Structure of Diploma Programmes

STRUCTURE OF DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES

Core Modules, Prescribed Electives & General Electives

The programmes comprise seven main areas of study which are classified under core modules, prescribed electives and general electives:

Core Modules : Compulsory modules that must be passed to fulfil programme requirements;

Prescribed Electives : Electives that form a certain field of specialisation in a particular course;

General Electives : Electives which may be chosen from a broad list of modules offered by the Institute.

Each course module is assigned academic units (AUs). Minimum AU requirements for completing the Diploma programmes are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: A Summary of the Academic Unit Requirements for Diploma Programmes

Programme	Specialisation	Year of Study	No. of Academic Units (AUs)
Programme	Specialisation	Year of Study	Core Subjects, Prescribed Electives & Practicum	General Electives	Total
Dip Ed	General	1 2	35 [36] 37 [36]	2	74
	Teaching of CL/ML/TL (Primary)	1 2	38 35	2	75
	Teaching of ML/TL (Secondary)	1 2	38 35	2	75
	Teaching of Art	1 2	38 (37) 34 (33)	2	74 (72)
	Teaching of Music	1 2	38 (37) 35 (34)	2	75 (73)
	Teaching of Home Economics	1 2	37 (36) 35 (34)	2	74 (72)
Dip PE	Primary	1 2	36 (35) 36 (35)	2	74 (72)
Dip CL/ML/TL Education	-	1 2	38 35	2	75
Dip Art Ed	-	1 2	35 33	2	70
Dip Music Ed	-	1 2	37 31	2	70
Dip Home Economics Ed	-	1 2	35 33	2	70
Dip Home Economics Ed (1-year programme for trainee teachers under the Home Economics Teaching Scheme who have successfully completed the 3 year Diploma course in Consumer Science & Technology from Temasek Polytechnic)	-	1	35	2	37

Note:

No. of AUs indicated within ( ) is applicable to those offering Curriculum Studies in Mathematics.

No. of AUs indicated within [ ] is applicable to those offering Curriculum Studies in Science.

Contents of Programmes

The seven main areas of study in the Diploma programmes are:

(a) Education Studies

(b) Curriculum Studies

(d) Academic Subjects

(e) Practicum

(f) Language Enrichment and Academic Discourse Skills

(g) General Electives

Education Studies

This category of study is compulsory and should be taken by all trainee teachers. Trainee teachers will learn the key concepts and principles of education necessary for effective teaching and reflective practice in schools.

Curriculum Studies

This category is designed to give trainee teachers the skills to teach their subjects. They will be trained in the methods and techniques of teaching these subjects.

Diploma in Education Programmes

Dip Ed (General) trainee teachers will take the following Curriculum Studies subjects:

CS1 : The Teaching of English Language
CS2 : The Teaching of Mathematics

In addition, they can select either The Teaching of Art, The Teaching of Music, The Teaching of Social Studies or The Teaching of Science as their third Curriculum Studies subject.

Trainee teachers under the Dip Ed (Teaching of CL/ML/TL at the Primary Level) programme will take the following Curriculum Studies subjects:

CS1 : The Teaching of Chinese or Malay or Tamil Language
CS2 : The Teaching of Moral Education (Chinese or Malay or Tamil)

Trainee teachers under the Dip Ed (Teaching of ML/TL at the Secondary Level) programme will take the following Curriculum Studies subjects:

CS1 : The Teaching of Malay or Tamil Language
CS2 : The Teaching of Malay or Tamil Literature

Trainee teachers under the Dip Ed (Teaching of Art/Music/Home Economics) programme will take the following Curriculum Studies subjects:

CS1 : The Teaching of Art or Music or Home Economics
CS2 : The Teaching of English Language or Mathematics at Lower Secondary Level

Diploma in Physical Education Programme

Throughout the duration of their course, Dip PE trainee teachers will take compulsory PE Curriculum Studies modules as their CS1. They will select either The Teaching of English Language or The Teaching of Mathematics as their CS2.

Diploma in Chinese/Malay/Tamil Language Education Programme

Trainee teachers under the Dip CL/ML/TL Ed programmes will take the following Curriculum Studies subjects:

CS1 : The Teaching of Chinese or Malay or Tamil Language
CS2 : The Teaching of Moral Education (Chinese or Malay or Tamil)

Diploma in Art/Music/Home Economics Education Programmes

Trainee teachers under the Dip Art/Mus/HE Ed programmes specialise in the methodology of teaching their specialist subject at the secondary school level.

Academic Subjects

a) Diploma in Education Programmes

Trainee teachers under the Dip Ed (General) programme will read one Academic Subject.

Trainee teachers under the Dip Ed (Teaching of CL/ML/TL) programme will study two Academic Subjects which correspond to their area of specialisation. These are Chinese Language/Malay Language/Tamil Language and Chinese Literature/Malay Literature/Tamil Literature.

Trainee teachers under the Dip Ed (Teaching of Art/Music/Home Economics) programme are required to take one Academic Subject which corresponds to their area of specialisation.

b) Diploma in Physical Education Programme

Dip PE trainee teachers will study one Academic Subject, which will be Physical Education.

c) Diploma in Chinese/Malay/Tamil Language Education Programmes

Trainee teachers under the Dip CL/ML/TL Ed programmes will study one Academic Subject which corresponds to their area of specialisation.

d) Diploma in Art/Music/Home Economics Education Programmes

Trainee teachers under the Dip Art/Mus/HE Ed programmes study academic modules in their specialist subject. Trainee teachers under the one-year Dip HE Ed programme are exempted from this component.

Curriculum Content Subject

This subject aims to reinforce subject content for trainee teachers. It is aimed at making sure our Trainee teachers will be secure in the content of the school curriculum.

Practicum

The Practicum modules are compulsory and are taken by all trainee teachers.

The Practicum is an important component in the programmes. Its principal function is to provide trainee teachers with the opportunity to develop teaching competencies in a variety of instructional contexts in a school setting. Trainee teachers will be attached to schools for the Practicum. They will practise basic teaching skills as they plan and deliver classroom lessons under the guidance and supervision of co-operating teachers and NIE supervisors.

In the Practicum, trainee teachers will be able to use the knowledge and skills introduced in Education Studies, Curriculum Studies, Curriculum Content and Academic Subject modules and attempt to integrate theory and practice.

Language Enrichment and Academic Discourse Skills (LEADS)

This component is aimed at improving the use of oral and written language in teaching.

General Electives

In addition to the core modules and the required number of prescribed electives, trainee teachers must offer a minimum of 2 academic units of general electives.