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Promote life-long learning in young Australians with the Bachelor of Education (Primary). Develop valuable specialist skills needed for teaching in rural and remote areas and improve Indigenous education outcomes.

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Five stars

for employment outcomes* *Good Universities Guide 2021, UG study area

$65,200*

Median starting salary *Good Universities Guide 2021, UG study area

95 days of placement

Develop your skills with extensive hands-on experience

Online: January, March, July, August, October
Townsville: February, July
Cairns: February, July

$4,850.00⁺

⁺estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

4 years full-time

or part-time equivalent

5.3 years online

ATAR 73.3

English (Units 3/4,C), General Maths or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Maths (Units 3/4,C) and a General Science subject

313099, 313219
313211
323211

What to expect

Focus on the curriculum for children from Prep to Year Six and experience relevant workplace learning in primary school settings. Gain professional experience from your first year in state, Catholic, and independent schools.

Participate in placements in a range of school settings, including rural and remote areas to expand your employment options. Learn to critically evaluate and apply contemporary research to provide inclusive learning environments for diverse student needs.

Experience international placements in Service Learning to broaden your professional experience.
Additional information

About JCU's Bachelor of Education - Primary

Are you ready to shape Australia’s future, and your own, by working with eager young minds in primary schools? Primary education courses at JCU can help you achieve your dreams, equipping you to work anywhere from urban city centres to remote and rural locations.

Comprehensive Education

You want to keep your options open, and a primary education degree from JCU will prepare you for anything. By the time you graduate, you will be qualified to teach in state schools, Catholic schools or the private sector from prep to year six.

You will gain much more than just theoretical knowledge in your primary school teacher training at JCU. Experience has no substitute, and you can be sure of extensive real-world experience with your primary school teaching degree.

With your Bachelor of Education Primary experience, you will work in professional, hands-on contexts in a range of schools and learning environments. Lecturers committed to student success will be constantly on hand to guide you as you learn to critically evaluate and apply the latest research.

A Primary School Teaching Degree with Personalised Education

You have specialties you love, and at JCU your Bachelor of Education, Queensland program offers you the chance to choose from five specialisations to suit your strengths and passions.

You will guide students to a higher appreciation of language and literature with an English or literacy specialisation. With a specialisation in mathematics, you will be there to see the moment when students finally comprehend that complex principle.

You can indulge your own love for STEM by specialise in science or technology. Imagine sparking that same kind of passion in your students! Choose the health and physical education specialisation to leverage your interest in health and fitness and pass your interests on to another generation.

Primary Teaching Courses That Lead To Employment Opportunity

As a graduate of a Bachelor of Teaching Primary, you will be ready to teach any of a number of subject areas. You will be perfectly positioned to work as a primary teacher anywhere in Australia or even overseas.

Your primary education courses at JCU will particularly equip you to work with Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal students. Many options will be open to you, and your degree will make you highly valuable.

With the experience you gain in International Service Learning placements through JCU’s program, you will have valuable cross-cultural experience, too. Your skills will be in demand at home and abroad.

A Primary School Teaching Degree with World-Class Education

You will be poised to succeed at JCU with our passion for student success. Professionals will help you develop a healthy study routine and become confident in your abilities. You can take advantage of our popular Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS). These sessions enable students from the same primary education course to revise difficult material, consider different perspectives and discuss ideas together to gain a deeper understanding.

You will also have any help you need in learning to set schedules, take notes, revise for exams and prepare research. With helpful feedback on your academic writing and constant access to a learning advisor, you will develop all the strategies you need to succeed.

By the time you finish your studies and graduate with your primary education degree, you will feel confident in your own judgement. With a developed sense of professional responsibility and experience in taking initiative, you will be ready to pass on your world-class education to your own students and set them up for a lifetime of success.

Successful Together

Your success is important to you, but it is also important to us and to your future students. When you leave with your education degree, you will know how to integrate your technical and curriculum knowledge into effective educational content.

You will know how to bring theory and practice together in the real world. Your students will thrive as you build a positive, engaging and respectful learning environment where they can develop and grow. You will lead the way in the schools you work in, with the skills to manage and incorporate regulations, policies, equality and sustainability.

The Future Is Yours When You Start Your Primary School Teacher Training

Start your Bachelor of Education Primary at JCU and take the first step on a journey of lifelong learning. With the skills to teach anywhere and the confidence to use what you know, you will be positioned for a truly fulfilling career.
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Study online

The Bachelor of Education (Primary) external (online) course is built for students with busy lives. You will study one subject at a time, up to six times a year. Each subject goes for seven weeks, allowing you to focus on a single area of study each time. It also spreads your study load across the year, and you still get 10 weeks of breaks. By completing six subjects per year, you can complete a Bachelor of Education (Primary) in 5.5 years.

