Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours)

The addition of Honours offers a higher-level qualification, which will set you apart from your competitors and provide increased employment opportunities due to your ability to undertake research.

Honours is a focused approach to learning and is attainable and achievable by all, including you. It adds no extra time to your degree, and you will develop planning, problem solving and critical thinking skills that are essential for a career as a contemporary educator.

This degree is solely focused on primary education, with specialist courses that will focus on your particular area of interest. Much of the learning in this industry-relevant degree is practical in nature, ensuring you graduate career-ready as a primary educator. The practical component begins in the first six months, giving you the opportunity early on to experience exactly what the job is all about.

Overseas professional experience is also available to interested students, with the University offering the opportunity for you to undertake up to 20 days of professional experience as part of an overseas placement.

The aim of this degree is to provide you with knowledge across a range of contexts. The learning is largely practically-based, and centres heavily on the principles and concepts relating to the primary school curriculum. The four key components of the curriculum include:

• 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 six. 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.

You can gain an extra qualification and broaden your career prospects by completing a Diploma in Languages.

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 primary school teaching field shows promising job prospects Australia-wide, with strong long-term growth*. Careers to consider:

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

*Joboutlook.gov.au July 2020.

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.