Program

Arts / Education (Secondary) - 4054

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: School of Education

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 4 Years

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 192

UAC Code: 422100

Domestic Entry Cut-off: 82.00  

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Arts (Major)

Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

View program information for previous years

Program Description

The Dual degree program, Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Education (Secondary) is a four-year program (192 UOC) for intending secondary school teachers. The program is a nationally accredited pre-service qualification.

Students combine studies in two single or one double secondary teaching specialisations from the BA (Major Stream: 54 UOC and Minor Stream: 36 UOC). The program covers both theoretical and practical aspects of education, including 80 days supervised professional experience in at least two different secondary schools.


Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

The aims of the UNSW BA are:
  1. To develop informed understanding of human experience, human culture and human society
  2. To teach the tools and methods of understanding associated with Humanities and Social Science disciplines, and to encourage
  3. students to perceive the relationships between these disciplines
  4. To encourage the breadth of vision and critical thinking associated with interdisciplinary scholarship and research
  5. To enable students to place contemporary Australian society and culture in an historical and comparative context
  6. To engage critically with fundamental questions about value in both ethical and aesthetic contexts
  7. To develop the skills of critical, creative and imaginative thinking about society, culture and the arts
  8. To promote the techniques and value of reasoned and openminded discussion and debate
  9. To foster understanding of the experiences and world-views of other times, other places, and other cultures.
The aim of the UNSW BEd (Secondary) is to prepare its graduates for careers as secondary school teachers. It seeks to do this by providing instruction and experience in the areas of educational theory, pedagogy, planning, diversity and management.

The Graduate Attributes for UNSW BA are as follows:

  1. The skills involved in scholarly enquiry
  2. The ability to engage in independent and reflective learning
  3. Information Literacy - the skills to locate, evaluate and use relevant information
  4. The capacity for enterprise, initiative and creativity
  5. A capacity to contribute to, and work within, the international community
  6. The skills required for collaborative and multidisciplinary work
  7. A respect for ethical practice and social responsibility
  8. The skills of effective communication
  9. An in-depth engagement with the relevant disciplinary knowledge in its interdisciplinary context.
The Graduate Attributes for the UNSW BEd (Secondary) are as follows:
  1. Know students and how they learn
  2. Know the content and how to teach it
  3. Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
  4. Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
  5. Assess, provide feedback and report on student learning
  6. Engage in professional learning
  7. Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in Dual Mode

Program Structure

The basic requirements for the degree in Dual mode (96 UOC) are:
  1. Education Core (60 UOC)
  2. Prescribed Education method electives (24 UOC)
  3. Prescribed Education electives (12 UOC)

Core

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Professional Experience

EDST2002, EDST6760 and EDST6761 provide students with a total of 80 days of professional experience in secondary schools and other educational settings.

Prescribed Education Methods

Students complete two courses in each single teaching specialisation or four courses in one double teaching specialisation from the following:
  • Aboriginal (Indigenous) Studies
  • Dance
  • Drama
  • Economics
  • English (single or double)
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Geography
  • History (single or double)
  • Languages: Chinese, French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish
  • Legal Studies
  • Society and Culture

Prescribed Education Electives

The teaching specialisation requirements are summarised below:
 
Teaching Specialisation (offered as a single method only unless specified)
Two single methods: A Major stream is required for the first teaching method, and a Minor stream for the second teaching method.
For double English or double History: A Major is required in English or History and a Minor in a related area (eg. For English, studies in Media, Culture and Technology, Film Studies, Creative Writing, Philosophy; for History, any Area studies, International Relations, Politics, Indigenous Studies)
Aboriginal (Indigenous) Studies
Studies in Aboriginal history, Aboriginal anthropology, Aboriginal literature, and/or Aboriginal language and linguistics.
Drama (Theatre & Performance Studies)
Studies in Drama, including theory, performance and production, including ARTS2122 Performance Production 1: Staging the Text, ARTS3123 Solo Performance Making or ARTS3124 Performance Production 2: Collaborative Making.
Dance
Studies in Dance, including the history and analysis of dance performance, with a technique base in modern/contemporary dance and ballet, applied anatomy and kinesiology, and composition/ choreography (available as Major stream only)
Economics
Studies in Economics (available as a Minor stream only)
English (single or double method)
Studies in English language and literature, communications, creative writing, linguistics, and/or media studies, including at least 12 UOC in literature and 6 UOC in Australian literature.
English as Second Language (ESL)
Studies in Linguistics and/or a Language other than English
Geography
Studies in Geography
History (single or double method)
Studies in History in areas such as Australian history, Aboriginal history, modern history, ancient history, or historiography.
Languages: Chinese, Japanese,  Indonesian, French, German, Spanish, and/or Korean 
Studies in a language other than English, including the spoken and written language.
Legal Studies
Interdisciplinary studies in  criminology, politics, philosophy and law (available as a Minor stream only)
Music Studies (Extension) Studies in musicology (music history and analysis) in a range of musical styles, periods and genres with a strong component of contemporary and western art music, compositional techniques, music performance studies (a minimum of two years of music performance studies) and preferably Australian music.
Society and Culture
Studies in Social Sciences, including at least 6 UOC in sociology and no more than 6 UOC of psychology, in areas such as: Aboriginal studies, anthropology, archaeology, Asian or Pacific studies, civics, cultural studies, government, history, media studies, philosophy, politics, religion studies, social communication.   

Prescribed Education Electives

A Prescribed Education Elective is any course chosen by the student from the offerings of the School of Education.

