UniSA’s new education degrees offer honours with a difference. They focus on you being ready-to-teach, with enhanced career opportunities, with the added benefit of graduating with an Honours.  You will graduate skilled, confident and ready to pursue your teaching career in early childhood or primary education.

The Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) is a new four-year professional degree solely focused on teaching that will equip you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to thrive as a contemporary educator in junior primary and primary settings.

As well as real-world experience, you will also be given the opportunity to fine-tune your learning with a primary specialism, focusing on particular Learning Area aligned with the Australian Curriculum:

• Arts
• Design and Technology
• English
• Health and Physical Education
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Languages
• Mathematics
• Science

At Mawson Lakes campus, the primary specialisms offered are:

• Arts
• Design and Technology
• Health and Physical Education
• Mathematics
• Science

At Magill campus, the primary specialisms offered are:

• Arts
• Design and Technology
• English
• Health and Psychical Education
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Languages
• Mathematics

The primary specialism offered externally include:

• Arts
• English
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Languages (Italian only)

Please note that while your home campus may offer specific specialisms, you are able to study your specialism cross-campus.

The initial teacher education qualification for the Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) meets the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia (the Board) qualification requirements for the purpose of teacher registration in South Australia and the requirements of the national approach to the Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia.

What you'll learn

This degree is structured around four components: curriculum studies; professional experience; education studies; and primary specialism.

• curriculum studies courses examine the specific learning areas of the primary school curriculum
• professional experience courses allow students to develop their knowledge and skills in a practical environment
• education studies include courses that explore what it means to be an educator
• primary specialism includes courses in the following Learning Areas of the Australian Curriculum:
  • Arts
  • Design and Technology
  • English
  • Health and Physical Education
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Languages
  • Mathematics
  • Science

You will also be expected to participate in professional experience in primary schools from reception to year seven. Placements are taken on a continuous full-time basis at designated times during the year, as organised by the University in partnership with the schooling sectors.

The key focus of this honours degree is research and the production of an honours project at the end of your studies.

The Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) program offers a range of diverse employment options beyond teaching only specific roles. You may choose to work for a variety of employers including:

• business associations
• the Department for Education
• private and community-based child care providers
• Catholic Education South Australia (CESA)
• the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA)
   

The Honours program will equip you with an additional qualification and specialised skills which will enhance your employment prospects if you choose to continue into teaching. The demand for teachers is high1 and UniSA education degrees are ranked number one in South Australia for graduate employment2. Careers to consider:

• primary teacher: develop lesson plans in line with curriculum objectives and facilitate classroom learning for children in reception to year seven
• junior primary teacher: develop lesson plans in line with curriculum objectives and facilitate classroom learning for children aged five to eight

*Australian Governments Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015 **QILT: Graduate Destinations Survey 2015 and Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016-17 – Full-time Employment Indicator. Public SA-founded universities only

You may also choose to continue onto further research with a PhD, Masters of Education or Education Doctorate.*

*A class 2A honours grade or higher is required.

The initial teacher education qualification for the Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) meets the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia (the Board) qualification requirements for the purpose of teacher registration in South Australia and the requirements of the national approach to the Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education Programs in Australia.

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. Applicants should note there are other criteria determining eligibility for registration by the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia and other registration and regulatory authorities. Applicants are advised to check registration requirements as they are subject to change.