Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)

The Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) from Charles Sturt University is for those who already hold an undergraduate degree, and provides a further teaching qualification in two years of full-time, or equivalent, study. This education degree prepares you to teach children aged five to 12, helping them develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to provide the best possible start in life.

You'll develop effective teaching skills across the full range of subjects taught in NSW primary schools: English, creative arts, health and physical education, mathematics, studies of society and the environment, and science and technology.

A selection of subjects are offered in Session 3 to either accelerate the completion of your degree or spread your study commitments across the year, adding further flexibility in achieving your qualification.

The Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) prepares you to be a dynamic and critically reflective teacher who is responsive to the diverse needs of young learners and communities. You'll develop effective teaching skills across the full range of subjects taught in NSW primary schools: English, creative arts, health and physical education, mathematics, studies of society and the environment, and science and technology.

Flexible study options

This teaching degree is delivered online so you can choose when and where you study, and we'll be there to support you every step of the way.

Learn from nationally recognised leaders

Our dedicated teaching staff have made substantial contributions to research, policy and curriculum development.

Gain practical experience

Our Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) offers many opportunities to develop your skills so when you graduate you'll be ready to put the latest developments in learning and teaching into practice.

We're here to help

Charles Sturt University offers personalised support and academic assistance including interaction opportunities with your subject coordinator throughout work placements.

Opportunity to graduate with a Master of Teaching

If you're interested in being extended through an advanced level of study, you may apply to enter the Master of Teaching (Primary) if you have achieved a grade point average of 4.0 or above. A master's will give you a strong advantage in the job market.

Recommended study pattern

The below information is for new students. Current students should select their subjects by checking the Handbook for the year of their enrolment

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)

Bachelor - Credit Points: 192

The course has been designed and accredited to provide all students with an AITSL recognised Primary Specialisation (referred to at Charles Sturt as an AITSL Recognised Extended Primary Curriculum Area) based on completion of the course requirements for their enrolled course, inclusive of each Primary KLA: Creative Arts, English, HASS/HSIE, Mathematics, PDHPE, Science & Technology and Language. To enable a deeper focus in one curriculum area, the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) course features an Extended Primary Curriculum Area pathway which further develops teacher education students' pedagogical content knowledge in a KLA. Students with in-depth study in one of these KLAs will graduate with an Recognised Extended Primary Curriculum Area by completing the course's capstone assessment task, the Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA) in the respective curriculum area as part of their final teaching placement. Optional for NSW students: NESA endorses in-depth and extended study in some of the KLAs. Graduates who have completed the requisite subjects for a NESA Recognised Extended Primary Curriculum Area receive recognition as part of their NSW teacher registration which may advantage them when seeking a teaching position in a NSW. Where students choose to qualify with the Recognised Extended Primary Curriculum Area, their credit package will be reduced s to enable them to complete the necessary subjects outlined in the Credit Arrangements.

Essential set - Core Education Subjects - Credit Points: 96

EEB435 Indigenous Australian Studies for Teachers (8)

EEB446 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Cultural Education Program (0)

EED409 Learning and Development K-6 (8)

EEP427 Social Justice, Ethics and Inclusion in Classroom Practice (8)

EMA410 Teaching and Assessing the Creative Arts (8)

EMH419 Curriculum Studies: Primary HASS (8)

EML439 English Curriculum: Pedagogies in the primary years (8)

EML449 Everyday Language and Literacies: Learning and Practice (8)

EMM410 Mathematics in the Primary Years (8)

EMM418 Mathematics: Content and Pedagogy (8)

EMM420 Mathematics for Primary Teachers (0)

EMR408 PDHPE Curriculum and Pedagogy (8)

EMS406 Science and Technology Curriculum Studies (8)

ESS419 Principles of Inclusive Education (8)

Essential set - Core Professional Experience Subjects - Credit Points: 32

The placement components of the subjects EPT455 and EPT447 can be completed in an approved overseas school, where the mode of instruction is English, usually in an International School. The final placement subject, EPT448, must be completed in Australia. All students must complete a total of 60 days of professional experience placement across the degree, unless they have prior alternative placement approval from the Course Director. NOTE: All initial teacher education students are required to pass both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) before commencement of the final professional experience placement as part of the accreditation requirements of this course. Further information about the LANTITE including how to register can be found on the LANTITE website of https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/

EPT455 English Curriculum: Understanding Language and Literacy (8)

EPT447 Professional Experience: Positive Primary Classroom Environments (8)

EPT448 Professional Experience: Consolidating Effective Teaching and Assessment in the Primary Years (16)

