Bachelor of Teaching (Science)/Bachelor of Science

Course summary for current students

Contacts

Division of Student Administration (DSA)
Student Information Centre
Tel 1300 334 733
enquire@deakin.edu.au

Further information

Faculty of Arts and Education
Tel 03 9246 8100 Melbourne Burwood Campus
Email artsedstudentsupport@deakin.edu.au

Course Director

Peter Hubber, +61 3 924 46408, peter.hubber@deakin.edu.au

Contact the Course Director for matters relating specifically to the academic content of this course - all enrolment related queries must go to the Student Support Office.

Key to campuses

B = Melbourne Burwood Campus
G = Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus
S = Geelong Waterfront Campus
W =Warrnambool Campus
X = Off campus

Award granted	Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Teaching (Science)
Duration	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
CRICOS course code	058794D
Deakin course code	D351
Note: Course version for students who commenced prior to 2011.

Course overview

Deakin’s innovative Bachelor of Teaching (Science)/Bachelor of Science degree provides graduates with a full science degree and a complete secondary teaching qualification.

It will prepare you for a career in science education, but also provide career flexibility through the widening field of science communication, and science-related industries.

The flexible course structure gives you the opportunity to pursue two major study areas. Discipline and elective units in a variety of contemporary teaching fields – such as biology, chemistry, mathematical modelling and environmental science – will help you to build a breadth of knowledge in areas of interest.

The course aims to provide a broad, general education to equip you for employment in a wide range of science fields including secondary science teaching. It places great emphasis on industry experience and innovative teaching practices, and has a strong focus on integrating the traditional disciplines with vocational education and training.

The course includes 80 days of supervised school experience. Some of this experience will take place in non-school settings, consistent with current directions advocated by the Victorian Institute of Teaching. A strength of the course for teacher graduates is the wider conception of science teaching and learning contexts.

Professional recognition

Approved by Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a preservice teaching qualification.

Fees and charges

Unit fees can be viewed within individual unit descriptions. You can search for a unit using the Unit Search.

Please be aware:

Fees are calculated on a per unit basis
Fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen
Fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services

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, Engineering and Built Environment, 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

Note: Specialist Area Guidelines for teachers can be found on the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) website .

Course structure

For students commencing 2007 and 2008:

Level 1

Trimester 1

EES101

Communicating Science (B, G)

One Science minor unit
One Science elective unit
One Science major unit

Note: From 2013, students to contact the Student Support office for first year Chemistry units advice.

Trimester 2
EES100 not offered from 2011.

One Science minor unit
One Science elective unit
One Science major unit

Level 2
Trimester 1

SLE251

Research Methods and Data Analysis (B, G, W)

One Science minor unit

Two Science major units

Trimester 2

SLE352

Community Science Project (B, G)

One Science minor unit

Two Science major units

Level 3
Trimester 1

EEE201

Creating Effective Learning Environments (B)

Secondary Curriculum Method study 1 A*
Secondary Curriculum Method study 2 A*

One Science major unit

EEY304

Secondary School Experience 3C (B)

Trimester 2

EEE202

Curriculum Assessment and Reporting (B)

Secondary Curriculum Method study 1 B*
Secondary Curriculum Method study 2 B*

One Science major unit

EEY305

Secondary School Experience 3D (B)

* Units selected from the School of Education.

Level 4
Trimester 1

EEE401

Professional Relationships (B, G, W)

ESE499

Independent Project (ONLINE)

ESS439

Issues in Science and Environmental Education (B, X)

EXC425

Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum (B)

EEY401

Secondary School Experience 4A (B)

Trimester 2

EEE402

Transition to Beginning Teaching (B, G, W)

EXC440

Teaching for Diversity (B)

ESS415

Resources in the Contemporary Science Curriculum (B, G, X)

EEH530

Promoting Student Wellbeing (B, G)

EEY402

Secondary School Experience 4B (B, G)

EEY403

Secondary School Experience 4C (B, G)

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.

(iv) From 2013, students to contact the Student Support office for first year Chemistry units advice.

For students commencing 2009 and after:

Level 1
Trimester 1

EES101

Communicating Science (B, G)

One Science minor unit
One Science elective unit
One Science major unit

Trimester 2
EES100 not offered from 2011.

One Science minor unit

One Science elective unit

One Science major unit

Note: From 2013, students to contact the Student Support office for first year Chemistry units advice.

