Course

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Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

Approved Abbreviation: BA

Western Sydney University Course Code: 1652.9

AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 061013A

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 2021 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 2019 and 2020 - 1652.8 Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

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 – Secondary Teaching 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.

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 or higher.

All students must enrol in and complete

40 credit points Bachelor of Arts Core
80 credit point Arts Major from the list below
40 credit point Education Studies - Secondary Teaching 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

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 and Japanese.

Click here for details of the Inherent Requirements

Arabic

Chinese

English

Geography and Urban Studies

Japanese

Mathematics

Modern History

Music for Secondary Teaching

Education Studies – Secondary Teaching Sub-major

SM1142

Education Studies - Secondary Teaching

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

M1059

Arabic

M1060

Chinese

M1113

Creative Writing

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

M1053

English

M1071

Geography and Urban Studies

M1041

Indigenous Australian Studies

M1062

Japanese

M1119

Linguistics

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

M3054

Mathematics

M1136

Modern History

M1130

Music for Secondary Teaching

Sub-majors

SM1141

Ancient History

SM1077

Arabic

SM2055

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

SM1137

Geography for Secondary Teaching

SM1049

Indigenous Australian Studies

SM1080

Japanese

SM1140

Legal Studies

SM1119

Linguistics

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

Mathematics

Modern History

Studies of Religion

Physics

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.

SM1141

Ancient History

SM1077

Arabic

SM2055

Business Studies for Secondary Teaching

SM1078

Chinese

SM1116

Creative Writing

SM1138

Culture and Society