Essential set - Credit package up to - Credit Points: 64

The credit packages which are awarded upon entry to the course are based on: 1. The extent to which the applicant's previous academic background meets the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements for appropriate studies in a primary curriculum area. These requirements can be viewed in full at the NESA website. 2. The Primary curriculum extended study program. All courses include an approved AITSL Primary Specialisation Pathway which is referred to as a Primary Curriculum Extended Study Program. Students in the Language course are required to complete an additional Language curriculum subject. Students who elect to complete an approved NESA recognised Extended Primary curriculum Area Program in Mathematics or English will be required to complete an additional ‘Highly Effective Teaching’ subject. Students who elect to complete a NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program in Science and Technology will be required to complete two additional subjects, a Technology Curriculum subject and a ‘Highly Effective Teaching’ subject. Students who elect to complete a NESA Extended Primary curriculum Area Program in Languages will be required to complete two additional subjects, a Language Curriculum subject and a ‘Highly Effective Teaching’ subject. Upon admission, all students who meet the entry requirements in full are awarded 64 points of entry-level credit in recognition of prior completed relevant undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies. This is indicated as credit package EDU38C (64 points). If one further subject is required to meet the NESA specifications, credit package EDU37C (56 points) is awarded, which permits an additional subject to be undertaken within the course. If two further subjects are required to meet the NESA specifications, credit package EDU36C (48 points) is awarded, which permits two additional subjects to be undertaken within the course.

EDU36C Credit Package (48)

EDU37C Credit Package (56)

EDU38C Credit Package (64)

NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Program - Credit Points: 0

The course has been designed and accredited to provide all students with an AITSL recognised Primary Specialisation (referred to at Charles Sturt as an AITSL Recognised Extended Primary Curriculum Area) however, NSW student have the option to complete the following NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Programs: NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: English Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, where students choose to qualify with the NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program, their credit package will be reduced by 8 points to enable them to complete EML447 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary English within this degree. NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: Mathematics Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, where students choose to qualify with the NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program, their credit package will be reduced by 8 points to enable them to complete EMS407 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary STEM within this degree. NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: Languages Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, where students have not completed the additional curriculum subject of EML451 LOTE Curriculum Studies 1 and EMH409 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary Arts, HASS/HSIE and Languages, their credit package will be reduced by 16 points to enable them to complete these subjects within this degree. NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: Science & Technology Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, students will have the option to complete the additional curriculum subject of ESC407 Classroom Technology and EMS407 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary STEM to qualify for the NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program in Science & Technology. If choosing this option, their credit package will be reduced by 16 points to enable them to complete these subjects within this degree. Students should contact the Course Director for enrolment advice.

Award requirements

As a Charles Sturt University student, throughout your course you have a responsibility to continue to develop skills in English language, literacy and numeracy as appropriate to your discipline. This ongoing development will enable you to effectively participate in your course and graduate prepared to enter the workforce.

To graduate students must satisfactorily complete 192 points.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $8,214

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Charles Sturt University is Australia’s most experienced online uni, and has the country’s highest graduate employment rate. From agriculture, arts, healthcare and IT, to business, law, social work and teaching—you’ll get the latest skills in your field, and learn from academics who are connected to industry. Add in 24/7 IT support, scholarships and a vibrant student community, and you can take your next, or first, career step with confidence.

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Primary school teachers are qualified to teach all of the primary curriculum areas (also referred to as the Key Learning Areas or KLAs), and are required to have extended knowledge of one of these curriculum areas (which is determined in the application process which is detailed below).

Applicants for the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) must meet the following admission requirements:

A completed Bachelor’s Degree

Successful completion of acceptable undergraduate and or/postgraduate study that is equivalent to one year of study (1.0 Equivalent Full Time Study Load - EFTSL), usually equating to eight subjects, that fall under one or more of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) primary curriculum KLAs.

To ensure applicants have an extended depth of knowledge in one curriculum KLA, a minimum of four of the eight subjects must be within one of the following seven primary curriculum KLAs:

• English*
• Mathematics *
• Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS/HSIE)
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
• Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Dance & Visual Arts)
• Science and Technology*
• Languages*

The program for which the applicant will be eligible for entry is therefore based on the applicant’s previous study in the respective primary curriculum KLA.

Charles Sturt takes a holistic approach to understand each applicant’s potential for academic success. Each student is assessed on a range of factors including academic readiness, previous study, work and life experience, motivation to succeed, and an awareness of the demands of tertiary study.

Applicants who do not fully meet these requirements may be offered a place in the Bachelor of Educational Studies course. This will enable completion of the required KLA subjects to meet entry requirements and permit re-application to the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary).

Upon entry to the course, a standard credit package will be given based on the extent to which the student's undergraduate and/or postgraduate study meets the requirements of NESA for prior discipline and curriculum method study. Refer to the Credit and Pathways information for further details.

NOTE* All Students will graduate the Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) degree with an AITSL ‘primary specialisation’, referred to in this course as the Extended Primary Curriculum Area. In additional to this, NESA have developed additional criteria for students to voluntarily complete a ‘primary specialisation’ in areas of high demand in NSW (see the NESA website for more detail). Students can elect to complete additional subjects to graduate with a NESA recognised ‘Primary Specialisation’ in English, Mathematics, Science and Technology or Languages. Students wishing to pursue a NESA Recognised Extended Primary Curriculum Area should make contact as early as possible in the course.

English Language Proficiency Standard English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements.

This will apply to both domestic and international applicants. Offer may be conditional on ELP but applicants will be required to provide evidence of meeting these requirements before the start of studies.

