Bachelor of Teaching

Bachelor of Teaching

Teaching at the University of Waikato is a qualification that sets you up to become a skilled and reflective teacher. We produce qualified teachers who are in high demand both in New Zealand and around the world.

Teachers are influential community members, making a difference to young people and their learning, knowledge and skill acquisition. They play a major role in helping their students develop their independence and success in their lives.

As a graduate of this programme you will be among the best prepared teaching graduates and highly regarded by education employers, within NZ and overseas. You'll have the understanding, skills and academic requirements to be an early childhood, primary or secondary teacher. You'll be eligible to apply for a provisional practicing certificate, and after two years of full time teaching be granted a full practicing certificate with the New Zealand Education Council. 82% of recent teaching graduates are in employment.

At the University of Waikato:

We consistently place in the top 100 for education in the international QS subject rankings, which assesses more than 800 universities across the world.

Our staff are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of teachers and improving classroom practice and conducting research inquiry of their own in their specialist areas.

We have:

• 50+ years of teacher education
• a wide variety of programmes
• a small student to staff ratio
• school experience from the first day of your degree, right through until your final year
• Strong partnerships with schools and ECE centres with work in schools designed to meet needs of both the schools and curriculum requirements
• high quality staff and teaching
• flexibility to find a study pathway that suits your lifestyle - whether that's on campus in Hamilton or Tauranga or online via our MMP programmes
• access to the latest research via Institutes attached to the faculty
• exchange programmes with the National Institute of Education, Singapore and VIA University College, Denmark

Scholarships available: TeachNZ

Bachelor of Teaching (BTchg) specified programmes:

Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)

Prepare yourself for a career working in a variety of early childhood settings with children from birth up to six years old. Gain theoretical and practical experience as you learn about all the aspects of Te Whariki – the Early Childhood curriculum. It's an integrated programme with seven major themes: bicultural development; cultural diversity; equity and social justice; inclusion; parents and whanau; transition to school; and infants and toddlers.

Location: Hamilton, Tauranga (Windermere campus)
Start date: February

Note: there is a Ki Taiao degree option if there is sufficient demand

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary)

Prepare yourself for a career in primary, intermediate and middle schools or kura, working with children from five to 13 years old. You'll gain a solid foundation in all aspects of the New Zealand curriculum. You'll also learn about professional and ethical practices, child development, issues that face teachers and learners with special needs, teaching children from diverse backgrounds, classroom mangement, environmental education for sustainability, and the wider contexts of school, community and national systems. On practicum, you'll take an active role in the classroom under the guidance of an associate teacher. This includes a minimum of one day per week in the first year of your degree, a six week block in second year and an eight week block in third year. During your degree you'll experience different types of schools and work with a range of age groups.

Location: Hamilton, Tauranga (Windermere campus), Mixed Media Presentation (MMP)
Start date: February

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary – Kākano Rua)

He Tohu Pouako Paetahi (Kura Tuatahi) tēnei e toro atu ana ki ngā tāngata e hiahia ana ki te whakaako tamariki i roto i ngā hōtaka arareo Māori, taumata 1 me te 2, ki roto i ngā kura tuatahi me ngā kura takawaenga. Ka taea hoki ngā manu taiko o tēnei hōtaka ki te whakaako i roto i ngā kura auraki.

E tuwhera ana tēnei ara ki ngā tāngata e ngākaunui ana ki te mātauranga Māori me te tautoko i te whānau o ngā kura. Ko te kaupapa Māori te tūāpapa mō ētahi o ngā pepa nei. Me matatau te kaitono ki te reo Māori ahakoa tōna iti, engari i reira te kaikā ki te whakapakari ake i roto i ngā pūkenga ki te kōrero, ki te pānui, ki te tuhituhi.

Me ū te kaitono kia pakari ake tōna reo.

An area of national demand, prepare yourself for teaching in English language, bilingual and total Maori immersion settings. Students follow the BTchg Primary programme and take papers that examine Te Marataunga o Aotearoa and the teaching and learning of te reo Maori. For entry, a level of proficiency to Level 2 NCEA Te Reo Maori is required – conditions apply.

Location: Hamilton, Tauranga (Windermere campus), Mixed Media Presentation (MMP)
Start date: February

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary – Mixed Media Presentation (MMP))

Suitable for people living in regions where it would be difficult to attend the University of Waikato campus. The programme includes the same core papers available in BTchg (Primary) on-campus students, however learning is conducted primarily online, with some face-to-face meeting on-campus in Hamilton in February, June and August. Practicum experience occurs at a base school in your local community, supervised by an associate teacher, creating the opportunity to observe and participate in teaching on a regular basis. In addition, two practicums will also be completed at two different schools, working with different age groups.

Location: Mixed Media Presentation (MMP)
Start date: February
Additional requirements: You will need to have a certain level of computer literacy

Career opportunities

• Corporate Trainer
• Education Policy Analyst
• Learning Consultant
• Primary, Intermediate or Secondary School Teacher
• Recruitment Adviser
• Social Worker
• School Counsellor

Conjoint degree options

Bachelor of Teaching (Primary Conjoint)

This four year conjoint programme involves completing two degrees concurrently; a Bachelor of Teaching and a subject bachelors degree (e.g. Arts, Science, Sport & Leisure Studies, Social Sciences, Maori & Pacific Development).

Location: Hamilton
Start date: February only

Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary Conjoint)

This four year conjoint programme involves completing two degrees concurrently; a Bachelor of Teaching and a subject bachelors degree (e.g. Arts, Science, Sport & Leisure Studies, Social Sciences, Maori & Pacific Development).

Location: Hamilton
Start date: February only

Exchange programme and study abroad

Te Kura Toi Tangata Faculty of Education has international partnerships and exchange programmes with The University of Sydney. Students can undertake practicum placements and some coursework in Sydney to broaden their teacher education experiences.

Practical experience

From year 1 of your degree you will be exposed to the classroom environment.

Admission and enrolment

Registrations of interest and applications for 2017 Masters programmes are open from July – November 2016. A bachelors degree and B+ average is required to be accepted into the programme and fluency in te reo Māori if you are applying for these programmes. Complete the online enrolment process and Faculty application form.

Note: an interview and selection process applies.