NO NEW ENROLMENTS BEING ACCEPTED FROM 2009 - For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
- Program summary
- Program overview
- Accreditation
- Career opportunities
- Special features
- Advanced standing, recognition of prior learning, credit and articulation
- Program structure
- Program requirements and notes
- Requirements for placements
- Enquiries
Program summary
QTAC code: 017201
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-17 / Rank-66
Award abbreviation: BEd/BA(SpecialEd&Psych)
Degree type: combined undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 4 years full-time or pro-rata part-time
Fee type 2009: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places, international fee-paying places
Total courses: 32
Recommended prior study:
Commence: Semester 1 only
CRICOS code: 063270A
Program overview
This program provides skills and knowledge for a career in education of special needs students, with a background in psychology.
Courses focus on the paradigms of special education provision; pedagogies, programming and modes of assessment that best facilitate learning for special needs learners; psychology; and the psychology of learning acquisition.
You will explore the ways in which special needs students can be managed and successfully engaged in learning across a range of educational environments, and will engage with policy analysis; examine community-based support for special needs learners; and consider team approaches to diagnosis and intervention. Specific attention will be paid to working with students with Intellectual Impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Graduates are well-placed to become teachers in special education contexts including special schools, special education support units, learning support units, or general classrooms that are inclusive of learning support staff. You may also complete further study to become a registered psychologist.
By studying this program, you will earn two degrees in a shorter amount of time than if you were to study the programs separately, and will receive two testamurs (degree certificates) on completion.
This program will be accredited for teacher registration in Queensland, in the first instance, and in the long term, Australia.
Accreditation
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) has accredited Pathway 1 of the Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts (Special Education and Psychology) as a three-year undergraduate sequence in psychology.
To become a registered psychologist in your state/territory, you will need to complete Pathway 1, plus either (1) an accredited honours year, or (2) a postgraduate diploma in psychology. You will then need to complete either (1) further accredited postgraduate study, or (2) supervision that follows the guidelines of the Psychologists Registration Board in your state/territory.
USC offers an accredited honours year—the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (Honours)—to which you can gain direct entry upon completion of Pathway 1. Please note that a minimum grade point average in the Pathway 1 psychology courses is required for honours entry.
Career opportunities
Graduates can become teachers in a variety of special education contexts, including:
- general classrooms that are inclusive of learning support staff
- learning support units
- special education support units
- special schools
- community services
Special features
- combination of studies in education for special needs students with psychology courses develops a well-rounded skill-base
- opportunity to complete further studies in psychology
Program structure
Core courses
Select 2 courses from:
COR109 Communication and Thought
COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
COR111 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
Faculty of Science, Health and Education courses (15)
2 required introductory courses:
EDU100 Becoming a Teacher
EDU101 Learning about Learning
Plus 12 required advanced courses:
EDU201 Language and Literacies in Education
EDU202 Dimensions of Learner Engagement
EDU210 Workplace Learning: Professional Practice
EDU220 Pedagogies for New Times
EDU305 Human Development and Learning
EDU310 Workplace Learning: Learning Engagement
EDU311 Workplace Learning: Inclusivity and Diversity
EDU312 Workplace Learning: Professional Engagement
EDU370 Policy, Processes and Professional Practices
EDU371 Contexts of Disability
EDU372 Responding to Difference: Programming, Assessment and Reporting
EDU373 The Special Education Teacher in New Times
Plus select 1 elective course from:
EDU340 Teaching Reading and Writing in the Early Years
EDU341 Mathematics Education for Early Learning
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences courses (15)
3 required introductory courses:
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology B
SCS130 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
Pathway 1
This pathway may lead to direct entry to the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (Honours) program, subject to grade point average in Psychology courses.
12 required advanced courses:
PSY200 Research Methods in Psychology A
PSY201 Research Methods in Psychology B
PSY202 Physiological Psychology
PSY203 Introduction to Human Development
PSY204 Social Psychology
PSY205 Motivation and Emotion
PSY300 Advanced Methods in Psychology *
PSY301 Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology *
PSY302 Intercultural and Indigenous Psychologies *
PSY303 Personality and Assessment *
PSY304 Human Associative Learning *
PSY305 Abnormal Psychology *
Pathway 2
This pathway will not lead to direct entry to the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (Honours) program. Indirect entry to the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) (Honours) program would require completion of six (6) further psychology courses, and would be subject to grade point average in Psychology courses.
2 required advanced courses:
PSY200 Research Methods in Psychology A *
PSY201 Research Methods in Psychology B *
Plus select 4 advanced courses from:
PSY202 Physiological Psychology *
PSY203 Introduction to Human Development *
PSY204 Social Psychology *
PSY205 Motivation and Emotion *
PSY300 Advanced Methods in Psychology *
PSY301 Cognitive and Perceptual Psychology *
PSY302 Intercultural and Indigenous Psychologies *
PSY303 Personality and Assessment *
PSY304 Human Associative Learning *
Plus select 6 elective courses from:
SCS210 Indigenous Australia and the State
SCS211 Green Justice: Environmental and Social Issues
SCS225 Social Research
SCS230 Understanding Society: An Introduction to Social Theory
SCS235 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS260 Community Work
SCS265 Counselling, Theory and Practice
SCS266 Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Counselling
SCS270 Applications in Social and Community Work
SCS276 Groupwork
SCS277 Working with Families
SCS281 Developmental and Family Counselling
SCS282 Globalisation and International Community Development
SCS285 Health, Society and Culture
SCS286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
SCS290 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCS295 Gender and Culture
Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program
As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
Program requirements and notes
- Refer to the Academic Rules.
- Refer to explanation of terms.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students.
- International students need to refer to the English language requirements.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including; namely essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
Requirements for placements
The Commission for Children and Young People Act (2000 and 2005) applies to all pre-service teachers who will be working with children/students under the age of 18 in Queensland settings as a component of their program of pre-service education. Blue Cards are issued by the Commission once it has carried out the Working with Children Check to see if a person is eligible. If a person is eligible, they are issued a positive notice and a Blue Card.
Education students are encouraged to apply for their Blue Card as soon as they have accepted their offer to avoid processing delays. Blue Cards are free of charge for Education students when they apply through the Professional Workplace Learning office (Level 2, I Building).
- Blue Cards and how to apply
Note: Students who do not possess a current Blue Card will be unable to complete the professional experience component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
How to apply
Apply for an undergraduate program.
Enquiries
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Program adviser
Tel: +61 7 5430 1259
Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Program adviser, Education
Tel: +61 7 5459 4644
Email: education@usc.edu.au
* Course outlines subject to final approval
** Pending professional registration