Program structure

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

• Complete 32 required courses.
• Complete a minimum of 80 days of Supervised Professional Experience, completed as full-time blocks. One major Supervised Professional Experience must be completed in a Queensland school.
• Complete 20 days of Wider Field Experience.

In order to commence Supervised Professional Experience placement you must:

• Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card), throughout the duration of your program, which is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG). You should allow 12 weeks for CCYPCG to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the field education component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
• Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority).
• Travel to attend Supervised Professional Experience placements.

Program notes

• Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
• Students may elect to complete a minor teaching area from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences discipline studies. Students taking this option will require personal assistance from a program adviser from the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
• Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
• As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the Global Opportunities (GO) Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
• Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
• When enrolling please refer to the Study Plan.

Science discipline courses

Select 1 major teaching area (12 courses) from:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Health
• Marine Studies
• Mathematics
• Physical Education
• Physics

Plus select 1 minor teaching area (4 courses) from:

• Health (available only with Physical Education)
• Mathematics
• Science (available only with Mathematics)
• SOSE (Studies of Society and the Environment)
• English

Education courses

Select 1 course from:
COR109 Vocational Education and Training: Philosophy and Practice
COR110 E-Learning Leader

13 required courses:
EDU100 Learning for Sustainability in Schools
EDU101 Human Development and Early Learning
EDU201 Teaching Science in Primary Schools
EDU202 Senior Phase Curriculum
EDU210 Transitions in Curriculum and Pedagogy
EDU220 Investigating the World Around Us
EDU221 Teaching HPE in the Early Years
EDU301 Policy and Practice in Early Education
EDU310 Self Expression and Communicating Through the Arts
EDU311 Teaching Reading and Writing
EDU312 Teaching Mathematics
EDU330 Integration Across the Curriculum
SCS130 Inclusive Practices and Intervention in Early Education

Plus select 2 Education elective courses from:
EDU302 Communication and Thought
EDU303 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
EDU304 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
EDU305 Communication Theory and Practice
EDU313 Visual Literacy: Design Principles and Practice
EDU314 Introduction to Design
EDU340 Introduction to Creative Writing
EDU341 Public Relations: Contemporary Perspectives
EDU351 Introduction to Journalism
EDU371 Introduction to Creative Advertising

Requirements for placements

As required by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000), preservice teachers must undergo a criminal history check and be issued with a Suitability Card (Blue Card) by the Commission to allow them to undertake field experience in a school or centre where children under 18 years of age are present. It is now a requirement of all Queensland sites and most Australian sites that preservice teachers have obtained the Blue Card prior to starting professional workplace learning.

To avoid processing delays, you are encouraged to apply for a Blue Card as soon as you have accepted your offer. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when you apply through USC’s Professional Learning office (Level 2, C Building). Note: If you do not possess a current Blue Card, you will be unable to complete the Supervised Professional Experience component of your program and you will be unable to meet graduation requirements.

Visit the Commission's website for information on Blue Cards and how to apply.

Study Plan

These study plans are for students commencing in the current Semester.

Please select your Major / Minor combination study plan from the below list:

• Biology major / English or SOSE minor
• Biology major / Mathematics minor
• Chemistry major / English or SOSE minor
• Chemistry major / Mathematics minor
• Health major / English or SOSE minor
• Health major / Mathematics minor
• Marine Studies major / English or SOSE minor
• Marine Studies major / Mathematics minor
• Mathematics major / SOSE minor
• Mathematics major / English or Science minor
• Physical Education major / English, Health or SOSE minor
• Physical Education major / Mathematics minor
• Physics major / English or SOSE minor
• Physics major / Mathematics minor