Bachelor of Education (Specialty) Teaching

Do you want to shape the future? You can. At AUT you can prepare yourself for a career in early childhood or primary education, and learn from staff who are passionate about teaching and the future of education. Our education programmes include 22 weeks of teaching placements, so you can graduate with confidence in your skills. You choose if you want to focus on teaching for early childhood centres, or primary and intermediate schools. Some papers include Pasifika tutorials, preparing you to focus on Pasifika primary or Pasifika early childhood teaching in Year 2 and 3.

Quick Facts

Entry Requirements

Minimum entry requirements

  • University Entrance or equivalent
  • Must meet Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand requirements
  • Police clearance
  • Personal declaration
  • Referee reports
  • Applicants must be at least 17 years of age
  • Must meet Vulnerable Children Act requirements

English language requirements

IELTS (academic) 7.0 overall with all bands 7.0 or higher

Selection criteria

Interview, numeracy and literacy competency assessment, CV and experience working with young children.

Preferred school subjects

Language rich subjects from AUT’s subject list, art and design subjects, languages, mathematics subjects, Dance, Digital Technologies, Drama, Health Education, Physical Education.

Majors

Additional Majors and Minors

Additional majors and minors

Structure and Content

In your first year you choose to study teaching for either:

  • Early childhood centres or
  • Primary and intermediate schools

In Year 3 you choose to continue with mainstream teaching or specialise in Pasifika teaching.

Early Childhood Teaching

If you study early childhood teaching you develop the character, understanding and skills to be a teacher of children in the 0-5 age range. When you graduate, you will be eligible to apply for registration with the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Year 1

You complete 120 points (8 papers) across the following areas:

Professional practice

  • Workplace education
  • Role of the teacher

Teaching of the curriculum

  • Infants and toddlers
  • The young child
  • Te Whāriki 1

Studies in education

  • History of New Zealand education

1Also known as Ministry of Education Early Childhood Education Curriculum

Year 2

You complete 120 points (8 papers) across the following areas:

Professional practice

  • Workplace experience
  • Communication skills
  • Working in teams
  • Te Whāriki 1

Teaching of the curriculum

  • Innovative learning environments
  • Language arts, health and PE
  • Mathematics, science and technology
  • Working in teams

Studies in education

  • Education pedagogy
  • Theories of teaching and learning

Year 3

You will continue your studies with 120 points (8 papers) in the following areas and have options to choose topics you wish to pursue in greater depth:

  • Professional practice
  • Studies in education
  • Specialty or mainstream option

Primary Teaching

Turn your passion for educating children between 5 and 12 years into a career in primary or intermediate teaching. As a graduate of this programme you’ll have the understanding, skills and academic requirements to be a primary teacher. You’ll be eligible to apply for provisional registration with the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Year 1

You complete 120 points (8 papers) across the following areas:

Professional practice

  • Work experience
  • Role of teachers

Teaching the curriculum

  • English
  • Mathematics I
  • Arts
  • Science
  • Innovative learning environments

Studies in education

  • History of New Zealand education

Year 2

You complete 120 papers (8 papers) across the following areas:

Professional practice

  • Work experience
  • Your personal teacher identity

Teaching the curriculum

  • Health and Physical Education
  • Mathematics II
  • Reading
  • Social Sciences
  • Technology
  • Innovative learning environments

Studies in education

  • Education pedagogy
  • Theories of teaching and learning

Year 3

You will continue your studies with 120 points (8 papers) in the following areas and have options to choose topics you wish to pursue in greater depth:

  • Professional practice
  • Studies in education
  • Specialty or mainstream option

Career Opportunities

See related programmes for specific career opportunities.

Testimonials