Centre for Excellence in Outdoor and Environmental Education
Application & Selection - Frequently Asked Questions
The Centre for Excellence in Outdoor and Environmental Education offers six undergraduate courses:
Bachelor of Arts (Outdoor Education)
Bachelor of Arts (Outdoor Environmental Education)
Bachelor of Arts (Outdoor Recreation Education)
Bachelor of Arts (Nature Tourism)
Bachelor of Arts (Natural Resources Education)
Bachelor of Physical and Outdoor Education
The Centre also offers post graduate courses of study. The following questions are concerned only with the undergraduate courses.
How do I apply?
You must firstly apply for any course at a university through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). Applications open at the beginning of August and close towards the end of September. You need to visit the VTAC website on www.vtac.edu.au for application information. Alternatively application information can be found in the VTAC guide, available from most newsagencies. VTAC applications are submitted online.
What are the criteria you use in student selection?
For details on all course entry criteria see the relevant course brochure (www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/ ).
Year 12 Applicants: Your ENTER score and course specific requirements are the major determining factors for applying from year 12.
Non Year 12 Applicants: If you have not completed year 12 and are under 21 years of age you are not eligible for university entrance.
For those who have completed year 12 more than 12 months ago we will consider your full academic and work related history in trying to ascertain how you will handle tertiary level academic work. You will need to complete a Supplementary Information Form and forward it directly to us. Supplementary Information Forms are obtainable from our website ( www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/ ). You may also need to complete a STAT Written English if you have not successfully undertaken previous university study (see applicant type table below). Where the STAT is optional you may choose to take the STAT if you think it might improve your chances of selection.
What type of applicant am I and do I need to complete a Supplementary Information form or sit a STAT?
All applicants apply online through VTAC. Use the table below see whether or not you need to complete a Supplementary Information form or sit a STAT.
| Applicant type |
VTAC |
Supple- mentary Information Form |
STAT |
| A current year 12 student |
Y |
N |
N |
• Under 21 years or more by 1 January of the course commencement year, and
• have completed year 12 prior to current year and
• have not completed a semester of tertiary level studies (including post-Year 12 TAFE qualifications) in the last two years |
Y |
Y |
Optional |
• 21 years or more by 1 January of the course commencement year, and
• have not completed a semester of tertiary level studies (including post-Year 12 TAFE qualifications) in the last two years
|
Y |
Y |
y |
• Under 21 years of age and
• have not completed year 12
- Ineligible for university entrance
|
N |
N |
N |
Non Standard year 12 (eg non VCE Steiner year 12)
- Contact the Selection Officer |
Y |
Y |
Optional |
What is a STAT test?
The Written English STAT Test (Special Tertiary Admissions Test) is a way for mature age applicants who have not studied for several years to demonstrate their readiness for academic studies. See the Applicant Type table above to confirm if you need to sit a STAT test. We require the Written English test, not the multiple choice test. Refer to the VTAC guide for details of when & where these will be held. The Office for Prospective Students ( www.latrobe.edu.au/prospective-bendigo/ ) together with the Academic Skills Unit at Bendigo hold STAT information workshops prior to the tests, generally in the first two weeks of October. Ring OPS on 5444 7582 for details.
What score do I need for the undergraduate courses?
ENTER ranges vary each year depending on the number of places available, the number of applicants and deferment rates.
|
Clearly in ENTER 2008 |
Guaranteed ENTER 2009 |
Outdoor Education |
73.4 |
80 |
Outdoor Environmental Education |
88.1 |
90 |
Outdoor Recreation Education |
63.3 |
65 |
Natural Resources Education |
90.6 |
90 |
Nature Tourism |
N/A |
65 |
Physical and Outdoor Education |
63.00 |
75 |
In recent years there have been high deferment rates and additional places have become available for second and even third round offers.
What subjects ought I do at year 12?
The subjects someone does at year 12 ought to be the ones they feel they can do well.
Outdoor Education, Outdoor Environmental Education, Outdoor Recreation Education, Nature Tourism, Natural Resources Education :
The only specific subject required is English. Outdoor Environmental Studies at year 12 is desirable but not offered widely enough to make compulsory for applicants. However, studying Outdoor Environmental Studies at year 12 helps establish an applicant’s interest in the field. Other relevant year 12 subjects would be SOSE, geography, biology or other earth sciences.
Physical and Outdoor Education:
For current year 12 students selection is based on academic performance as indicated by the ENTER score. Applicants are required to have -
- gained a study score of 25 or higher in units 3 and 4 of English (any).
- gained a study score of 25 or higher in one of Physical Education, Health and Human Development or Outdoor Environmental Studies at VCE units 3 and 4 level.
- units 1 & 2: two units of general mathematics or mathematical methods (either)
Can I take a year off after year 12 and then apply for the course?
Yes. It may be best to apply after year 12 and if offered a position in Round one, seek deferment for 12 months. You can only defer a first or early round offer.
What jobs do people get after graduating?
| Course |
Career opportunities |
| Natural Resources Education |
• Land and natural resources management
• Ranger or education officer in national parks
• Environmental Interpretation for government or corporate sector
• Community education for sustainability and ecology
• Environmental education centres |
|
|
| Nature Tourism |
• Guide in private nature tourism operations
• Operator of small business in nature tourism
• Ranger or education officer in national parks |
|
| Outdoor Education |
• Teaching (after completion of DipEd)
• Outdoor education Instructor
• Private sector outdoor education providers |
|
Outdoor Environmental Education |
|
• Private sector outdoor education and environmental Education providers
• Educators in local government agencies |
|
|
|
| Outdoor Recreation Education |
• Teaching in informal education settings
• Commercial outdoor recreation providers
• TAFE Teaching |
| Physical Education and Outdoor Education |
Teaching physical eduation and outdoor environmental eduation years 7 to 12 |
It is our experience that those students who want jobs upon course completion have little, if any, trouble getting them.
What extra costs are there?
The kinds of extras that students need to pay for are: books, maps and their lamination and essential personal outdoor equipment such as pack, sleeping bag, clothing, walk boots and rain wear. The Department funds transport and camping fees for practical trips as well as some major outdoor equipment items, such as canoes, climbing gear and snow tents. Students provide their own food for trips.
It is hard to accurately estimate the cost for students as it depends on what personal outdoor equipment students already have access to – however $1000 to $1500 to set up in the first year for equipment is not unusual. It is recommended you avoid purchasing any new gear prior to the course until you understand course requirements as outlined in the first few weeks of semester one. Some gear is unsuitable to our needs.
Another consideration is that it is somewhat difficult to undertake paid work on a regular basis during the semester, as students are away on trips for a number of late weekdays and weekends (Thursday to Sunday). Thus, it is best if you can have some money saved and plan to work in breaks and over summer.
Physical and Outdoor Education:
Outdoor equipment as above and sporting & teaching equipment associated with sport activities.
What is the most suitable accommodation for OE, NT & POE students?
Whether or not to live in university accommodation (www.latrobe.edu.au/residentialservices/) depends on personal needs and interests. Accommodation listings can also be found at the Student Association web site (http://www.bsabendigo.com.au/). Current students are the best people to talk to about where to live and how much it costs living in Bendigo, so a visit to Open Day on the first Sunday in August is recommended. Also keep in mind how well you are able to study in the presence of other people and noise - ask other students about their accommodation and how this worked for them in their first year at university.
Want to know more?
Visit our website: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/oent/
Visit us on Open Day, 3 August 2008, or contact the Admissions Officer, Louise Gallagher, on
5444 7298 or email oee.courseadmin@latrobe.edu.au
|
