Course

Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

Approved Abbreviation: DipArts/BA

Western Sydney University Course Code: 6021.3

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 096977D

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.

For Commencement Year Term 2 2018 to Term 3 2018, please refer to 6021.2 - Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

For Commencement Year Term 2 2017 to Term 1 2018, please refer to 6021.1 - Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

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.

The first year of this course is delivered by Western Sydney University The College, as an agent of Western Sydney University, via extended face-to-face hours in smaller learning environments. A Diploma in Arts exit point is also available at the end of the first year of the course.

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.

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).

For more information on Western Sydney University, The College, please refer to their web site.

Western Sydney University, The College

For course advice during your first year of study, please use the contact below under ‘Course Advice’. For course advice during your second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary).

Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Admission

For more information on applying please see link to The College admission pages below.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thecollege/how_to_apply

Domestic students are required to have

Completed an English unit in the NSW Higher School Certificate, Or

Competency in English at IELTS 6.0 equivalent (unless a native speaker) Or

Passed The College English test with 70% or higher Or

Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English unit at C grade level or higher.

Met other entry requirements such as

An ATAR identified prior to the offer of a place, Or

Completed The College Foundation Studies course with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

International students must satisfy one of the following language requirements

IELTS 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each sub band Or

Completed the College EAP 4 course with a 50% pass Or

Passed The College English test with 70% or higher Or

Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English unit at C grade level or higher for which advanced standing can be applied for.

Academic Entry Requirements vary according to country of origin. However, in general

Completion of Year 12 or its equivalent is the minimum entry requirement Or

Completed The College Foundation Studies course with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

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 : enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au

Course Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 270 credit points which include the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

The early exit College Diploma consists of 110 credit points which includes three College Preparatory units.

Western Sydney University The College Units

Nirimba, Bankstown, Parramatta City (George Street) and Penrith Campus

Please note that all campuses may not have intakes each year.

Year 1

First Term of Study

700056

Academic English (WSTC Prep)

700211

Academic Skills for Arts (WSTC Prep)

700192

Texts and Communication (WSTC Prep)

700293

Thinking Critically About Texts and Society (WSTC)

Second Term of Study

700291

Foundations of Academic English (WSTC)

700299

When Worlds Collide: European Empires and the World, c.1600-1950 (WSTC)

700292

Diversity, Language and Culture (WSTC)

Third Term of Study

700288

Introduction to Literary Studies (WSTC)

700294

Australian Politics and Active Citizenship (WSTC)

700135

Everyday Life (WSTC)

And one of the following units

700268

Introduction to International Relations (WSTC)

700137

Mathematical Patterns and Relationships (WSTC)

Equivalent Core Units

The Core Units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in 2019 or earlier.

700131 - Analytical Reading and Writing (WSTC)

700130 - Australia and the World (WSTC)

700132 - Contemporary Society (WSTC)

700134 - Global History (WSTC)

700133 - Texts and Traditions (WSTC)

Students may exit at this point and graduate with the Diploma in Arts following a passing grade in all of the above units. Students who progress onto Year 2 may also be awarded the Diploma if they gain a passing grade in all of the above units.

Students must pass all College Preparatory units before progressing to the Year 2 units.
Students must pass at least 70 credit points of University level units in Year 1 before progressing to the Year 2 units.

In order to ensure that Bachelor of Arts student meet the course requirements, all students must seek advice from their Academic Course Advisor when transitioning to the second year of their course.

Qualification for this award then requires the successful completion of a further 160 credit points with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3.

Western Sydney University Units

For course advice during your second and subsequent years of study, please use the contact listed for the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary).

Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

Bankstown, Parramatta (Victoria Road) and Penrith Campus

All students must complete

80 credit point First Specialisation Arts Major from the list below
40 credit point Education Studies sub-major
40 credit point Second Specialisation Arts sub-major from the list below

First Specialisation

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

Arabic

Chinese

English

Geography and Urban Studies

Indonesian

Japanese

Mathematics

Modern History

Music for Secondary Teaching

Education Studies Sub-major

SM1100

Education Studies

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 Specialisation

Second Teaching Area

All students must also complete a second different specialisation (major or sub-major) from the list below. This will provide your second teaching area or specialist content knowledge for English teaching.

Students completing an English major do not require a second teaching area. Students may elect to complete a second teaching area or a Linguistics or Creative Writing sub-major.

Please seek advice from an Academic Course Adviser about good first and second teaching area combinations.

Note: Not all sub-majors are available on all campuses, please check availability.

Sub-majors

SM1077

Arabic

SM2052

Business Studies for Secondary Teaching

SM1078

Chinese

SM1116

Creative Writing

The Creative Writing sub-major is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area

SM1071

English

SM1093

Geography and Urban Studies

SM1049

Indigenous Australian Studies

SM1112

Indonesian

SM1080

Japanese

SM1119

Linguistics

The Linguistics sub-major is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area

SM3025

Mathematics

SM1134

Modern History

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.

SM1136

Studies of Religion

Recommended Full-time Sequence

Year 2

Autumn session

First Specialisation Major unit

Second Specialisation sub-major unit

Education Studies sub-major unit

Spring session

First Specialisation Major unit

Second Specialisation sub-major unit

Education Studies sub-major unit

Year 3

Autumn session

First Specialisation Major unit

Second Specialisation sub-major unit

Education Studies sub-major unit

Spring session

First Specialisation Major unit

Second Specialisation sub-major unit

Education Studies sub-major unit