culminating in an extended in-school development experience, to demonstrate your capabilities as a primary school and early childhood teacher. This course provides you with teaching experiences across the age range from six-weeks to 12-years-old.

This course is currently undergoing its five-year reaccreditation with the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) for national accreditation through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

This course is currently undergoing reaccreditation with the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Usually, Australian teacher qualifications are recognised internationally, but students need to check with potential employers and teacher registration authorities in other countries regarding accreditation requirements.

All Initial Teacher Education students across Australia need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). At Southern Cross University the test needs to be successfully completed prior to undertaking the first professional experience placement.


Course overview

Course code

3207313

Course abbreviation

BA/BEd(Prim&EC)

Credit points

384

Equivalent units

32

Duration

4 years full-time; 8 years part-time

Duration

4 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Coffs Harbour Session 1 N/A N/A
Gold Coast Session 1 N/A N/A
Lismore Session 1 N/A N/A
Online Session 1 N/A N/A

Fee information

Commonwealth supported


International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Gold Coast Session 1 $26,800 ($3,350 per unit) 085927E
Lismore Session 1 $26,800 ($3,350 per unit) 085927E

Course requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Primary/Early Childhood) students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:

  • 7 core units (84 credit points),
  • 10 units (120 credit points) in the Primary major,
  • 7 units (84 credit points) in the English Primary Specialisation,
  • 8 units (96 credit points) in the Early Childhood major, and
  • both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) as required by the Federal Government.

Permission to undertake a professional experience placement will at all times be at the discretion of the Head of School.

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with the Bachelor of Educational Studies after completing the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points).

Students may be eligible to exit with the Associate Degree of Educational Studies after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points).

Students may be eligible to exit with the Diploma of Educational Studies after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points).

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access and Inclusion website. If you have a disability or health condition which may impact on your ability to meet these requirements please refer to the Student Access and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.


Schedule of units

Title Note

Core Units

EDUC1003 - Foundations for Education
EDUC2009 - Supporting Learners with Diverse Abilities
EDUC6009 - Education and Indigenous Australians: Ways of Knowing and Being
MATH1002 - Foundations: Mathematics and Numeracy
EDUC1004 - Understanding Children and Young People
TCHR3007 - Professional Experience I: Becoming a Teacher Note 1
TCHR3006 - Professional Experience III: Transition to the Profession Note 1

Primary Major

EDUC2014 - Mathematics Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDUC3012 - Mathematics Education: Issues
CLST1002 - Foundations: Human Society and its Environments
EDUC2013 - Human Society and its Environments: Curriculum and Pedagogy
SCIN1003 - Foundations: Science and Technology
EDUC3013 - Science and Technology Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
CRTV1001 - Foundations: The Arts
EDUC2011 - Creative Arts Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
HLTH1002 - Foundations: Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
EDUC2015 - Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy

Primary Specialisation

Early Childhood Major

TCHR1002 - Play and Pedagogies in the Early Years
TCHR1001 - Early Childhood Principles and Practice
TCHR2002 - Children, Families and Communities
TCHR2003 - Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood
TCHR3001 - Early Childhood Matters
TCHR3004 - Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood
TCHR5004 - Education and Care I: Preschoolers Note 1
TCHR3003 - Education and Care II: Infants and Toddlers Note 1

Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors

Title Note
Year 1, Session 1
ENGL1005 - Foundations: Language & Literacy
EDUC1003 - Foundations for Education
MATH1002 - Foundations: Mathematics and Numeracy
CRTV1001 - Foundations: The Arts
Year 1, Session 2
ENGL1004 - Foundations: English
CLST1002 - Foundations: Human Society and its Environments
HLTH1002 - Foundations: Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
SCIN1003 - Foundations: Science and Technology
Year 2, Session 1
EDUC2012 - English Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDUC2014 - Mathematics Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDUC1004 - Understanding Children and Young People
TCHR1002 - Play and Pedagogies in the Early Years
Year 2, Session 2
TCHR3007 - Professional Experience I: Becoming a Teacher Note 1
EDUC2010 - Literacy, Assessment and Information & Communication Technology
TCHR2002 - Children, Families and Communities
TCHR1001 - Early Childhood Principles and Practice
Year 3, Session 1
EDUC2013 - Human Society and its Environments: Curriculum and Pedagogy
TCHR2003 - Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood
TCHR5004 - Education and Care I: Preschoolers Note 1
EDUC2015 - Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
Year 3, Session 2
EDUC3011 - English Education: Issues
EDUC2011 - Creative Arts Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDUC3012 - Mathematics Education: Issues
TCHR3008 - Professional Experience II: Effective Teaching Note 1
Year 4, Session 1
EDUC2009 - Supporting Learners with Diverse Abilities
EDUC3013 - Science and Technology Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
TCHR3001 - Early Childhood Matters
TCHR3006 - Professional Experience III: Transition to the Profession Note 1
Year 4, Session 2
EDUC6009 - Education and Indigenous Australians: Ways of Knowing and Being
TCHR3004 - Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood
TCHR3003 - Education and Care II: Infants and Toddlers Note 1
Select one University-wide Elective Unit

Title Note
Year 1, Session 2
ENGL1004 - Foundations: English
CLST1002 - Foundations: Human Society and its Environments
HLTH1002 - Foundations: Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
SCIN1003 - Foundations: Science and Technology
Year 2, Session 1
ENGL1005 - Foundations: Language & Literacy
MATH1002 - Foundations: Mathematics and Numeracy
EDUC1003 - Foundations for Education
CRTV1001 - Foundations: The Arts
Year 2, Session 2
EDUC1004 - Understanding Children and Young People
EDUC2010 - Literacy, Assessment and Information & Communication Technology
TCHR1001 - Early Childhood Principles and Practice
Year 3, Session 1
EDUC2014 - Mathematics Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDUC2012 - English Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
TCHR1002 - Play and Pedagogies in the Early Years
TCHR3007 - Professional Experience I: Becoming a Teacher Note 1
Year 3, Session 2
TCHR3004 - Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood
EDUC2011 - Creative Arts Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
TCHR2002 - Children, Families and Communities
TCHR3008 - Professional Experience II: Effective Teaching Note 1
Year 4, Session 1
TCHR2003 - Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood
EDUC2015 - Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDUC2013 - Human Society and its Environments: Curriculum and Pedagogy
TCHR5004 - Education and Care I: Preschoolers Note 1
Year 4, Session 2
EDUC6009 - Education and Indigenous Australians: Ways of Knowing and Being
EDUC3011 - English Education: Issues
EDUC3012 - Mathematics Education: Issues
TCHR3003 - Education and Care II: Infants and Toddlers Note 1
Year 5, Study Period 1
EDUC2009 - Supporting Learners with Diverse Abilities
Year 5, Session 1
EDUC3013 - Science and Technology Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy
Select one University-wide Elective Unit
TCHR3001 - Early Childhood Matters
TCHR3006 - Professional Experience III: Transition to the Profession Note 1

Notes

Note 1: This unit involves a professional experience placement.