160599 v.3 Bachelor of Education Conversion Course

BEd(Curtin) OR BEd(Hons)(Curtin)

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Introduction
This course provides opportunities for educators to deepen and broaden their professional knowledge and skills and to upgrade their qualifications to degree status. The course is suitable for educators across a wide range of fields - Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education, Vocational Education and Training and Development, Higher and Professional Education, Supervisors, Coordinators, Administrators, Teachers Aides and Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers.

Course Entry Requirements/Prerequisites
This course is open only to qualified educators (including teachers or other educational and training personnel). Admission typically requires a three year Bachelor of Arts (Education) degree or equivalent. Applicants with significant work experience who have completed a Certificate IV or approved qualifications will be considered on the basis of alternative entry procedures for mature age students and may be accorded appropriate recognition of prior learning. There is no requirement that an applicant should be currently employed as a teacher.

Specific Requirements
Literacy and numeracy skills are an important pre-requisite to teaching and students are required to demonstrate competence, however, additional support will be provided to those working with Kriole and English as a second language. Applicants for this course should refer to the Criminal Record Screening/Clearance Section of this publication.

Recognition of Prior Learning
Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis and is awarded according to level of qualification held by applicants. Credit might also be awarded for prior teaching experience. In awarding recognition of prior learning attention is given to formal teaching qualifications, although in special cases some credit may be given for other qualifications. No credit is given for length of teaching experience. Recognition of prior learning of three, two and a half and two yearsis determined at the time of admission and is based on a consideration of the applicants qualifications at the time. Credit for previously completed units may be transferred to this course provided that the units have not been used towards an already completed award or can be shown to be surplus to the requirements of that award, and are acceptable within the course structure. No transfer of credit is allowed for units completed more than seven years before the time of application for transfer. The maximum recognition of prior learning which may be offered to any student is three years, so that a complete final year of study is required as the minimum of course completion.

Duration and Availability
The duration of this course from one to four years full-time study is dependent on the level of recognition of prior learning awarded. The course is offered primarily on a part-time basis. However, teachers wishing to take the course on a full-time basisare accepted provided they can fit the necessary sequences of units into the period of study proposed. Depending on the units chosen, the course is available in the external mode. A summer session may be offered in January in selected units. Students intending to undertake units in music should note that at present they are only available at our Kalgoorlie campus.

Course Organisation
The Faculty of Education has developed a number of learning pathways for students within this course. Each student is required at admission and enrolment to negotiate with the Course Coordinator to ensure an appropriate mix of units is selected based on experience and prior qualifications.

Additional Course Expenses
Under certain circumstances employing authorities might offer student support with course expenses. It is also recommended that rural and remote students have access to a computer. Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other vital study materials. In addition, students may also need to contribute some of the cost of consumables, which varies depending on the area of study.

Special Note
Applicants with overseas teaching qualifications who wish to teach in Western Australia must have their qualifications assessed by the Human Resources Branch of the Education Department of Western Australia. The letter of assessment must accompany the application for entry to the course.