Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus)

Why study the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) at UNE?

The Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) is a unique course of study developed specifically for educators in the Pacific Islands. Graduates of the Associate Degree of Teaching (Pacific Focus) may undertake this course as an additional two years (full time equivalent) of study toward a Bachelor qualification. The course offers four career pathways for graduates and encompasses working with children in Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, and Inclusive Education, as well as professional experience and a 50-day internship.

Being a teacher is a rewarding career and this course aims to provide Pacific Island educators with the necessary professional skills to meet the needs of current and future generations of students. Students will have opportunities to develop their skills online and through professional experience placements. This knowledge and aptitude will contribute to one of the largest professions worldwide.

Career Opportunities

Teacher in Early Childhood Education, Inclusive Education, Primary, or Secondary Education in a Pacific Island context.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

2 Years Full-time
Up to 8 years Part-time

FEES

International

2019 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 2, Online

Official Abbreviation BEd(PacFocus)
Course Type Undergraduate
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Course Duration
  • 2 Years Full-time
  • Up to 8 years Part-time
Fees International
For fee information, click here
Total Credit Points 192
Entry Requirements

A candidate shall hold the AQF Level 6 Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) of the University of New England.

Candidates who completed the Early Childhood Education specialisation within the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) must specialise in the same area.

Candidates who completed the Primary Education specialisation within the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) may specialise in either Primary Education or Inclusive Education.

Candidates who completed the Secondary Education (English), Secondary Education (Mathematics), Secondary Education (Science), Secondary Education (Geography/HSIE), or Secondary Education (History/HSIE) specialisations within the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) must specialise within the same area.

Additional Requirements

Additional Requirements

All students intending to undertake a professional experience placement whose work is categorised as 'practical training as part of an educational or vocational course', in schools or other educational institutions (eg. pre-schools, kindergartens and child care centres) must complete an International Criminal Background Check.

Working with Children Check*

All students intending to undertake a professional experience placement whose work is categorised as 'practical training as part of an educational or vocational course', in schools or other educational institutions (eg. pre-schools, kindergartens and child care centres) must complete a Working with Children Check application or appropriate overseas equivalent eg. Nauru police records check.

Child Protection Awareness Training*

All teacher education students must complete online Child Protection and Awareness Training prior to the commencement of their first professional experience placement in a school setting.

Anaphylaxis Training*

All students must complete a course in anaphylaxis management prior to the commencement of their first professional experience placement in a school setting.

*These requirements are subject to change. Students are referred to the Office for Professional Learning - Professional Experience Placement webpage for current information (including requirements for other states).

Fit for Practice/Informed Consent Information

Prospective candidates should only accept an offer of a place in this course if they are able to meet the following "Fit for Practice" requirements:

(a) abide by relevant UNE Rules and Procedures, for example, Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules, and any relevant School of Education Policies, for example, the Professional Experience Policy for professional placements;

(b) exercise sound judgement based on cognitive, mental and physical health and be able to respond appropriately to demands of teaching situations;

(c) demonstrate personal resilience and persistence to cope and maintain wellbeing under stressful situations;

(d) demonstrate satisfactory academic progression prior to professional placement;

(e) safeguard the University's integrity and demonstrate duty of care to students/children while engaged in professional experience;

(f) show personal maturity to ensure that a professional relationship is established with students/children;

(g) communicate to students/children with clarity and in an appropriate manner that relates to their age profile;

(h) possess and model the literacy and numeracy skills expected of teachers in interactions they have within the classroom and broader settings;

(i) be able to create, evaluate and reflect on the physical and emotional safety of students/children in a variety of situations and environments; and

(j) be able to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with colleagues and the broader school /early childhood community.

Candidates who have or who develop a disability that may or will prevent them from meeting the above professional experience requirements should contact Student Support to see if reasonable adjustments are practicable.

Candidates who have difficulties in meeting some of the above professional experience requirements will be required to contact the Office for Professional Learning to put in place remedial and/or counselling activities through a pro-active approach to improve their teaching practice.

Practical, Clinical or Work Experience

Professional Experience days are embedded into the following units:

Early Childhood Education:

EDEC324(PrEx5)

EDEC341(PrEx10)

EDEC435(PrEx10)

EDEC322(PrEx5)

EDEC328(PrEx5)

EDEC392 (PrEx15)

* Students in the Early Childhood specialisation will have completed 55 days of professional experience as part of the Associate Degree of Teaching (Pacific Focus)

Primary Education, Inclusive Education, and Secondary Education:

EDLT219(PrEx20) or EDLT302 (PrEx20)

PREX396 (50 day internship)

* Students will have successfully completed 40 days of professional experience as part of the Associate Degree of Teaching (Pacific Focus).

Advanced Standing

Candidates shall be granted a maximum of 96 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature.

Academic Colours

Violet (BCC 179)

Further Information

You can find instant answers to many of your questions or contact UNE directly via AskUNE

These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus) in 2019.

Admission to Candidature

A candidate shall hold the AQF Level 6 Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) of the University of New England.
Candidates who completed the Early Childhood Education specialisation within the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) must specialise in the same area.
Candidates who completed the Primary Education specialisation within the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) may specialise in either Primary Education or Inclusive Education.
Candidates who completed the Secondary Education (English), Secondary Education (Mathematics), Secondary Education (Science), Secondary Education (Geography/HSIE), or Secondary Education (History/HSIE) specialisations within the Associate Degree in Teaching (Pacific Focus) must specialise within the same area.

Additional Requirements

All students intending to undertake a professional experience placement in Australia whose work is categorised as 'practical training as part of an educational or vocational course'; in schools or other educational institutions (eg pre-schools, kindergartens and child care centres) must complete an International Criminal Background Check.