Majors

As part of the Bachelor of Education (Primary), you can choose one of five specialist strands. Consult the handbook for Strands available at each campus.

Choose from one of five specialist strands:

English/literacy
Mathematics/numeracy
Science
Technologies
Health and Physical Education

Career Opportunities

JCU Education (Primary) graduates are equipped to meet the diverse needs of primary school children from Prep to Year Six.

Graduates pursue careers in state, Catholic, and independent schools across Australia as well as overseas, particularly the United Kingdom.

You will be well positioned to find employment as a primary school teacher in rural and regional Australia. Graduates will be particularly qualified to meet the education and care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Handbook

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

Handbook year	2021
Course code	109310
Course type	Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7)
Professional accreditation status	This course is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates of this course are eligible for Teacher registration in Australia.
Owner	Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
College	Arts, Society and Education

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	English, General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics, and a General Science subject (Units 3/4,C); or equivalent. Applicants who have not previously achieved a grade of C in a science subject (or equivalent) can meet this requirement by taking ED0195:03 Bridging Science for Teachers at JCU prior to commencing study.
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of an overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with sub-scores no less than 7.0 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 6.0 in Reading and Writing. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. English test results must be no more than two years old at the commencement of the course. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website.
Additional selection requirements	All applicants for initial teacher education courses must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria. Applicants’ non-academic capabilities will be assessed by way of an instrument applied by QTAC and developed in consultation with the Australian Council of Deans of Education. Students must meet English language proficiency requirements for teacher registration in Australia, either on entry to or on graduation from the program.
Special admission requirements	Applicants wishing to enter the Remote Area Teacher Education Program (RATEP) must nominate with QTAC as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Proof of identity documentation is required. Applicants must be located near RATEP sites in Queensland. RATEP students must select the English/Literacy specialisation.
Post admission requirements	Professional Practice: This course includes prescribed professional placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. Suitability to Work with Children Card (Blue Card): This course includes prescribed professional placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: Blue Card Services English Proficiency: Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds are advised that the Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of meeting the following English language requirements prior to graduation: An overall score of 7.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with sub-scores no less than 8.0 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 7.0 in Reading and Writing. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. Students are advised that the Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of meeting the English language requirements as stated above prior to graduation. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points	96 credit points as per course structure
Additional completion requirements	Successful completion of Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is an expected requirement of the Australian Ministers for Education for all graduates. Therefore all students enrolled in an initial teacher education course (either undergraduate or postgraduate) will be expected to sit and meet the test standard prior to graduation. All students must sit and meet the standard of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to graduation. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. Refer to https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/ All students must successfully complete a final-year teaching performance assessment (Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment [GTPA]) embedded in a subject and a professional placement of no less than four weeks in the final year of the degree, prior to graduation that is shown to: a) be a reflection of classroom teaching practice including the elements of planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting; b) clearly assess the content of the Graduate Teacher Standards; and c) demonstrate an understanding of moderation processes that support consistent decision-making against achievement criteria. The GTPA is built into course requirements and assessments. All students must possess dispositional attributes deemed suitable for the profession of teaching. For all students undertaking the Bachelor of Education (Primary) (including those undertaking the program online), mandatory participation in a5-day intensive Professional Orientation Program on campus in the final year of the course is a requirement to complete this degree. This program may be undertaken at either the JCU Cairns or JCU Townsville Campus.
Course learning outcomes	On successful completion of the Bachelor of Education (Primary), graduates will be able to: Demonstrate a broad understanding of professional knowledge and practices, relevant to all domains of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and other regulatory frameworks relevant to practice in the field of Education. Critically evaluate and apply educational and developmental theories, principles, content knowledge and contemporary research to meet the needs of diverse students in positive and inclusive learning and care environments with an emphasis on the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Integrate curricula, pedagogical and technological knowledge and skills to plan, deliver, assess and critically reflect on learning and development with an emphasis on the needs, abilities and life-worlds, of students and communities in regional, rural, remote and tropical areas. Identify, collect, analyse and critically review information to inform professional decision making and enact quality monitoring, assessment and feedback practices. Establish and maintain positive, engaging, respectful and safe learning environments with students, caregivers and community and collegial interactions with other professionals through the modelling of effective, context-specific oral, written and digital communication and interpersonal skills. Demonstrate literacy and numeracy mastery, while applying pedagogical strategies to develop, monitor and evaluate Primary students’ literacy and numeracy skills in a variety of curricular contexts. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding and technical ability to safely, creatively and ethically integrate technology and other learning resources into curricula and pedagogical design and delivery. Develop and demonstrate intercultural and ethical approaches to professional practice based on broad knowledge of legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks that address social justice, equity, diversity and sustainability issues. Demonstrate initiative, judgement, professional responsibility and accountability in complex and diverse contexts with a commitment to continuing professional learning.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Level 1

