Bachelor
The Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) Master of Teaching in Secondary Education (English) offers students the knowledge and practical hands-on experience required to teach over 72,000 secondary school pupils studying English in NSW (NSW Education Standards Authority, 2021 HSC Enrolments by Course, 2021). Depending on the stream taken, students may also be able to teach the 4500 students studying Society and Culture in NSW or English language to the 25% of Australian students that have English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) (NSW Education Standards Authority, 2021 HSC Enrolments by Course, 2021).
The combined "Vertical Stack" course (undergraduate + postgraduate degree) enables students to gain a greater depth of disciplinary knowledge in Communications (Writing and Publishing) before commencing their teaching subjects in the Master of Teaching from their second year of study. Gaining a wider and deeper understanding in their field of study gives students more confidence when they commence teaching. They enter the classroom up to date on the most current developments in the discipline, and this is highly valued by schools.
The unique vertical structure of this combined course means students do not need to meet the standard three Band 5 HSC results, including English, for admission to an initial teacher education course.
To ensure that a high quality of teachers is maintained in the education sector, students need to achieve a Credit average in the first two years of their university studies before progressing into the final years of the program.
If students do not meet the Credit average, they can still continue in the Bachelor of Communications (Writing and Publishing) and graduate with that qualification.
Students spend 80 days in one of more than 200 secondary schools across NSW. This practical experience with a trusted UTS partner school helps them gain the skills and confidence in curriculum and classroom management required for effective teaching in English (and EALD or Society and Culture if relevant), and also helps them develop personal and professional networks within and beyond education for their future career path.
Not only are students accelerated in their career pathway to secondary teaching by achieving two qualifications, including one at postgraduate level, within the duration of a single undergraduate degree, they also have the benefits of a range of career options.
Secondary teacher in English or EALD or Society and Culture in a public or private school, locally or internationally (subject to meeting relevant employer requirements). Graduates may also seek work as a fiction and non-fiction writer, editor, publisher, scriptwriter, literary agent, communication coordinator, arts and cultural administrator, copywriter, feature writer, publications officer, freelance writer, book marketing coordinator, digital content producer, marketing content producer for government, NGOs and cultural groups, video game writer, writer for media organisations.
Students must complete 96 credit points of disciplinary content subjects in the Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) consisting of 24 credit points of core subjects and a 48 credit points major. Students who selected the English/Society and Culture teaching area at application undertake 24 credit points of specific subjects from the Society and Culture stream, while those who chose the English or English/English as an Additional Language/Dialect teaching areas, complete 24 credit points of Communication electives.
In the Master of Teaching in Secondary Education component students complete 96 credit points comprising 42 credit points of core subjects focused on the foundation education disciplines of learning, motivation and adolescent psychology as well as addressing the education of students with special needs; and 54 credit points of teaching methods and professional experience relating to the teaching area/s chosen at application, as well as elective subjects or, for those undertaking English/EALD, additional subjects contributing to their second teaching area.
Students undertake professional experience totalling 80 days of supervised teaching practice in schools. Students work under the supervision of an in-service high school teacher in their area(s) of specialisation and are mentored by a tertiary education supervisor.