UTS course code: C10207
UAC code: 602020
Testamur title: Bachelor of Education in Special Education
Abbreviation: BEd
Course Coordinator: Dr Jennifer Stephenson
Course fee: HECS (local); $6,900 per semester (international)
Total credit points: 192

Overview
Course aims
Advanced standing
Course duration
Course structure
Course program
Assessment

Overview

The Bachelor of Education in Special Education combines academic study and school experience in a course which prepares you to teach people with mild to severe difficulties and disabilities, whose ages range from pre-school to adult.

Completion of the Bachelor of Education in Special Education enables teachers to work in special education settings as well as in regular primary school classrooms. The course shares a common first year with the other Bachelor of Education courses offered by Teacher Education, as well as a common core in later years.

If you choose the degree major in Special Education, you complete two practicums in special education classrooms. The rest of the professional experience program is the same as that taken by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education in Primary Education.

Course aims

As well as meeting the aims for the Bachelor of Education to prepare you for teaching in primary school classrooms, the Bachelor of Education in Special Education prepares you to work with students with special education needs. You acquire skills in assessing student performance, setting educational goals, designing programs and teaching strategies to meet students' educational needs and monitoring and evaluating programs. You gain an understanding of special education service delivery and the role of collaborative teamwork with families and other professionals. Completion of the course enables you to work with students with special needs in inclusive settings and in any special education setting other than those for persons with visual and/or aural impairment.

Advanced standing

You may apply for subject exemptions if you have completed equivalent special education subjects at another university.

Course duration

The Bachelor of Education in Special Education consists of four years, full-time study or part-time equivalent.

Course structure

The three strands in the Bachelor of Education in Special Education – Professional Experience, Curriculum Studies and Educational and Contextual Studies – are described in detail here. There is no Major Study or Advanced Study Elective strand in this course because special education subjects have replaced them. Practicums in Semesters 5 and 6 are in special education settings. Practicums in Semesters7 and 8 may be located in special education settings.

Course program

Assessment

You complete a variety of criterion-referenced assessment tasks based on classroom content and on your professional experience activities. These include formal essays, program design, evaluation of research, teaching and assessment materials and commercial curricula, participation in class tasks, presentations to your peers, class tests and formal examinations. Two practicum subjects include a Pass/Fail assessment of your professional skills.