ED1401:03 Education Perspectives and Practice

ED1411:03 Science and Sustainability in Education

ED1421:03 Foundations of Language and Literacy in Education

ED1441:03 Technologies for Primary School

ED1442:03 Arts Education for Primary School

ED1481:03 Educational Psychology: Learners and Learning

ED1492:03 Teaching Mathematics and Numeracy in Primary and Early Childhood Settings

Level 2

ED2190:03 Health and Physical Education for Primary School

ED2193:03 Mathematics Education for Primary School

ED2194:03 English Education for Primary School

ED2195:03 Science Education for Primary School

ED2196:03 Humanities and Social Sciences for Primary School

ED2491:03 Planning for Engaging Learning

ED2991:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

Level 3

ED3197:06 Improving Student Learning and Professional Practice: Using data and evidence (Primary)

ED3441:03 Technologies Across the Curriculum

ED3442:03 Inclusive Education: Differentiated Learning for Students with Special Needs and Abilities

ED3443:03 English as an Additional Language/Dialect for Indigenous Learners

ED3095:03 Advanced English Education Primary

ED3497:03 Advanced Mathematics Education

Level 4

ED4460:03 Service Learning for Sustainable Futures or ED4493:03 Advanced Studies in Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing (Students in the HPE specialisation must take ED4493 as an alternative to ED4460. This alternative core subject is only available for students completing the HPE specialisation)

ED4461:03 Indigenous Futures

ED4486:03 Fourth Year Professional Experience A

ED4490:06 Fourth Year Professional Experience B

ED4621:03 Leading Wellbeing and Sustainability in Learning Communities

ED4623:03 Teachers as Ethical and Collaborative Change Agents

ED4995:03 Education Across Culturally Diverse Contexts

OPTIONS

Select one of the following specialisations:

English/Literacy (RATEP students must select this specialisation)

CU1010:03 Effective Writing

EL2047:03 Children's Literature

ED4306:03 Students with Reading Difficulties

Mathematics/Numeracy

MA1020:03 Preparatory Mathematics or CP1401:03 Fundamentals of Problem Solving and Programming I (students who have completed Maths B or equivalent with a High Achievement or better MUST select CP1401)

MA1580:03 Foundations of Data Science

ED3098:03 Specialist Primary Mathematics Curriculum

Science

EA1110:03 Evolution of the Earth

CH1020:03 Preparatory Chemistry or BS1001:03 Introduction to Biological Processes (students who have completed high school Chemistry or equivalent with a High Achievement or better MUST select BS1001)

ED3196:03 Science in Context for Primary Science Specialists

Technologies

CP1401:03 Fundamentals of Problem Solving and Programming I

CP1403:03 Design Thinking

CP1402:03 Internet Fundamentals

Health and Physical Education (Townsville only)

HM1061:03 Foundations of Movement and Physical Activity

HM2063:03 Education for Health and Wellbeing

HM3061:03 Advanced Teaching in Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing 1

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Cairns	Health and Physical Education specialisation is not available in JCU Cairns
Distance Ed (Townsville)	Available to RATEP students only (Mixed Attendance – administered through JCU Townsville)
JCU Townsville
External	This course is delivered online with the exception of professional experience placement in Australian Educational Institutions as required for professional accreditation. Students will select from either the Maths/Numeracy or the English/Literacy Specialisations. Not available to International Students. Only available for students wishing to study part-time in up to 6 carousel study periods per year. Credit is not currently available for this offering.

Candidature

Expected time to complete

4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

*External students studying in continuous carousel delivery will complete in 5.3 years.

