Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours)

The Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) is a four-year professional teaching degree that will equip you with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to thrive as a contemporary educator in secondary school settings.

As well as real-world experience, you will be given the opportunity to fine-tune your learning as you focus on two subject areas (Learning Areas) aligned with the Australian Curriculum.

Your selected major and sub-major will enable you to teach in both of these subject areas up to year 12.

Subject (Learning Areas) areas are:

Arts - Visual Arts, or Drama and Creative Arts English* Humanities and Social Sciences - Geography and History Languages* - French, Italian, Japanese, or Languages Education (for proficient speakers only) Mathematics* Science* - Physics, Chemistry, or Biology Technologies - Design and Technology, Food and Textile Technologies, or Digital Technologies (sub-major only) Catholic Studies (sub-major only).

Note:

You can choose to complete a major and sub-major in the one Learning Area e.g.

major Physics and sub-major Chemistry.

You can also select from a range of elective subjects including:

Teaching Children with Disabilities Teaching in Regional and Rural Communities The Educator as Counsellor Peers, Relationships and Health Teaching Linguistically Diverse Learners This degree is based at the Mawson Lakes campus.

Depending on your selected subject areas (Learning Areas), you may also study at the Magill, City West or City East campuses.

*Please note the following:

SACE Stage 2 Physics is Assumed Knowledge for the Major in Physics;

SACE Stage 2 Chemistry is Assumed Knowledge for the Major in Chemistry;

SACE Stage 2 Mathematical Methods is Assumed Knowledge for the Major in Mathematics;

SACE Stage 2 Language is Assumed Knowledge for the Major in Languages;

and SACE Stage 2 English or SACE Stage 2 English Literary Studies is Assumed Knowledge for the Major in English.

Students are assumed to have studied the above prior to enrolling into the program and selecting one or more of the relevant Learning Areas.

Assumed Knowledge is an advantage but not essential for entry into a program.

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission: Recent secondary education Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent AND

• Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
• Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
• Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
• Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

Recent secondary education ATAR profile

OR Higher education study

• Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
• Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
• OR
• Vocational Education and Training (VET)

• Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma or above
• OR
• Work and life experience
• Qualify for Special Entry, or
• Complete a UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
• Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past

Essential requirements for admission

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Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge

Deferment

This degree is available for deferment. This option is made available by responding to your offer during the application process via the SATAC website. Applicants who receive an offer into a midyear degree are eligible to defer for six months.

You will learn the skills and develop the knowledge to teach adolescent students from years 7-12 in the major and sub-major subjects of your choice. You will have the opportunity to develop a broad and coherent body of knowledge through the following three components of the program:

• curriculum studies includes courses that introduce and consolidate the specific teaching content of your major and sub-major learning areas
• professional experience courses are our placement courses, which allow you to develop and practice your professional knowledge and skills in secondary classroom settings
• education studies includes courses that explore more broadly what it means to be an educator of adolescent students

Your studies will culminate in an honours project, where you will be able to reflect on your developing professional understanding and practice as a new teacher. This reflection will be an invaluable resource to support continuous improvement in your teaching.

You will also be expected to participate in professional experience in secondary school settings. Placements are taken on a continuous full-time basis at designated times during the year, as organised by the University in partnership with the schooling sectors.

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. Australian and international students may have the option to do an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas. We have links with universities worldwide. You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Practical workplace learning is a major focus of this degree, as we want to ensure you’re prepared with the skills and experience to be an effective educator. Throughout your degree, you will complete 100 days of field-based placements in secondary school settings and can be involved in community and industry experiences. A range of practical experiences will equip you with the skills and confidence needed after graduation and will also help to build community and industry networks and relationships.

UniSA offers an extensive range of career-related events and workshops online, on campus and around Adelaide to develop your skills and increase your knowledge.

Your career

The Honours program will equip you with an additional qualification and specialised skills which will enhance your employment prospects if you choose to continue into teaching. The demand for teachers is high1 and UniSA education degrees are ranked number one in South Australia for graduate employment2. Careers to consider:

• Secondary school teacher
• Senior coordinator
• Education consultant
• Youth support officer
• Education policy adviser
• Researcher

1 Australian Governments Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015 2 QILT: Graduate Outcomes Survey Course Experience Questionnaire 2016-18 – Full-time and Overall Employment Indicators (Undergraduate). Public SA-founded universities only.

You may also choose to continue onto further research with a PhD, Masters of Education or Education Doctorate*.

Note: Graduates can apply for teacher registration in South Australia, interstate and some overseas countries. Applicants should note that there are other criteria determining eligibility for registration by the Teachers Registration Board of South Australia and other registration and regulatory authorities.

*A class 2A Honours grade or higher is required.

Applying to study with us:

• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application
• address the non-academic entry requirements

-----Additional entry requirements-----

In accordance with national teacher education program standards, please note that as part of your SATAC application, you are also required to meet non-academic entry requirements.

All applicants will be required to submit a 400-word Teaching Capabilities Statement with their SATAC application, about their motivation to teach, addressing the topic, ‘Why I want to be a teacher and my understanding of the role’. The Education Statement should include a list of relevant community service, volunteer or professional experiences and significant awards. Complete information on content, format and submission is available here.

*Please note that these subject areas require you to have completed the following prerequisites: SACE Stage 2 Physics is assumed knowledge for the Major in Physics; SACE Stage 2 Chemistry is assumed knowledge for the Major in Chemistry; SACE Stage 2 Mathematical Methods is assumed knowledge for the Major in Mathematics; SACE Stage 2 Language for the Major in Languages; and SACE Stage 2 English or SACE Stage 2 English Literary Studies for the Major in English.

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments. But you’ll also discover that your journey at UniSA is about social experiences, healthy living and getting involved. You’ll find student sports and fitness facilities, community clinics, tech zones and chill-out spaces. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and loads more.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Our student support services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help, we're here to assist. We provide a full range of support services, including:

• academic counselling
• personal counselling
• social support services, including family support and nearby childcare

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.