Working with Children Check*

All students intending to undertake a professional experience placement whose work is categorised as 'practical training as part of an educational or vocational course', in schools or other educational institutions (eg pre-schools, kindergartens and child care centres), must complete a Working with Children Check application or appropriate overseas equivalent eg Nauru police records check.

Child Protection Awareness Training*

All teacher education students must complete online Child Protection and Awareness Training prior to the commencement of their first professisonal experience placement in a school setting.

Anaphylaxis Training*

All students must complete a course in anaphylaxis management prior to the commencement of their first professional experience placement in a school setting.

*These requirements are subject to change. Students are referred to the Office for Professional Learning - Professional Experience Placement webpage for current information.

Fit for Practice/Informed Consent Information

Prospective candidates should only accept an offer of a place in this course if they are able to meet the following "Fit for Practice" requirements:

  • abide by the relevant UNE Rules and Procedures, for example, Student Behavioural Misconduct Rules, and any relevant School of Education Policies, for example, the Professional Experience Policy for professional placements;
  • exercise sound judgement based on cognitive, mental and physical health and be able to respond appropriately to demands of teaching situations;
  • demonstrate personal resilience and persistence to cope and maintain wellbeing under stressful situations;
  • demonstrate satisfactory academic progression prior to professional placement;
  • safeguard the University's integrity and demonstrate duty of care to students/children while engaged in professional experience;
  • show personal maturity to ensure that a professional relationship is established with students/children;
  • communicate to students/children with clarity and in an appropriate manner that relates to their age profile;
  • possess key literacy and numeracy attributes and model these skills in interactions within the classroom and broader settings;
  • be able to create, evaluate and reflect on the physical and emotional safety of students/children in a variety of situations and environments; and
  • be able to establish and maintain effective professional relationships with colleagues and the broader school/early childhood community.

Candidates who have or who develop a disability that may or will prevent them from meeting the above professional experience requirements should contact Student Support to see if reasonable adjustments are practicable.

Candidates who have difficulties in meeting some of the above professional experience requirements will be required to contact the Office for Professional Learning to put in place remedial and/or counselling activities through a pro-active approach to improve their teaching practice.

Advanced Standing

Candidates shall be granted a maximum of 96 credit points of Block Advanced Standing based on their admission to candidature.

Period of Candidature

The period of candidature shall be:
(a) two years as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to eight years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

To qualify for the award a candidates must pass units to the value of 192 credit points, which includes 96 credit points of block advanced standing, a minimum of 60 credit points at 300-level, not more than 24 credit points at 400-level, and 50 days of embedded professional experience (for Early Childhood Education) or 20 days of embedded professional experience plus 50 day internship for Primary Education, Inclusive Education and Secondary Education.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

Course Structure Credit Points
Block Advanced Standing 96 cps
Core Units 12 cps
ONE Approved Specialisation
(including 50 days embedded Professional Experience for Early Childhood Education or 20 days Professional Experience plus one 50-day Internship for Primary Education, Inclusive Education and Secondary Education)
84 cps
Total 192 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be awarded the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus).

Exit Pathways

Candidates who discontinue their studies in the course may be eligible to exit with the non-accredited, non-teaching qualification, Bachelor of Educational Studies, on completion of 144 credit points including at least 36 credit points at 300-level or above.

Candidates who apply to discontinue their studies and exit with the Bachelor of Educational Studies must apply for re-admission and will be subject to current course requirements of the Bachelor of Education (Pacific Focus). This may mean that they will not receive full recognition for their previous studies should the course structure have changed in response to University or external accreditation body requirements.

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Course Aims

This course aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills and qualifications to be effective four-year trained educators in Early Childhood, Primary, Inclusive or Secondary Education in the Pacific Island Context, demonstrating and applying, in this context, coherent, broad and deep knowledge and skills relating to the seven elements prescribed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. know their students and how students learn;
  2. know their subject/content and how to teach that content to their students;
  3. plan for and implement effective teaching and learning;
  4. create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments;
  5. assess, provide feedback and report on student learning;
  6. continually improve by engaging in professional learning; and
  7. continually engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates will be able to critically engage with global perspectives of teaching and learning while gaining specific knowledge to effectively plan and teach in their relevant Pacific educational context.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to effectively convey ideas and information both orally and in writing to students, colleagues, parents, school administrators, and other community members. Communication skills are enhanced through presentations, assessment tasks and online interaction.

Problem Solving

Graduates will be able to apply logical, critical and creative thinking to solve a range of problems related to the field of education and their specific discipline. Problem solving is incorporated throughout the degree and an emphasis placed on the development of reflective practice. Students practise problem solving in group work and assessment tasks that require application of their learning to a variety of practical and professional contexts.

Information Literacy

Graduates will be able to identify, evaluate and effectively use digital resources and tools in the school setting and understand their safe, legal and ethical use. Independent and group research and practical experience in the course support this graduate attribute.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Graduates will be able to recognise, reflect on and respond appropriately to social, cultural and ethical issues that may arise with children, families, schools, and the community. This is emphasised in course materials and practical experience sessions.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates will understand the importance of lifelong learning in the pursuit of personal and professional development. Students are encouraged to share their learning with the community and engage. Students are encouraged to share their work and their learning in their home communities through presentations and information sessions.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will be able to work both independently and collaboratively to achieve individual and common goals within an educational setting. Assessment tasks include both individual and group work and online forums encourage collaboration amongst students.

How to Apply

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International. This course is only available online (distance education).

For more information, click here

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