Bachelor of Teaching (BTchg)

• Overview
• Endorsements
• Applying
• Contact details
• Programme requirements
• Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Teaching (BTchg)

Overview

The Bachelor of Teaching (BTchg) degree is a three-year programme (360 points), registered at Level 7 on the New Zealand qualifications Framework, designed to enable graduates to meet the requirements for initial teacher registration in New Zealand. It provides the initial step for teachers on the road of lifelong professional learning.

The degree is underpinned by four themes and divided into central strands that are designed to promote student reflection on the interrelationship of knowledge and issues presented throughout the chosen programme and to make connections between theory and practice associated with the degree papers.

See Programme Content for more information.

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Endorsements

Students will choose one of three endorsements, preparing them for teaching in a specific setting of the New Zealand education system.

Early Childhood Education

Papers within this programme address professional teaching issues, Te Whāriki (the early childhood curriculum), educational theory, subject studies and practical teaching experience through placements in early childhood settings. Students also select to study a subject of their choice, either from the range of subject studies papers offered at the College of Education or from the wider University.

Offered at both the Dunedin and Invercargill campuses.

Primary Education

This programme prepares graduates to teach in the primary and intermediate sector, Years 1 to 8 (children ranging in age from 5-12 years). Papers within this programme address professional teaching issues, subject knowledge, education theory, practical teaching experience and the requirements of the New Zealand curriculum. Students also select to study a subject of their choice, either from the range of subject studies papers offered at the College of Education or from the wider University.

Offered at both the Dunedin and Invercargill campuses.

Te Pōkai Mātauranga o te Ao Rua (Primary Bicultural Education)

If you have a desire to develop your own knowledge in Te Ao Māori and are enthusiastic about teaching children you are encouraged to apply for this comprehensive Te Pōkai Mātauranga o te Ao Rua programme. It offers the unique opportunity to become qualified as a primary teacher with increased knowledge of Te Ao Māori. As a graduate of this programme you will have been prepared to deliver the curriculum from a Māori perspective, using both English and Māori and be qualified to teach in primary, intermediate and/or Māori immersion schools.

Offered at the Invercargill campus only.

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Applying

See the following for information about applying for the Bachelor of Teaching:

• Applying to an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme
• Application dates
• Information for new BTchg applicants
• Professional Standards and Criminal Offences

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Contact details

Tel 0800 TO TEACH (0800 868 3224)
Email education@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/education

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Regulations for the Degree of Bachelor of Teaching (BTchg)

1. Admission to the Programme

   Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities), on the advice of the Dean, College of Education, who must be satisfied that, in accordance with Education and Training Act 2020 Section 255(5) (a) and (b), the applicant satisfies the minimum requirements for admission to an initial teacher education programme as specified by the relevant professional body.
   
   Note: At the time of selection a disposition to teach coupled with a proven academic record, appropriate levels of literacy, numeracy, and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi including te reo Māori proficiency will be sought. Applicants’ suitability for the programme will be assessed by an interview.

2. Structure of the Programme

   Every programme of study must satisfy the requirements for one of the endorsements listed above.

3. Duration of the Programme

   1. A candidate who has not been granted credit or exemptions from papers on the basis of previous study shall normally follow a programme of full-time study for three years.
   2. A candidate shall satisfy the requirements for the degree within six years of admission to the programme.

4. Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

   1. Every programme of study shall satisfy the requirements for prerequisites, corequisites, and restrictions set out in the Prescriptions (published in the Guide to Enrolment).
   2. Continuation in the programme shall be subject to a candidate’s achieving the required competency in Literacy and Numeracy, prior to enrolment in specified papers as listed in the schedule.

5. Credits

   The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may grant such credits or exemptions as are deemed appropriate for work previously completed by a candidate.

6. Cross Credits

   A candidate who is enrolled for the degree concurrently with another degree, or who has completed one degree and is proceeding with the other, may cross credit 100- and 200-level papers which are common to both degrees up to a maximum of 126 points where the other degree is a three-year degree and up to a maximum of 180 points where the other degree is longer than a three-year degree.

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7. Exclusion from the Programme

   A candidate may be excluded from further study towards the degree by the Associate Dean Initial Teacher Education, College of Education (clauses (a), (b) and (d)), or the Dean, College of Education (clause (c)), if the candidate:

   1. fails to make satisfactory academic progress (as defined by the Academic Progress Policy);
   2. fails to pass a professional experience paper for a second time:

      1. Early Childhood Education
         EDPR 101, EDPR 201, EDPR 301 or EDPR 302

      2. Te Pōkai Mātauranga o te Ao Rua (Primary Bicultural Education)
         EDPR 151, EDPR 251, EDPR 333 or EDPR 351

      3. Primary Education
         EDPR 131, EDPR 231, EDPR 331 or EDPR 333

   3. fails a component of the professional experience programme due to unprofessional or unethical behaviour, under which circumstances the student may be excluded from the professional component of the qualification.
   4. fails to pass any other compulsory paper in three attempts.

8. Examinations

   1. A candidate, who is enrolled for the Primary option or Primary Bicultural option for the degree and who has satisfied the internal assessment requirements for a compulsory curriculum studies paper but who has obtained a D grade in the final examination, may be permitted to sit a special examination for the paper or papers concerned, provided that the candidate has not failed more than half the total points for the year. In this event, the candidate will be required to repeat all the failed papers.
   2. Any candidate who is repeating a paper shall not normally be admitted to a special examination for that paper.

9. Withdrawal from and Readmission to the Programme

   1. A candidate who withdraws from the programme at any time and wishes to be readmitted to the programme at a later date shall be required to apply to the Associate Dean Initial Teacher Education, College of Education, for readmission.
   2. The period of temporary withdrawal from the programme shall not normally exceed one year following the year of withdrawal.
   3. Applications for readmission should normally be received by the Associate Dean Initial Teacher Education, College of Education, no later than 1 November in the year preceding desired readmission.

10. Variations

    The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Humanities) may in exceptional circumstances approve a course of study which does not comply with these regulations.

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This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2023 Calendar and supplementary material.