Maximum time to complete

11 years

Maximum leave of absence

3 years

Progression

Course progression requisites	Students studying in carousel delivery mode, must successfully complete years 1, 2 and 3 sequentially before attempting any fourth year subjects. To ensure satisfactory progression, a minimum of three subjects must be taken in any 12-month period. Students must successfully complete LANTITE prior to their placement and GTPA assessment in their final year of study.
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	This course includes prescribed professional placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Procedure. To undertake the final Professional Experience and Co-requisite subjects, students must have completed 72 credit points of level 1, 2 and 3 subjects in this course.
Special assessment requirements	Suitability to Work with Children Care (Blue Card): This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: Education Blue Card Students who do not complete the required number of days of a professional experience subject or a professional component of a subject, without the approval of the Director of Professional Experience, will be determined to have failed the subject.
Professional accreditation requirements	Successful completion of all subjects contributes to the requirements for the Queensland College of Teachers Graduate level of the Australian Professional Standards (APST). Please also see `Additional Completion requirements’ in reference to the GTPA.
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for credit transfer for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure.
Maximum allowed	63 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Students may seek approval to do concurrent studies at another university in approved disciplines not offered at this university. Students normally will be granted a maximum of 15 credit points of credit for these studies. The maximum credit allowable for professional development courses within the degree is three credit points except where one course is judged to be larger in size than one Division subject. Credit may be granted for professional development courses smaller than a Division subject. However, no credit will be given for courses smaller than two credit points, or equivalent. Recognition of Current Competence (RCC) may apply where a teacher education student can clearly demonstrate outcomes relevant to a specific professional experience component of a Bachelor of Education program. If these outcomes can be demonstrated, the pre-service teacher will be granted credit for a part of the requisite days of the professional experience requirement. Demonstration of attainment of outcomes may be in the form of professional experience reports from other institutions and/or statements of teaching or related service.

Award Details

Award title	BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (PRIMARY)
Approved abbreviation	BEd(Primary)
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not Applicable – this course does not have majors
Exit with lesser award	Students who exit the course prior to completion and have successfully completed 12 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education. Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 72 credit points of study and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive the award of Bachelor of Educational Services.
Course articulation	Not applicable

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,850.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

An ATAR is the score required for entry into most undergraduate courses. If you are not a Year 12 school leaver or do not have an ATAR, you can be assigned an equivalent score. Scores are calculated from previous study that you might have completed, either secondary, tertiary or vocational, or previous paid employment experience.

JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university.

TAFE Diploma of Education (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) pathway. Students with a Diploma of Education (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) can apply directly for entry into the Bachelor of Education (Primary). You can also gain the equivalent of one year’s credit towards the degree.

Students are encouraged to undertake the Tertiary Access Course if they have not studied recently and/or want assistance making the transition to University studies.

Get prepared – bridging subjects

Bridging subjects are designed to fill any gaps in your knowledge. We offer a Preparatory Maths and a Bridging Science for Teachers subject that can be studied online and on-campus in Cairns and Townsville. You may need to enrol in a bridging subject if you have not achieved the grade of ‘Sound Achievement or better’ in Queensland Year 12 maths or an authority Science subject.

Visit Pathways to University for subject details or email the JCU Enrolments team for further information.

How to apply

Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.

RATEP: Eligible students who live in locations where there is a RATEP study centre can apply through QTAC, using code 313099.

All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.

English language requirements

Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the following English language proficiency requirements:

An overall score of 7.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with no sub-score less than 8 for Speaking and Listening and no sub-score less than 7 for Reading and Writing.

If you do not meet the English language requirements you can apply to study a University-approved English language program.

ATAR score is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.

Student

Shae-Kia Carroll

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

At the end of my degree, I hope to teach in a rural community to provide unique learning experiences for my students. I feel prepared heading into the workforce, as I have been lucky enough to undertake professional experience in many different communities.
Student

Steven Cromb

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

The lecturers are more than happy to take their time out and explain things if you need help. All of the professors have been dedicated to doing the job and getting everyone through and making sure everyone understands the content.
Alumni

Tamara Acheson

Bachelor of Education (Primary)

I chose JCU because I heard that it had a really good reputation. The lecturers at JCU are always willing help you. This course prepared me for the workforce with so many opportunities to undertake professional placements in a variety of schools. If you love teaching children then education is the course for you.
Lecturer

Dr. Leanne Cameron

Senior Lecturer, Education

With the new online course, we can use technology to share knowledge with students who might find face-to-face education doesn’t fit into their lives. I did much of my ow university education via distance education and I wish we had the tools to make it as engaging and exciting as we can now through this course.
Employer

Jan Cooper

Principal, Annandale State School, Townsville QASSP President

Principals greatly value the close liaison between JCU Education and schools. This liaison ensures that pre-service teachers receive authentic and effective professional experience placements in schools. JCU Education graduates are well-prepared academically and practically for their demanding careers as educators.