Deakin's Bachelor of Health and Physical Education prepares you for a career in health and physical education teaching in upper primary and secondary schools. The course provides theory and practice in the study of education, discipline studies, curriculum studies and in the specialised teaching methods of health and physical education. In addition, you will study a second teaching method of your choice from a selected range of discipline studies offered by the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment or the Faculty of Arts and Education.
You will participate in a highly rewarding professional experience program spending at least 80 days working in schools, with children and alongside experienced teachers.
Professional recognition
Approved by Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a preservice teaching qualification.
International students and permanent residents
Graduates of this course who are intending to apply for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) will be required to demonstrate an IELTS of an average band score of 7.5 across all four skill areas where there is no score below 7 in any of the four skills areas and a score of no less than 8 in speaking and listening. You are advised to read the VIT's Qualification for Teachers Registration policy carefully which is available at: Further information
Contact Hours
For each unit of study students are expected to participate in at least three hours of formal contact each week of trimester. A minimum of six hours of study time in addition to the formal contact is also expected for each unit each week.
Course rules
The degree requires students to complete 32 credit points over the equivalent of four years of full-time study. Students are required to complete: 18 credit points of Education units (which include studies in education, physical and health education, curriculum methods, literacy and numeracy and professional experience); 14 credit points of discipline studies (which include exercise science, applied sports science and discipline content related to the additional teaching method). Additional teaching methods may be taken from a range of discipline areas including Biology, Chemistry, Dance, Drama, English, Mathematics and History.
The School of Education teaches 18 of the 32 credit points in this award; 10 credit points of exercise science discipline are taught by the Faculty of Health and 4 units (providing discipline content for the additional teaching method) are taught by the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, along with other Schools in the Faculty of Arts and Education.
Additional Graduation requirements: Prior to graduation, students MUST have completed an Emergency First Aid Certificate (Level 2) and AUSTSWIM qualifications in order to satisfy VIT Specialist Area Physical Education requirements.
In order to satisfy the Victorian Institute of Teaching requirements for graduates to have good literacy and numeracy skills all students must successfully pass EXC425 Literacy and Numeracy in the Curriculum.
Detailed course rules
The Bachelor of Health and Physical Education may be awarded at pass level. To be awarded the Bachelor of Health and Physical Education pass degree a person shall:
1. be accepted for enrolment in a course of study leading to the award of a Bachelor Health and Physical Education pass degree and continue to be accepted for enrolment until completion of that course of study
2. complete a course of study amounting to 32 credit points provided that the course of study shall
2.1 include units amounting to 25 credit points from those units specified by Faculty Board from time to time as course-grouped units leading to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Health and Physical Education.
2.2 include units amounting to not less than 22 credit points at level 2 or higher, at least 6 credit points of which shall be taken at level 3 or higher, and at least 6 credit points of which shall be taken at level 4 or higher; and
2.3 include a major sequence of 6 units of professional education units amounting to not less than 6 credit points which include professional experience; and
2.4 include a major sequence of health and physical education studies of not less than 6 credit points; and
2.5 include a major sequence of no more than 8 credit points in a discipline area related to the curriculum method study of health and physical education; and
2.6 include a minor sequence of at least 4 credit points in an additional discipline area which is to be related to the secondary curriculum method studies undertaken as agreed with the Schools of Arts, and the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment; and
3. Prior to graduation, students are required to supply a certified copy of their level 2 Emergency First Aid and AustSwim qualifications in order to satisfy VIT Specialist Area Physical Education.
4. The course of study shall be completed within a period of not less than four years and except with the permission of the Faculty Board not more than 10 consecutive years from the date the person first enrolled in the course.
5. The course of study shall include satisfactory completion of at least 80 days of supervised school experience. Students should note that four years of tertiary study inclusive of teacher education is required for employment as a teacher in Victoria.
Discipline sequences
Refer to the details of each discipline for availability.
Discipline sequences for additional teaching methods were developed in consultation with the relevant faculties and discipline coordinators. Students must meet any prerequisites required by the offering Faculty. Units offered have been selected to most appropriately support the curriculum methodology study units while maintaining flexibility and student choice. Sequences have been designed to meet the Victorian Institute of Teaching ‘Specialist Area Guidelines’ for secondary teachers.
