Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)Approved Abbreviation: BA
Western Sydney University Course Code: 1652.7
AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 061013A
Course Status: CONTINUING
This version of the course is available only to continuing or completing students.
Students should follow the course structure for the course version relevant to the year they commenced. This version applies to students whose commencement year for this course is 2017 or later.
Units may be revised or replaced to ensure students are provided with up to date curriculum throughout their studies, and this may result in a new course version. Refer to the Check My Course Progress page in MySR for the most up to date information for your course.
Commencement Year 2015 and 2016 - 1652.6 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Commencement Year 2013 and 2014 - 1652.5 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Commencement Year 2012 - 1652.4 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Commencement Year 2010 and 2011 - 1652.3 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Commencement Year 2009 - 1652.2 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Commencement Year 2008 - 1652.1 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
Graduates of this degree are eligible for direct entry into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) via Transition to Teaching pathway. Completion of both the Bachelor’s and Master’s courses provides a teaching qualification for Secondary. Eligible students will receive advice during their final study session in the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Secondary) regarding how to accept an offer into the Postgraduate course to attain a teaching qualification.
The BA (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) is a three year degree specially designed to lead into the Master of Teaching (Secondary), an accredited postgraduate teaching qualification. Together, the two degrees provide direct access to a teaching career in four years and improved prospects for career advancement. The Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) component provides focussed study in a teaching discipline, such as English, History, a Language Other than English or Human Society and Its Environment, as well as opportunity to study an Education Studies Sub-major that develops understandings of contemporary education issues, teaching and learning. As well as being equipped with all the necessary elements of an initial teacher qualification, Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) graduates are prepared for a wide range of alternate employment opportunities with strong communication and people skills, creativity and capacity for independent thought, flexibility and adaptability in new situations, all increasingly demanded by employers.
For further information concerning the requirements for secondary teaching, students are advised to consult the Subject Content Requirements for Primary and Secondary Teaching NSW (Abridged) from the NSW Institute of Teacher or the School of Education.
http://www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/future-returning-teachers/become-a-teacher/high-school/
- Director of Academic Program - Dr Dianne Dickenson
- Course Advisor(s) with signing rights - Assoc Prof Carol Liston
Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.
Course Advice
Location
| Campus | Attendance | Mode | Course Advice | | Bankstown Campus | Full Time | Internal |
See above
|
| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal |
See above
|
| Penrith Campus | Full Time | Internal |
See above
|
Admission
Assumed knowledge: two units of HSC English.
Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent.
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/
International applicants must apply directly to Western Sydney University via the International Office.
International students applying to The University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.
International Office
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.
Course Structure
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3.
All students must complete
- 40 credit points Bachelor of Arts Core
- 80 credit point Arts Major from the list below
- 40 credit point Education Studies sub-major
And
- A second specialisation and electives
Either:
- 40 credit point sub-major from the list provided and 40 credit points of electives, or
- 80 credit point major from the list below
Core Components
The 40 credit points of core units are as follows
Year 1 Core units
| 100846 | Analytical Reading and Writing |
Majors - First teaching area
All students must complete one of the following Majors. This will meet the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) content requirements for your first teaching area. Explanation of these Majors can be found under the program listings below.
Note: Not all majors are available on all campuses, please check availability.
Note: The following Majors and Sub-majors have inherent requirements; Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese.
Click here for details of the Inherent Requirements
| M1071 | Geography and Urban Studies |
Education Studies Sub-major
Please note that units within the Education Studies sub-major are mainly available at Bankstown or Penrith campuses with some units on offer at Parramatta Campus and online.
Second Teaching Area
All students must also complete a second different specialisation (major or sub-major) from the list below. This will meet the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) content requirements for your second teaching area. Note if you have chosen a language as your first teaching area, you cannot choose a language as your second teaching area. Please seek advice from an Academic Course Adviser about good first and second teaching area combinations.
Note: Not all majors and sub-majors are available on all campuses, please check availability.
Majors
| M1071 | Geography and Urban Studies |
| M1041 | Indigenous Australian Studies |
Sub-majors
| SM2052 | Business Studies for Secondary Teaching |
| SM1093 | Geography and Urban Studies |
| SM1049 | Indigenous Australian Studies |
| SM1083 | Music for Secondary Teaching |
Please note that from 2020 a sub-major in Music for Secondary Teaching no longer meets NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) requirements to qualify students to teach music in secondary schools. The successful completion of the major M1130 Music for Secondary Teaching meets NESA requirements and successful completion of this major will qualify students to teach music in secondary schools.
| M1130 | Music for Secondary Teaching |
Additional Sub-majors
Students with remaining elective units may complete an additional sub-major from the list below. Many of these sub-majors may be used as an additional teaching area or to supplement your skills and knowledge.
| SM2052 | Business Studies for Secondary Teaching |
| SM1070 | Cultural and Social Analysis |
| SM2053 | Economics for Secondary Teaching |
| SM3038 | Food Technology - Secondary Teaching |
| SM1093 | Geography and Urban Studies |
| SM1049 | Indigenous Australian Studies |
| SM1073 | International Relations and Asian Studies |
Recommended full-time sequence
Year 1
Autumn session
BA core unit
BA core unit
Major unit
Elective sub-major unit
Spring session
BA core unit
BA core unit
Major unit
Elective sub-major unit
Year 2
Autumn session
Major unit
Major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Spring session
Major unit
Major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Year 3
Autumn session
Major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Spring session
Major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Education Studies or Elective sub-major unit
Sub-major elective spaces
Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points).
Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.
Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major
Search for sub-majors
Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.
MyStudentRecords (MySR)