Program Overview

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Bachelor of Secondary Education (Science)

The Bachelor of Secondary Education (Science) is a four-year specialist degree designed for individuals who are passionate about science and wish to share this passion with young people aged 12 to 18. Students will select two disciplines from a range of scientific streams, including biology, chemistry, ecology, and mathematics, and learn how to align their specializations with core teaching principles and program design that celebrates integration, diversity, and inclusion.

About this Course

This course is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become effective secondary school science teachers. Through a combination of theoretical and practical learning, students will explore their scientific disciplines in a secondary school environment, gaining a deep understanding of how a secondary school operates. Graduates will be energized, motivated, and enthusiastic, with all the necessary knowledge and skills required to pass on their passion for science to students across Years 7 to 12.

Course Objectives

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

• Demonstrate specialized knowledge and skills in two science disciplines, across a range of classes and year groups, within a secondary school environment.
• Learn the theories and principles that are the foundation for educational practice in secondary settings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of student needs and differences, and develop teaching activities for a range of indigenous, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD), and mainstream settings.
• Develop and implement effective assessment strategies and carry out evaluation of teaching programs, resources, and their own teaching.
• Apply the required content knowledge for all secondary school curriculum areas to teaching and reporting methods, alternate/enhanced literacy and numeracy strategies, and the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in teaching and learning.

Work Integrated Learning

A teaching degree, by its very nature, is the embodiment of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), with its focus on compulsory professional teaching practice. During this course, students will undertake a minimum of 80 days of practical placement across a range of different secondary school levels and settings, including science-specific positions, culminating in a 30-day teaching placement in their final year.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Secondary Education (Science) may pursue a range of career opportunities, including:

• Secondary school teacher
• Science teacher
• Chemistry teacher
• Biology teacher
• Earth and Environmental Science teacher
• Physics teacher
• Maths 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

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.

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Secondary Education (Science) is a four-year full-time or part-time equivalent course. The course consists of 96 credit points, with 48 credit points of required units and 48 credit points of restricted choice units.

Majors

The course offers a range of majors, including:

• Major in Secondary Graphics and Multi-Media Technology Teaching (MJ0306)
• Major in Secondary Educational Studies (MJ0281)
• Breadth Major in Biology for Secondary Teaching (BM0049)
• Major in Design and Technology Teaching (MJ0199)
• Major in Secondary Graphics and Multi-Media Technology Teaching (MJ0306)
• Major in Food Technology Teaching (Restricted) (MJ0203)
• Breadth Major in Information Processes and Technology for Secondary Teaching (BM0053)
• Breadth Major in Earth & Environmental Science for Secondary Teaching (BM0050)
• Breadth Major in Software Design and Development for Secondary Teaching (BM0052)
• Breadth Major in Mathematics for Secondary Teaching (BM0054)
• Breadth Major in Chemistry for Secondary Teaching (BM0048)
• Major in Secondary Industrial Technology (Construction) Teaching (MJ0307)

Awards

The official abbreviation for this course is BSecEd (Sc).

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate a range of learning outcomes, including:

• Demonstrate that they possess the appropriate scientific, literacy, and numeracy knowledge to properly inform their teaching, communication, and administrative responsibilities.
• 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 knowledge of theories and principles that are the foundation for educational issues and practice in secondary settings.
• Plan and develop appropriate and engaging teaching activities for secondary school students from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• 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 science 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.

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: [insert link]. 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.