The BSc Honours degrees in either Chemistry or Physics with Education, which were launched last year and combine subject-specific knowledge with study in education, are the only ones of their kind in Scotland.
The University developed these programmes in response to the Scottish Government’s calls for universities providing initial teacher education to devise new and innovative routes into teaching to address recruitment challenges.
The courses are accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and fully funded by Scottish Government. They will enable students to complete a four-year degree programme and begin their career as a teacher one year sooner than via existing routes (which require completion of a four-year degree followed by a one-year PGDE).
BSc Physics with Education covers all of the core topics of a degree in physics alongside education modules, and will include school placements that will give students the necessary first-hand experience of teaching in the classroom. The BSc Chemistry with Education course will provide students with extensive theoretical knowledge and practical skills in chemistry. In addition, students will develop professional skills through work-based learning, ensuring they are fully equipped to meet the demands of being a teacher.
The courses’ combination of substantive subject knowledge with study of Education offers an exciting new route into teaching that is very attractive for prospective students.
Professor Donald Gillies, Dean of the School of Education at University of the West of Scotland, said: “In Years 1 and 2 students will develop detailed and expansive subject knowledge and in Years 3 and 4 take a variety of Education modules alongside PGDE students. This makes for an exciting and rewarding degree course which will see more teachers entering the profession who are qualified in STEM subject areas.”
Successful graduates will achieve a science degree while the programme’s work-based learning will ensure they are fully equipped to meet the demands of being a secondary teacher of Chemistry or Physics. On graduating, students will received the formal teaching qualification necessary for provisional registration with GTCS and be eligible for the one-year Teacher Induction Scheme.
Professor Ian Alison, Dean of the University’s School of Engineering & Computing, said: “The novel nature of our Physics with Education degree offers students career choices to pursue an interest in the subject area and a career in teaching. We are committed to advancing the STEM agenda at UWS and we anticipate that both of these degrees will play an important role in meeting the growing demand for secondary school teachers in STEM subjects.”
Julie Edgar, Dean of the University’s School of Science & Sport, said: “UWS is known for being one of Scotland’s most innovative universities and our Chemistry with Education degree, provides students with a unique opportunity to study the core topics in chemistry coupled with education-related teaching; enabling students to pursue a career in teaching upon graduation.”
Prospective students interested in these two courses should contact the University’s applicant enquiry team by emailing ask@uws.ac.uk or calling 0800 027 100.
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