Course description
Professional recognition
Graduates of the Bachelor of Teaching (Science)/Bachelor of Science will qualify for a degree in secondary science teaching which will meet the registration requirements for the Victorian Institute of Teaching, and other state teacher registration boards in Australia.
Fees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
* The "indicative annual course fee" cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Career opportunities
As a graduate of this course you will be eligible to gain employment as a secondary teacher in all states and territories in Australia. You may also find employment in Australian and overseas in management, science-related industries, government departments, university research, TAFE and adult community educational institutions, health and welfare organisations, private academies and agencies, in public sector positions such as conservation groups and other research positions in a variety of organisations.
Course rules
The Bachelor of Teaching (Science) is offered as a combined course of 32 credit points (four years of full time study or part-time equivalent) with the revised Bachelor of Science to prepare secondary teachers in the disciplines of science and mathematics. Each Faculty will teach 16 credit points.
To satisfy the Bachelor of Science requirements students must complete 16 credit points in the Faculty of Science and Technology, including at least one 8-credit-point major sequence in a specific science discipline and a 4 credit point (minimum) science sub-major sequence consisting of 2 credit points at each of levels 1 and 2.
Major sequences
Biology
Biological Chemistry
Environmental Science
Mathematical Modelling
Course structure
Year 1
Trimester 1
EES200 Communicating Science
One Science minor unit
One Science elective unit
One Science major unit
Trimester 2
EES100 Being a Science Learner
One Science minor unit
One Science elective unit
One Science major unit
Year 2
Trimester 1
SBS251 Research Methods and Data Analysis
One Science minor unit
Two Science major units
Trimester 2
SBS350 Community Science Project
One Science minor unit
Two Science major units
Year 3
Trimester 1
EEE201 Creating Effective Learning Environments
Secondary Curriculum Method study 1 A*
Secondary Curriculum Method study 2 A*
One Science major unit
EEY304 Secondary School Experience 3C
Trimester 2
EEE202 Curriculum Assessment and Reporting
Secondary Curriculum Method study 1 B*
Secondary Curriculum Method study 2 B*
One Science major unit
EEY305 Secondary School Experience 3D
* Units selected from the School of Education.
Year 4
Trimester 1
EEE401 Professional Relationships
ESE499 Independent Project
ESS439 Issues in Science and Environmental Education
EXC425 Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
EEY401 Secondary School Experience 4A
Trimester 2
EEE402 Transition to Beginning Teaching
EXC440 Teaching for Diversity
ESS415 Resources in the Contemporary Science Curriculum
EEH530 Promoting Student Wellbeing
EEY402 Secondary School Experience 4B
EEY403 Secondary School Experience 4C
Notes:
(ii Units are 1 credit point unless otherwise noted.
(ii) EEE201, EEE202, EEE401, EEE402 and EEH530 are 0.75 credit point units.
(iii) EEY304, EEY305, EEY401, EEY402 and EEY403 are 0.25 credit point units.
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.
Admission requirements - specific
Applicants are required to have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or equivalent. VCE prerequisites are units 3 & 4 – mathematics (any), and a study score of at least 30 in English (ESL) or 25 in any other English.
Provision is made for an intake of mature-age or special-entry applicants. Refer to the relevant Courses section in the Handbook for Faculty of Science and Technology for the Bachelor of Science, and the VTAC Guide for special requirements.
In addition to minimum entry requirements, International students for whom English is not their first language are required to have an overall IELTS score of at least 7.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Advanced standing - specific
Students are advised to contact the Faculty for information regarding applying for credit for prior tertiary study.
How to apply
Applications for on and off campus study must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre (VTAC). For more information refer to VTAC (external site).
Further study
Students who successfully complete the course will be eligible to apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate of Education (Science and Environmental Education) and Master of Education (Science and Environmental Education) courses. Also eligible to apply for Bachelor of Science (Honours).
Working with Children Check
The Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic.) requires a person who engages in child-related work, as defined in the Act, to obtain an assessment notice under the Act, known as a Working with Children Check (WWCC). The Act is administered by the Department of Justice: justice.vic.gov.au
Professional experience placements in schools in the course of a university degree are “child-related work”. Under the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic.), administered by the Department of Justice, a student teacher must obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) before commencing school experience placements in a school. The WWCC must remain current throughout the course. It is an offence under the Act to engage in school experience without holding a WWCC.
