Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) Dean's ScholarsApproved Abbreviation: BA(DeansSchol)
Western Sydney University Course Code: 1823.2
AQF Level: 7
CRICOS Code: 097517B
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 Spring 2018 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 - 1823.1 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) Dean's Scholars
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) Dean’s Scholars is a three year degree for high achieving students 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 and a half years and improved prospects for career advancement. The Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) Dean’s Scholars 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.
This degree is exclusively for high-achieving students. Students in the BA (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) Dean’s Scholars program are automatically enrolled in The Academy at Western Sydney University, which offers interdisciplinary leadership programs, professional development and local and international internship and engagement opportunities for students.
- Director of Academic Program - Dr Di Dickenson
For further information concerning the requirements for secondary teaching, students are advised to consult the Knowledge Requirements (Abridged) Academic Requirements for Admission to Graduate Entry Programs from the Board of Studies Teaching and Educational Standards NSW or the School of Education.
http://www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/future-returning-teachers/become-a-teacher/high-school/
Study Mode
Three years full-time or six years part-time.
Admission
Assumed knowledge: two units of HSC English.
Recommended studies: HSC English Standard, or equivalent.
ATAR score of at least 90 required.
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 the 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 or higher.
All students must enrol in and complete:
- 40 credit points Bachelor of Arts Core
- 80 credit point Arts Major
- 40 credit point Education Studies sub-major
- 40 credit point sub-major from the list below or other approved area of study (contact your Course Advisor for further information)
- 20 credit points of electives
- 20 credit points from the Dean’s Scholars unit pool
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 NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) 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
All students must complete the Education Studies Sub-major
Second Teaching Area
All students must also complete a second teaching area. This can be a sub-major from the list below or other approved area of study. Your second teaching area needs to meet the NESA (NSW Education Standards Authority) content requirements. 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 Arts sub-majors are available on all campuses.
| SM2052 | Business Studies for Secondary Teaching |
| SM2053 | Economics 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 |
Dean’s Scholars pool units
Students in the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) Dean’s Scholars not undertaking the Bachelor of Applied Leadership and Critical Thinking (BALCT) must complete at least 20 credit points from the following Dean’s Scholar’s pool units:
| 102211 | Creativity, Innovation and Design Thinking |
| 102193 | International Special Study |
| 102212 | Internship and Community Engagement |
| 301071 | Introduction to Critical Thinking |
| 200855 | Leadership in a Complex World |
| 301070 | Logic, Rhetoric and Argumentation |
Students in the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) Dean’s Scholars also undertaking the Bachelor of Applied Leadership and Critical Thinking (BALCT) must complete 20 credit points from the following pool
| 102193 | International Special Study |
| 102522 | International Study Tours |
Recommended Full-time sequence
Year 1
Autumn session
BA core unit
BA core unit
Major unit
Sub-major unit/second teaching area unit
Spring session
BA core unit
BA core unit
Major unit
Sub-major unit/second teaching area unit
Year 2
Autumn session
Major unit
Major unit
Education Studies or sub-major/second teaching area unit
Education Studies or sub-major/second teaching area unit
Spring session
Major unit
Major unit
Education Studies or sub-major/second teaching area unit
Education Studies or sub-major/second teaching area unit
Year 3
Autumn session
Major unit
Education Studies or sub-major/second teaching area unit
Dean’s Scholars Pool unit
And one elective
Spring session
Major unit
Education Studies or sub-major/second teaching area unit
Dean’s Scholars Pool unit
And one elective