Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Bachelor

Teachers can have lasting impact on the lives of their students, and the very best can inspire students toward greatness. This combined degree qualifies you to teach up to two secondary teaching areas.

Key details

Degree Type

Bachelor

Duration

4 years full-time, 8 years part-time

Course Code

3207311

Study Mode

Online, In person

ATAR

60

About this course

Teachers can have lasting impact on the lives of their students, and the very best can inspire students toward greatness.

This combined degree qualifies you to teach up to two secondary teaching areas. Areas include Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, English, Mathematics, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Physics, Modern History, Geography, Society and Culture and Aboriginal Studies.

Your foundation year will feature units across the general capabilities and broader school curriculum. This is in addition to core studies in literacy and numeracy, equity and diversity, supporting learners with diverse needs, assessment, and the use of information and communications technology in education.

You'll complete a program of in-school professional teaching experiences, culminating in an extended in-school development experience to demonstrate your capabilities as a secondary school teacher. Combined volunteer activities and embedded site visits will provide you with a deep understanding about the role of a teacher.

As you will be interacting with young people, upon enrolment you will be expected to apply and attain a valid Working with Children Check for your state or territory. See professional experience requirements.

As a graduate you'll be qualified to teach secondary school Australia-wide, including Queensland and NSW. Please note your application must include a personal statement outlining your non-academic capabilities. See education non-academic requirements.

Entry requirements

Applicants for admission to candidature at a New South Wales campus of Southern Cross University must have satisfied requirements specified by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for admission to an initial teacher education course that is approved for the purposes of enabling graduates to apply for registration as a teacher in New South Wales, including i) satisfactory completion of the UAC or QTAC non-academic entry requirement test.
Applicants for admission to candidature at a Queensland campus of Southern Cross University must have satisfied requirements specified by the Queensland College of Teachers for admission to an initial teacher education course that is approved for the purposes of enabling graduates to apply for registration as a teacher in Queensland, including i) satisfactory completion of the UAC or QTAC non-academic entry requirement test.
To meet the University's minimum English Language Proficiency requirement an applicant must satisfy one of the following criteria:
1. have completed senior secondary study to the equivalent of the Australian year 12 or have completed at least one year of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study) at AQF diploma equivalent or higher where:
  1. the country where those studies were undertaken is listed in Schedule A of the Rules Relating to Awards - Rule 2; and
  2. the language of instruction was English; or
2. achieved a minimum test score, within two (2) years of the date of application for admission, equal to or above the minimum listed below:
  1. International English Language Test System (IELTS). The applicant must have a minimum overall score of 7.5, including a minimum result of 8.0 in both the speaking and listening modules and 7.0 in reading and writing; or
  2. International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR). The applicant must have a score of at least 4+ in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing.
3. successfully completed SCU's Preparing for Success Program.
For the purposes of satisfying English Language Proficiency requirements for admission, applicants will only be considered on the above criteria and will not be considered on the basis of other criteria established by the Rules Relating to Awards - Rule 2, Section 1 - English Language Proficiency Subsection.

Study locations

Lismore

Coffs Harbour

Gold Coast

Online

What you will learn

Students can tailor the course to study two of the following teaching majors or one teaching major with a specialisation and electives.

Teaching majors (and locations: L = Lismore, O = Online)

Biology (L, O)*
Chemistry (L)
Physics (O)
Earth and Environmental Science (L, O)**
English (O)
Mathematics (O)
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (L)
Modern History (O)
Geography (L, O)
Society and Culture (for students who complete Modern History or Geography) (L, O)

The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) is primarily delivered in online mode.

Please note: some units require attendance at on-campus workshops.

* Two units are each offered as a three-week intensive and both include one week at the University's National Marine Science Centre, Coffs Harbour. Contact the University for more details.

** One unit is offered as a three-week intensive that includes a one-week field trip.

All students will need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to undertaking the first professional experience placement.

Career pathways

Graduates may find employment as a secondary school teacher in schools and colleges. Graduates can teach in up to two subjects: English, Mathematics, Modern History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth and Environmental Science, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education and Geography. If graduates wish to teach Society and Culture or Aboriginal Studies they must also have completed Modern History or Geography.

Course structure

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education (Secondary), students must complete the equivalent of 32 units (384 credit points), comprising:

* 15 core units (180 credit points), * 1 First Teaching Subject, * the remaining units from an additional Teaching Subject, and/or electives, and * both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) as required by the Federal Government.

Permission to undertake a professional experience placement will be at the discretion of the Dean of Education.

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with the Bachelor of Educational Studies after completing the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points).

Students may be eligible to exit with the Associate Degree of Educational Studies after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points).

Students may be eligible to exit with the Diploma of Educational Studies after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points).

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access and Inclusion website. If you have a disability or health condition which may impact on your ability to meet these requirements please refer to the Student Access and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

Southern Cross University (SCU)