English Proficiency

Proficiency in English is essential in all Education courses.

It is expected that all applicants will have a Higher School Certificate minimum Band 4 in Standard English, English as a Second Language or Advanced English, or an overall IELTS score of 7.5, with a minimum of 8.0 in Speaking and Listening and a minimum of 7.0 in Reading and Writing, or the equivalent.

Award with Distinction

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 in each program and who have completed at least 48 UOC in each program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".

Honours

High achieving Bachelor of Education (Secondary) students who have successfully completed all program requirements may apply for admission to honours in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (Honours) program 4509. A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry into Honours.

Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (Honours) program 4509

Academic Rules

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in Dual mode and complete 96 UOC;
  2. complete the method requirements for one or two areas of teaching specialisation
  3. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  4. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 2 courses before enrolling in Level 3 courses


Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Dual Mode

Program Structure

The basic requirements for the degree in Dual mode (96 UOC) are:
  1. A home major stream (54 UOC)
  2. At least a minor stream (36 UOC)
  3. A Prescribed Faculty Elective (6 UOC)

Home Major Streams

The home major streams in the Bachelor of Arts which will prepare students for a major teaching specialisation in schools are as follows:

External Major Streams

Geography exemption in BA/BEd (Secondary)
Students completing the dual award program BA/BEd (Secondary) can secure an exemption from the home-based major rule if they wish to complete Geography as their first teaching method.

Students are required to complete a third Geography course (BIOS1301 Ecology, Sustainability and Environmental Science) at level 1.

Students who seek this exemption must complete a home-based minor.

NOTE: For details of individual major and minor stream please consult the relevant stream entries.

Minor Streams

All the major streams above except Dance Studies, are available to be completed as a minor stream ("Non-designated Minor") and could be combined as preparation for a first and second teaching specialisation.

In addition, some areas of study are only available as Minors. These are known as "Designated Minors". They are:

The following majors and minors are also offered in subject areas less commonly taught in schools and /or restricted to the senior secondary level, hence are recommended as more appropriate for a second teaching specialisation:
Minors are also offered in the following areas:
Minors which are suitable as a supporting Minor for double History are as follows:
Minors which are suitable as a supporting Minor for double English are as follows:

External Minor Streams

External Minors are Streams offered by other Faculties.

The External Minors, streams of study offered by other Faculties, are also suitable preparation for a second teaching specialisation.

Students completing the Economics minor stream (30 UOC) are required to complete a second 6 UOC Prescribed Faculty Elective.

Major and Minor Stream requirements in Dual programs

Students must be careful in the selection of courses in their second Dual program so that they meet the requirements for teaching in specific areas of specialisation.

Students should check with the School of Education the teaching specialisation requirements in Dual mode in the other program to ensure they provide appropriate background for two single or one double secondary teaching specialisations.

Prescribed Faculty Elective

A Prescribed Faculty Elective is any course chosen by the student from the offerings of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Award with Distinction

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 in each program and who have completed at least 48 UOC in each program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".

Honours

High achieving Bachelor of Arts students (in Single or Dual mode) who have successfully completed all program requirements may apply for admission to honours in the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504. A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry into Honours.

Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504

Academic Rules

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Arts and complete 96 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for one home major stream
  3. complete the requirements for one minor stream
  4. complete a 6 UOC Prescribed Faculty Elective
  5. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  6. specify their major(s)/minor at the time of enrolment into Level 2
  7. complete at least 24 UOC in their major/minor before enrolling in Level 3 courses
  8. complete 72 UOC overall before enrolling in their Major stream(s) Capstone course


Sample Program

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Education (Secondary) - Example only
  Semester 1Semester 2UOC 
Level 1EDST1101 Educational Psychology 1 (6)

Major Level 1 (6)

Minor Level 1 (6)

Prescribed Faculty Elective (6)

EDST1104 Social Perspectives in Education (6)

Major Level 1 (6)

Minor Level 1 (6)

EDST Elective (6)

 48
Level 2EDST2003 Learning and Teaching Introductory Perspectives (6)

Major Level 2 (6)

Major Level 2 (6)

Minor Level 2 (6)

EDST2002 Professional Engagement (6)

Major Level 2 (6)

Major Level 2 or 3 (6)

Minor Level 2 (6)

 48
Level 3EDST4084 Managing the Classroom (6)

EDST6760 Professional Experience 1 (6)

*Method 1A (6)

*Method 1B (6)

EDST4080 Special Education: Inclusive Strategies  (6)

Major Level 3 (6)

Major Level 3 (6)

Minor Level 3 (6)

 48
Level 4EDST4096 Gifted and Talented Students (6)

EDST Elective (6)

Major Level 3 Capstone (6)

Minor Level 3 (6)

EDST4081 Professional Issues in Teaching (6)

EDST6761 Professional Experience 2 (6)

*Method 2A (6)

*Method 2B (6)

 48
 *Or Double Method *Or Double Method 

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Exit Strategies

Students completing the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in Dual mode with the Bachelor of Arts who decide to discontinue their enrolment in this program may exit the program and enrol in the Bachelor of Arts program in Single mode. They would be awarded a major stream in Education (54 UOC). Students seeking to exit the program should contact the Faculty Student Centre.

Important Information

The Academic Rules for the UNSW BA BEd (Secondary) and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

Further Information

Contact the Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions

Glossary of Terms

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Programs Glossary of Terms - Click here

Area(s) of Specialisation