Bachelor of Teaching (conjoint degrees) - Victoria University of Wellington

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BA/BTeach, BCA/BTeach, BSc/BTeach

Overview of the conjoint degrees

These three conjoint degree programmes combine study in two teaching subjects with teacher training.

The four-year conjoint degree teaching programmes are designed to produce well-educated teachers who can teach to the objectives described by the National Curriculum statements in primary and secondary schools. They feature a combination of lectures, workshops, tutorials and teaching experience in schools. They are taught, at times, on either VUW’s Kelburn or Karori Campuses.

The BTeach component of each conjoint degree comprises a blend of theoretical study and classroom experience. It has been designed so that you can qualify to teach at both primary and secondary levels. The programme focuses on:

• assisting you to develop your understanding of educational contexts
• general pedagogical knowledge
• curriculum courses which lead to the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to implement the National Curriculum
• development of specific skills which will enable you to teach confidently and competently.

All BCA major subjects are relevant for the BCA component of the BCA/BTeach. In the BA or BSc component, you must undertake study in a minimum of two teaching subjects:

• subject choices must be relevant to those taught in primary and secondary schools
• study in one subject must be taken to at least 200-level and the other subject must be the degree major (300 level)
• BA, BCA and BSc subjects must be taken from the approved teaching subjects list (see below).

Programme structure

The conjoint degrees are structured in such a way that study in your first and second years will be mainly in your teaching subject disciplines. The subsequent years introduce the BTeach components in combination with subject courses.

Your BTeach study starts in the summer trimester of your first year with the course TEAP 131 Teaching – What’s It All About? and includes a week observing in both a primary and a secondary school. This study continues in the second year with one course in each trimester and a four-week teaching experience in the summer trimester – two weeks in a primary school and two weeks in a secondary school.

In the third and fourth years of your programme you will spend one trimester of each year in full-time BTeach study. In these trimesters you will have teaching experiences totalling 14 weeks.

BTeach courses

The first three BTeach courses offered are outlined below.

Trimester 3, at the end of your first year of study (taught January/February)

TEAP 131 - Teaching: What's It All About?
18 points

This course challenges student teachers to examine their perceptions of teaching and learning and relate these to the current New Zealand school system. This course will include one week of teaching experience in primary and secondary school settings, as well as practical experiences in several of the seven learning areas of the New Zealand Curriculum Framework.

Trimester 1, second year of study

TEAP 132 - Building New Learning Communities in New Zealand
18 points

This course focuses on building a range of teaching strategies that will provide safe and ongoing learning environments for all children through an examination of approaches to learning, teaching and assessment. This is linked to developing a sound pedagogical knowledge base for effective teaching in the social and political context of New Zealand today and tomorrow.

Trimester 2, second year of study

CUST 131 - Principles of Literacy and Numeracy
18 points

This course introduces students to the concepts and principles of literacy and numeracy and how they relate to the curriculum documents. The diverse needs of learners, including Māori and Pacific Nations students, will be examined and philosophies and ideas explored and applied to the context of learning.

Approved teaching subjects

The approved teaching subjects for the BA/BTeach, BCA/BTeach and BSc/BTeach are shown below. Students must take one subject to 300-level (meeting the requirements of the BA or BSc major) and the other subject to at least 200-level. In special circumstances selected courses from subjects outside this list may be approved for the 200-level subject. The individual programmes of all students will be the focus of advice and approval during enrolment.

BCA/BTeach students choose at least one major within the BCA but must complete 22 points from Accounting or Economics at 200 level and 22 points from Information Systems, Mathematics, Economics or Statistics at 200 level.

In the table below, "BTeach Subject" means Curriculum Studies Subject (BTeach).

Academic assessment

Information on assessment policy and procedures will be given in individual course outlines.

All courses have assessments comprising assignments, tests and/or examinations.

The grading system and the criteria to pass will be clearly identified at the beginning of every course.

Graduation and registration

Following satisfactory completion of the programme, students will graduate in May the following year. As a graduate of one of these conjoint degrees you may apply for teaching positions in schools throughout New Zealand. Upon completion of two years’ satisfactory teaching in a classroom, you may be recommended by your school for full registration by the New Zealand Teachers’ Council.

What do I need to enrol?

You will need a university entrance qualification. Once you have begun your study in the BA, BSc or BCA componnent of the conjoint degree you will be invited to attend an assessement exercise on campus at Karori to assess your suitability for the teaching profession.