Program Overview

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Bachelor of Secondary Education (Arts)

The Bachelor of Secondary Education (Arts) is a four-year specialist degree in secondary education and arts. This course will see students develop into knowledgeable and informed classroom-ready teachers, qualified for employment across both state and independent schools.

About this Course

This fun and creative degree will allow students to study a choice of two teaching streams from a range of arts and humanities disciplines, including English languages, history, business studies, the creative arts, geography, religious studies, psychology, media studies, legal studies, and more.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this course can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Secondary school teacher
• English teacher
• History teacher
• Visual arts teacher
• Drama teacher
• Media studies teacher
• Business studies teacher
• Art and design teacher
• Performing arts teacher
• Legal studies teacher
• Geography teacher
• Psychology teacher
• Religious education teacher
• Head of department
• Principal
• Deputy principal
• Executive teacher
• Head teacher welfare
• Director of curriculum
• Year adviser
• Special needs teacher
• Gifted and talented teacher
• Relief teacher
• Guidance officer
• Careers adviser
• Learning support teacher
• Student adviser
• Education adviser
• Schools policy adviser
• Vocational education and training instructor
• Private tutor
• Schools engagement coordinator

Admission Requirements

Admission to this course is based on an entrance rank assessed based on the following criteria:

• Year 12 ATAR
• Other Australian Qualification
• Work experience
• Overseas qualification

Additional Admission Requirements

All applicants will be required to complete a written statement in response to questions designed to assess their suitability for the teaching profession. Applicants' responses to these questions must be deemed satisfactory for them to be admitted to this course.

Assumed Knowledge

None.

Periods Course is Open for New Admissions

The course is open for new admissions in the following periods:

• Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Domestic | International
• 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 16 February 2026 | |
• 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 10 August 2026 | |
• 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 15 February 2027 | |
• 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 2 | 09 August 2027 | |

Credit Arrangements

There are currently no formal credit transfer arrangements for entry to this course. Any previous study or work experience will only be considered as part of the application process in accordance with current course rules and university policy.

Course Requirements

The Bachelor of Secondary Education (Arts) requires the completion of 96 credit points. The course consists of:

• Restricted Choice - 48 credit points as follows
  • Teaching Secondary Disciplines Methods Units - Must pass 12 credit points from the following
    • Teaching Secondary Creative and Performing Arts UG (12038) | 6 credit points — Level 3
    • Teaching Secondary English UG (12039) | 6 credit points — Level 3
    • Teaching Secondary Humanities and Social Sciences UG (12040) | 6 credit points — Level 3
    • Teaching Secondary Languages UG (12041) | 6 credit points — Level 3
    • Teaching Secondary Technologies UG (12043) | 6 credit points — Level 3
    • School Placement UG (12045) | 0 credit points — Level 3
• Arts - 36 credit points as follows
  • Teaching areas are defined by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Subject Content Requirements.
  • Each elective discipline major unit set is worth 18 credit points, unless otherwise specified.
  • Requirements of different teaching areas/majors may vary, eg. some may not allow ANY introductory-level units - please refer to the NESA Subject Content Requirement or check with the Faculty.

Majors

The course offers the following majors:

• Major in Indigenous Studies (MJ0311)
• Major in Secondary Graphics and Multi-Media Technology Teaching (MJ0306)
• Major in Secondary Society and Culture Teaching (MJ0308)
• Major in Secondary English Teaching (MJ0305)
• Major in Secondary Educational Studies (MJ0281)
• Major in Teaching Secondary Economics (MJ0310)
• Major in Secondary Industrial Technology (Construction) Teaching (MJ0307)
• Major in Teaching Secondary Business Studies (MJ0309)
• Breadth Major in Legal Studies for Education (BM0036)

Awards

The official abbreviation for this award is BSecEd (Arts).

Honours

None.

Course Duration

The standard duration of this course is 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent. The maximum duration is 10 years from the date of enrolment to the date of course completion.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

• Develop and implement effective assessment strategies and carry out evaluation of teaching programs, resources, and their own teaching.
• Apply the requisite content knowledge for their selected Arts discipline Secondary School Curriculum areas to teaching, assessment, and reporting methods, alternate/enhanced literacy and numeracy strategies, and the effective use of ICT in teaching and learning.
• Demonstrate specialised knowledge and skills in two disciplines of Arts in order to enhance the teaching and learning in these areas across the range of classes and year groups within a Secondary School environment.
• Plan and develop appropriate and engaging teaching activities for secondary school students from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Demonstrate knowledge of theories and principles that are the foundation for educational issues and practice in Secondary settings.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the theoretical frameworks that underpin a comprehensive understanding of secondary school learners.
• Reflect effectively on their practice and on their experiences within their profession and use that reflection to engage in a process of continual improvement.
• Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers, and the community, including through professional learning.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of student needs and differences and the relevance of these to learning in inclusive, indigenous, EALD, and mainstream settings within secondary schools.
• Demonstrate that they possess the appropriate scientific, literacy, and numeracy knowledge to properly inform their teaching, communication, and administrative responsibilities.
• Demonstrate specialised knowledge and skills in the Arts areas.

Placements Requirements

All students enrolled in programs of initial teacher education are required to complete the statutory checks for working in the school environment that exist in any state or territory where they undertake school-based activity. Please note that all students commencing or continuing an initial teacher education course are required to successfully complete both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Education Students (LANTITE) during their degree. More information about the LANTITE can be found at: All students enrolled in an initial teacher education course are also required to successfully complete all components of a Teacher Performance Assessment (TPA) tool integrated into final-level school-based placements and associated units of study.