• A minimum overall Academic IELTS score of 7.5 (with no score below 7 in reading and writing, and a score of no less than 8 in speaking and listening) or a qualification deemed equivalent. Testing results must be obtained within two years from the date of your application for admission.

OR

• Completing a TOEFL IBT with an overall score of 102 (with a score of 23 or above in reading and writing, and a score of no less than 27 for speaking and listening). Testing results must be within two years from the date of your application for admissions.

OR

• International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) with a score of Level 4 in all four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, undertaken at approved testing sites where the assessment is teacher focused. Testing results must be within two years from the date of your application for admissions.

OR

• Were born in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom or South Africa and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries and the language in which the qualification was undertaken was English.

OR

• If you were not born in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom or South Africa but have completed senior secondary study or at least a diploma in one of these countries and the language in which the qualification was undertaken was English.
• Supplementary forms
• Teaching questionnaire

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) and credit for current competencies will be granted to eligible applicants.

More about credit

The credit packages which are awarded upon entry to the course are based on:

• The extent to which the applicant's previous academic background meets the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements for appropriate studies in a primary curriculum area. These requirements can be viewed in full at the NESA website.
• The Primary curriculum extended study program. All courses include an approved AITSL Primary Specialisation Pathway which is referred to as a Primary Curriculum Extended Study Program. Students in the Language course are required to complete an additional Language curriculum subject.

Students who elect to complete an approved NESA recognised Extended Primary curriculum Area Program in Mathematics or English will be required to complete an additional ‘Highly Effective Teaching’ subject. Students who elect to complete a NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program in Science and Technology will be required to complete two additional subjects, a Technology Curriculum subject and a ‘Highly Effective Teaching’ subject. Students who elect to complete a NESA Extended Primary curriculum Area Program in Languages will be required to complete two additional subjects, a Language Curriculum subject and a ‘Highly Effective Teaching’ subject. 

Upon admission, all students who meet the entry requirements in full are awarded 64 points of entry-level credit in recognition of prior completed relevant undergraduate and/or postgraduate studies. This is indicated as credit package EDU38C (64 points).

If one further subject is required to meet the NESA specifications, credit package EDU37C (56 points) is awarded, which permits an additional subject to be undertaken within the course.

If two further subjects are required to meet the NESA specifications, credit package EDU36C (48 points) is awarded, which permits two additional subjects to be undertaken within the course.

NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Programs

NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: English

Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, where students choose to qualify with the NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program, their credit package will be reduced by 8 points to enable them to complete EML447 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary English within this degree.

NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: Mathematics

Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, where students choose to qualify with the NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program, their credit package will be reduced by 8 points to enable them to complete EMS407 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary STEM within this degree.

NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: Languages

Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, where students have not completed the additional curriculum subject of EML451 LOTE Curriculum Studies 1 and EMH409 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary Arts, HASS/HSIE and Languages, their credit package will be reduced by 16 points to enable them to complete these subjects within this degree.

NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Study Programs: Science & Technology

Credit is awarded as outlined above. However, students will have the option to complete the additional curriculum subject of ESC407 Classroom Technology and EMS407 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary STEM to qualify for the NESA Extended Primary Curriculum Area Program in Science & Technology. If choosing this option, their credit package will be reduced by 16 points to enable them to complete these subjects within this degree.

Proficiency Credit or Reduction in Placement Hours based on professional experience

Students are required to complete a total of 60 days of professional experience in the course to meet accreditation requirements. Three subjects in the course include embedded professional experience days: EPT455 includes 10 days; EPT447 includes 20 days and EPT448 includes 30 days.

Students must be teaching in a primary school and will have usually have taught full time for at least one term at 80% teaching load. A proficiency credit application and a Principal Report verifying the applicant’s teaching against the professional standards will need to be completed and assessed by the Course Director.

For any student who is conditionally employed within a primary school setting and is successful in gaining Professional Experience Credit, the credit will only apply to the placement component of EPT455 Primary English Curriculum: Understanding Language and Literacy and/or EPT447 Professional Experience: Positive Primary Classroom Environments. The subject EPT455 includes learning outcomes aligned to K-2 English curriculum and the subject EPT447 includes learning outcomes aligned to the priority area Classroom Management.

It is a NESA course requirement that students must complete professional experience in a minimum of two diverse settings, as such, the student must then complete the remaining placement days in EPT447 and/or EPT448 Final Professional Experience: Effective Teaching and Assessment in the Primary Years placement requirements at a different school setting than the setting in which credit was awarded for.

Any student who completed professional experience as part of another incomplete degree may apply to have that professional experience recognised as equivalent in the same manner that they would apply for credit for other subjects.

The first two placement subjects (EPT455 and EPT447 ) can be completed in an approved overseas school where the mode of instruction is in English, usually in an International School. The final placement must be completed in Australia.

Check your eligibility for credit.

Please note that the following subjects have a Workplace Learning component:

• EEB446 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Cultural Education Program
• EPT447 Professional Experience: Positive Primary Classroom Environments
• EPT448 Professional Experience: Consolidating Effective Teaching and Assessment in the Primary Years
• EPT455 English Curriculum: Understanding Language and Literacy