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Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education

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Program director/s

• Mr Bruce White (LBES)

Announcement
General program enquiries should be directed to Bruce White in the first instance.  More specific enquiries regarding science courses within the program can be directed to Bruce Wedding.

Aim

The aim of the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education is to provide a broad science education through a combination of majors and minors from the science disciplines of applied physics, biology, chemistry, computer and information science, environmental systems, geoscience, geospatial information systems, mathematics and some others. The program aims to produce graduates who have an understanding of the fundamental concepts of the sciences they have elected to study, while the education components will develop skilled, committed and flexible education professionals who have the knowledge and pedagogical skills to promote effective and inclusive learning in a variety of education settings. It also aims to develop professionals who possess a critical awareness of the broader social, political, historical, and economic contexts of education and who can adapt to, and contribute to, changing the educational agenda.

Entry requirements

Entrants to this program must have qualified for SACE and have recorded achievement in five SACE subjects taken at Stage 2 level, and included at least four Stage 2 subjects which are approved Higher Education Selection Subjects (HESS); and obtained a competitive TER. Other equivalent qualifications may also be accepted and include:

• completed the University Foundation Studies program Applied Science and Engineering strand;
• completed or partly completed a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
• at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses completed at the appropriate level and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
• a completed award from TAFE or from another registered training organisation at AQF Certificate IV or above and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements;
• qualified for Special Entry and fulfilled any prerequisite requirements.

For the majors and minors in applied physics, chemistry, and mathematics, knowledge of SACE Stage 2 studies in that discipline will be assumed. For the major or minor in biology, knowledge of SACE Stage 2 Chemistry is assumed, and for the major or minor in applied physics a knowledge of SACE Stage 2 Mathematics 1 is assumed.

In addition, international students who speak English as a foreign language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission:

• English Language Test (see Note 1)
  • IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
    • Reading and writing - 6.0
    • Overall band score - 6.0
  • CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English) (University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
    • Grade of C
  • CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) (University of Cambridge ESOL examination)
    • Grade of C
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
    • TOEFL iBT (internet based test) - 80 with no band less than 20
    • TOEFL PBT (paper based test) - 550 with TWE (test of written English) of 4.5
• English Language Programs
  • Successful completion of the CELUSA Academic English Program - Level 4
• Other qualifications
  • Successful completion of a secondary qualification in Australia within the last two years; or
  • Successful completion of at least one year of tertiary study in Australia within the last two years; or
  • Successful completion of one year of secondary or tertiary study conducted and completed in English within the last two years in a country in which English is commonly used, as determined by the University (see Note 2).

Note 1:  Results from IELTS, University of Cambridge ESOL examinations and TOEFL are valid for two years.
Note 2:  The University, through UniSA International, maintains a list of countries where English is commonly used and which would satisfy this criterion. This may include particular educational institutions within a given non-English speaking country where English is the language of instruction.
Note 3:  Where previous study was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution certifying that the language of instruction was English.

Applicants are advised that a successful criminal history screening clearance is required for all students prior to their undertaking any professional experience/practicum placement that involves contact with minors (under 18 years of age). Information on the procedure to be followed for obtaining clearance will be provided with the letter of offer or may be viewed at the School of Education criminal history screening web page. These placements form a compulsory part of the program. A successful clearance may also be required for other courses, eg to enter any school, pre-school or childcare centre for any reason, including on placement, observation or visits, unless the students are already registered teachers.

Content/structure

Students have a choice of a number of professional majors in the sciences offering broadly based science studies as well as advanced studies in one or more of the professional science disciplines. The education components offer a combination of theory and practice and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their understanding in school placements.

Professional Recognition

Graduates will meet the academic requirement for registration as teachers in South Australia. However, applicants should note that there are other criteria determining eligibility for registration by the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia, which are outlined in the Teachers Registration and Standards Act 2004 and Teachers Registration and Standards. Regulations 2005.

Fee information

Program requirements

Notes

1. Subject to the approval of the Program Director, students may take one of the following three courses in lieu of MATH 1040 Statistics for Laboratory Sciences 101:
   MATH 1052 Statistics for Business
   MATH 1034 Statistics and Research Methods
   ENVT 2006 Applied Research and Evaluation.
   However, students who select a major or minor in Mathematics should enrol in MATH 1036 Statistical Methods.
2. Students must select one science major, totalling not less than 36 units, from the list below (see Note 6). The major will include at least two level three courses, and will generally proceed sequentially over the four years of the program. Prerequisites will normally apply as the student progresses.
3. In addition to the science major, students must select a science minor, totalling not less than 18 units from the list below (see Note 6). The minor will normally include at least two level two courses, and will generally proceed sequentially. Prerequisites will normally apply as the student progresses. With the approval of the Program director, a minor may be commenced in the second year.
4. Elective courses.
   (a) For at least two of the science elective courses the student must select additional science courses to extend the science major or minor, and at least one of those courses must be at level three.
   (b) For three science elective courses the student may with the approval of the Program Director select additional science courses from disciplines other than the major and minor.
   (c) For no more than two elective courses the student may, with the approval of the Program Director, select courses from a diploma program.
   (d) Unless one of the major/minors is from a physical science discipline (chemistry, geology or physics), students must take PHYS 1015 Earth & Space.
5. Students who wish to seek enrolment in one of the honours programs offered by the Division of Health Sciences or the Division of Information Technology, Engineering and the Environment, are expected to complete an extended major of at least 54 units. In exceptional cases, students with a double major may also be considered for an honours program.
6. The following list, selected from the General Studies Majors, Sub-Majors and Minors offered by the University, includes all those that may be counted as majors or science minors in the Bachelor of Science. Those marked with an asterisk (*) may be used only as minors, and course selection is with the approval of the Program Director. Certain combinations of majors and minors shown, or courses within them, are precluded because of similarity of content. Furthermore, due to the constraints of the timetable, only selected combinations will be available in any year. Students wishing to select unusual combinations may need to consider undertaking part-time studies for two or more years.
   Applied Physics (Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Biology (City East Campus)
   Chemistry (Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Computer Science (Mawson Lakes Campus, Magill Campus)
   *Computer Systems Engineering (Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Environmental Systems (Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Geoscience (Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Geospatial Information Systems (City East Campus and Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Mathematics/Statistics (Mawson Lakes Campus)
   Software Development (Mawson Lakes Campus, Magill Campus)
7. The curriculum courses taken will depend on the Science major/minor; they may be all science education or a combination of science education, mathematics education or studies of society and environment courses.
8. Science/Education elective: Students choosing to do an education elective must select a course from the Education field of study. Students may choose to use this course to further their learning area study, their teaching specialisation, or to pursue an interest area in Education. A list of possible options will be included in the program handbook.
9. All students complete at least one Free Elective as part of their undergraduate program of study. See undergraduate elective courses.
10. EDUC 4094 Reflective Practice 1 includes 11 days of full-time activities in education settings. 
11. EDUC 4043 Reflective Practice 2 includes 25 days of full-time practicum in education settings.
12. EDUC 4055 Reflective Practice 3 includes 30 days of full-time practicum in education settings.

Further information

The Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Education double degree prepares graduates to become secondary school science and mathematics teachers. Throughout the program, students develop the science, laboratory and education skills required to teach effectively in classrooms.

Throughout this program students will develop high-level interpersonal skills and abilities in communication and research, which enhance employment opportunities in education and other areas.

In their final two years of study, students will gain a broader understanding of the teaching environment by undertaking practical placements that focus on both the theory and practice of teaching.

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