Students will not be allowed to commence school experience in any school in Victoria until a Working with Children Check is obtained. The Department of Education has requested that on the application form a student nominates the University as the (or one of the) employers. The University will then be sent a copy of the assessment notice. Because the University needs to assure a school that a student placed at the school has a current Working with Children Check, each student must give their authority to provide the assurance - a student will be required to sign an authority for the University to inform a school that a WWCC has or has not been obtained.
While the University will hold on file documentation relating to the WWCCs obtained by students engaged in school experience, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she can produce the WWCC card to the school upon request and to keep the WWCC current under the Act.
Students are required to apply for a WWCC through a participating Australia Post outlet (which can be found on the Australia Post website or the Department of Justice website) and provide proof to the faculty that the WWCC has been undertaken.
Should a student fail to obtain a WWCC, practical training in a school will not be provided, and as practical training is a requirement for completion of a teaching degree, the student may be unable to complete the degree. Should such a situation arise, the University will provide advice on options for tertiary study.
It is the responsibility of students undertaking placements outside Victoria to enquire about and, where necessary, to meet any similar legislative or other requirements concerning working with children.
Professional experience requirements
The practicum units within the Bachelor of Teaching (Science)/Bachelor of Science are flexibly arranged to incorporate experience with the teaching and learning of science in industry and community settings such as museums or parks, as well as schools. In the first two years of the course these experiences will be organised and individually negotiated as part of the series of 'professional practice' units. They may include special projects such as mentor roles in science activities and projects in schools or other sites.
In the third and fourth year of the course the practicum will continue to incorporate diverse settings but will shift more substantially to school based practice. The course aims to develop knowledge of the way science is practised in contemporary settings, and of issues in the public understanding and learning of science, such that graduates will be able to bring a rich set of understandings and skills to their teaching of science in schools. Students are required for registration purposes (and for the award of the degree) to have completed over the duration of their course a minimum of 80 days of supervised school experience. Students should ensure they are conversant with the Standards for Graduating Students as required by the Victorian Institute of Teaching. The school experience is organised by the Professional Experience Office and students do not make contact with schools regarding placements under any circumstances. Students should note that it is a requirement of the course that school experience is undertaken in conjunction with their curriculum studies and Education Major studies and during the time tabled dates unless, in exceptional circumstances, alternative arrangements are negotiated and agreed to in writing with the Professional Experience Office. Students should note that normally any paid or unpaid work undertaken in a school as an unqualified teacher/teacher’s aide will not be recognised for credit as recognised prior learning in supervised school experience for this course. Students may be required to complete the school experience component of the course outside the academic year. A satisfactory level of teaching competence during supervised school experience is required for award of the degree. An “unsatisfactory” result on any school experience placement will be referred to the Faculty Academic Progress and Discipline Committee.
Graduates of an accredited teaching course should note that teacher registration is required in Victoria and is administered by the Victorian Institute of Teaching under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.). Prospective students should acquaint themselves with the requirements for registration in Victoria or in any other relevant location. These requirements include the ability to satisfy the Standards for Graduating Students (available at: vit.vic.edu.au)
Professional Experience enrolment
Students must follow Faculty requirements in relation to the number of days of school experience to be completed for each placement as per the Professional Experience Handbook (available from the campus of enrolment) which includes the published school experience timetable. Students should note that a ‘day’ constitutes a whole school day (not part thereof).
Students should obtain a copy of the Professional Experience Handbook each year from the Professional Experience Office (also available at www.deakin.edu.au/arts-ed/education/schoolexp ). Information contained in the Handbook is updated annually and is a summary of Faculty requirements in relation to school experience.
Professional Experience units
Bachelor of Teaching (Science)/Bachelor of Science
EEY304 Secondary School Experience 3C
2 placements each of 10 days - total of 20 days
EEY305 Secondary School Experience 3D
2 placements each of 10 days - total of 20 days
EEY401 Secondary School Experience 4A
10 days
EEY402 Secondary School Experience 4B
15 days
EEY403 Secondary School Experience 4C
15 days
