Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)Approved Abbreviation: BA
Western Sydney University Course Code: 1652.8
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 2019 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 2017 and 2018 - 1652.7 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)
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 Teaching 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 five 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, Mathematics, 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 Education Standards Authority (NESA).
http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/Subject Content Knowledge Requirements
- Director of Academic Program - Dr Dianne Dickenson
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
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| Bankstown Campus | Part Time | Internal |
See above
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| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Full Time | Internal |
See above
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| Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road | Part Time | Internal |
See above
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| Penrith Campus | Full Time | Internal |
See above
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| Penrith Campus | Part Time | Internal |
See above
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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.
For students wishing to qualify as a teacher of music by completing the major “Music in Secondary Teaching”
Students undertaking this major will be selected on an interview/audition in which personal aptitude, professional experience and educational qualifications are taken into consideration. After you have applied to UAC you are required to book yourself in for an interview/audition and download a questionnaire at this University’s online audition booking system available at
Online audition booking system: https://admissions.westernsydney.edu.au/
If you have difficulty in accessing the web, call 1300 897 669. Please bring the completed questionnaire with you to the audition. At your audition you will be asked to perform from two contrasting pieces of music. For more information, please contact a Bachelor of Music Academic Course Advisor via the email address listed under Course Advice above.
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
BA Core units (40 credit points)
| 102738 | Australian Politics and Active Citizenship |
| 102737 | Thinking Critically About Texts and Society |
| 102736 | Diversity, Language and Culture |
| 102735 | Foundations of Academic English |
Equivalent Core Units
The core units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in 2019 or earlier.
100958 - Australia and the World
100960 - Contemporary Society
100968 - Texts and Traditions
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 |
| M1130 | Music for Secondary Teaching |
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.
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
The Creative Writing major is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area
| M1071 | Geography and Urban Studies |
| M1041 | Indigenous Australian Studies |
The Linguistics major is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area
| M1130 | Music for Secondary Teaching |
Sub-majors
| SM2052 | Business Studies for Secondary Teaching |
The Creative Writing sub-major is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area
| SM1093 | Geography and Urban Studies |
| SM1049 | Indigenous Australian Studies |
The Linguistics sub-major is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area.
Please note: SM1121 Modern History has been replaced by SM1134 Modern History for students who commence this course from the 2020 academic year. Continuing students enrolled in SM1121 are able to remain in and successfully complete the unit requirements of this specialisation.
The Physics sub-major is only available to students completing a Mathematics major or sub-major.
Note this sub-major on its own does not meet the NESA content requirements to become a secondary Physics teacher.
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 |
Please note: SM1121 Modern History has been replaced by SM1134 Modern History for students who commence this course from the 2020 academic year. Continuing students enrolled in SM1121 are able to remain in and successfully complete the unit requirements of this specialisation.
The Physics sub-major is only available to students completing a Mathematics major or sub-major.
Note this sub-major on its own does not meet the NESA content requirements to become a secondary Physics teacher.
Recommended Full-time Sequence
Year 1
Autumn session
BA core unit (Level 1)
BA core unit (Level 1)
BA core unit (Level 1) or Major unit*
Major unit or sub-major unit
*The number of BA core units on offer will vary depending on your campus of enrolment.
Spring session
BA core unit (Level 1)
BA core unit (Level 1) or Major unit
Major unit or sub-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
Global Sustainability Sub-major
Search for sub-majors
Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.
MyStudentRecords (MySR)