Level 2
Trimester 1

EEE201

Creating Effective Learning Environments (B)

SLE251

Research Methods and Data Analysis (B, G, W)

One Science minor unit
One Science major units

EEY201

Secondary School Experience 2A (B, G)

Trimester 2

EEE202

Curriculum Assessment and Reporting (B)

SLE352

Community Science Project (B, G)

One Science minor unit
One Science major units

EEY202

Secondary School Experience 2B (B)

Level 3
Trimester 1
Secondary Curriculum Method study 1 A*
Secondary Curriculum Method study 2 A*
Two Science major units

EEY306

Secondary School Experience 3E (B)

Trimester 2
Secondary Curriculum Method study 1 B*
Secondary Curriculum Method study 2 B*

Two Science major units

EEY307

Secondary School Experience 3F (B)

* Units selected from the School of Education.

Level 4
Trimester 1

EEE401

Professional Relationships (B, G, W)

ESE499

Independent Project (ONLINE)

ESS439

Issues in Science and Environmental Education (B, X)

EXC425

Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum (B)

EEY401

Secondary School Experience 4A (B)

Trimester 2

EEE402

Transition to Beginning Teaching (B, G, W)

EXC440

Teaching for Diversity (B)

ESS415

Resources in the Contemporary Science Curriculum (B, G, X)

EEH530

Promoting Student Wellbeing (B, G)

EEY402

Secondary School Experience 4B (B, G)

EEY403

Secondary School Experience 4C (B, G)

Notes:
(ii Units are 1 credit point unless otherwise noted.
(ii) EEE201, EEE202, EEE401, EEE402, EXC425 and EEH530 are 0.75 credit point units.
(iii) EEY201, EEY202, EEY304, EEY305, EEY401, EEY402 and EEY403 are 0.25 credit point units.

(iv) EEY306 and EEY307 are 0.125 credit point units.

(v) EES100 includes an observation round of 8 half days from 2009.

(vi) From 2013, students to contact the Student Support office for first year Chemistry units advice.

Details of major sequences

Students are required to complete at least one 8 credit point major sequence (8 units of study) and a minor sequence of at least 4 credit points (4 units of study) in the second discipline.

Biology

SLE111

Cells and Genes (B, G, W)

SLE132

Biology: Form and Function (B, G)

Plus 6 additional Biology course grouped units (minimum of 2 at levels 2 and 3)

Biological Chemistry

SLE131

Principles of Chemistry

SLE152

Chemistry of Life

SLE010

Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (B, G, W)

SLE212

Biochemistry (B, G)

SLE222

Biochemical Metabolism (B, G)

One of:

SLE214

Organic Chemistry (B, G)

SBC232

Unit description is currently unavailable

One of:

SLE213

Introduction to Spectroscopic Principles (G)

SBC231

Unit description is currently unavailable

One of:

SLE311

Chemical Hazards (X)

SLE312

Toxicology (X)

Environmental Science

SLE103

Ecology and the Environment (B, G, W)

Plus 7 additional Environmental Science course grouped units at levels 2 and 3 (minimum of 2 at each of levels 2 and 3)

Mathematical Modelling

SIT192

Discrete Mathematics (B, G, X)

SIT194

Introduction to Mathematical Modelling (B, G, X)

One of:

SIT281

Cryptography (B, G, X)

SIT294 Engineering Mathematics (SIT294 no longer available from 2013)

Plus

SIT291

Mathematical Methods for Information Modelling (B, X)

SIT292

Linear Algebra and Applications to Data Communications (B, X)

SIT396

Complex Analysis (B, G, X)

SIT392

Public-Key Cryptography (B, X)

SIT399

Advanced Topics in Mathematics (B, X)

Secondary Curriculum Method study units:

ESM424

Mathematics: Curriculum Study (B, X)

ESM425

Senior Mathematics: Curriculum Study (B, X)

ESS441

Environmental Science and Society: Curriculum Study (B, G, X)

ESS442

Senior Environmental Science: Curriculum Study (B, G, X)

ESS444

Science: Curriculum Study (B, G, X)

ESS467

Senior Biology: Curriculum Study (B, G, X)

ESJ460

Studies in Curriculum (TESOL or Senior Chemistry) (B, X)

Note: ESJ460 students to select Senior Chemistry: Curriculum Study specialism

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.

For students who commenced in 2007 and 2008: 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.

For students commencing 2009 and later: The first year of the course will involve some observation days in schools during the unit EES101; in addition, practical 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 second, 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.