You are here: Home / Future students / Course search / Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts

The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.

The Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts allows you to choose a teaching specialisation and major from a wide selection of humanities and social science subject areas. In addition to units of study from the Faculty of Arts in your first (major) and second teaching areas, you will take core foundation and curriculum and professional studies units of study.

Majors

Units of study

Full units of study list

Further course information

Study plan

Students complete 240 credit points comprising 132 credit points in Education studies and 108 credit points taken primarily from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Some units can also be taken from Sydney Business School or the Faculty of Science depending on the subjects chosen. Students will qualify to teach two HSC subject areas offered by the Faculty of Education and Social Work. The majority of units completed for the Bachelor of Arts requirements directly relate to the teaching areas chosen but there is some opportunity for students to take elective units of study outside the chosen teaching areas. For further information regarding the course structure, please visit the Faculty of Education and Social Work website (http://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/future_students/undergraduate/bed_sec_hss/course_structure.shtml)

Progression rules

Under normal progression, a student shall undertake and successfully complete all units of study to the value of 24 credit points per semester as prescribed for the course. Students are required to attend all lectures, tutorials and other activities prescribed for their units of study. Except with the permission of the Dean, a candidate must complete all unit of study requirements specified for each year, including professional experience units, before proceeding to the next year.

What is a major?

All students must complete at least one major for the requirements of their Bachelor of Arts degree. This major must be in an area offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and relate directly to the first teaching area. A major is usually a three-year defined sequence of study, generally comprising specified units of study in a particular subject area. Majors are included on students' testamurs. In most cases, a major consists of at least 36 credit points in senior (2000/3000-level) units of study from a single subject area of study which relates to the first teaching area. The exact requirements for majors may differ between subject areas. Most majors require the completion of at least two junior (1000-level) prerequisite units of study (6 credit points each). These junior units may be prerequisites for the major itself and/or for senior units within the major's subject area. Junior units may be used as prerequisites for majors or senior elective units in more than one subject area. Students may obtain a second major and this must relate to their second teaching area.

What is an elective?

Students may enrol in up to 24 senior (2000/3000 level) credit points of study in areas of study unrelated to their teaching areas. These elective units are chosen from units prescribed in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences tables of units of study and are undertaken to meet the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts award.

Course opportunities

The Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts combined course includes significant professional experience placements in schools. The placements begin in the third year of the course and the amount of responsibility and duration of the placements progressively increases until the final placement in which students are competent to teach under minimal supervision.

Course outcomes and further study

Graduate opportunities

The Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education: Humanities and Social Sciences) and Bachelor of Arts combined award provides a qualification to teach in secondary schools as well as pursue career opportunities in curriculum consultancy, educational research, corporate training and human resource management.

Course accreditation

Sydney undergraduate Education courses are accredited by the New South Wales Institute of Teachers.

Further study

Eligible candidates may apply for admission to a rich postgraduate program with the Faculty of Education and Social Work comprising advanced learning and professional courses. Master's degrees include capstone independent research projects, supervised by experts in the field of study, which prepare students for higher degrees by research.

About honours

Honours is available to meritorious students, in either Education or Bachelor of Arts. Honours in Education requires the completion of an alternative 12 credit-point honours pathway described in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) Table of units. Completion of the degree is required in the minimum standard full-time duration.

Admission

Admission requirements

Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for domestic mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking.

Assumed knowledge

Teacher education students seeking employment as secondary teachers in NSW schools must have achieved a Higher School Certificate minimum Band 4 in English (Advanced), English (Standard) or English as a Second Language.

How to apply

Domestic students

How to apply

Applications for the University's undergraduate courses are made though the Universities Admission Centre (UAC). On-time applications for the March Semester close on the last working day of September.

International students

How to apply

Overseas applicants may apply (i) directly to the University's International Office, (ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent), or (iii) through the Universities Admissions Centre, for students applying on the basis of a current Australian Year 12 secondary school examination, or studying either an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.

Fee disclaimer

Domestic students

Indicative Undergraduate Student Contribution Amount

This student contribution amount for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact student contribution that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol. If you are a Commonwealth supported student and was enrolled in a University course before 1 January 2011 your student contribution may differ.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total student contribution, please refer to the University's Future Student's online webpages at http://sydney.edu.au/future_students/domestic_undergraduate/costs/calculating_costs.shtml

Annual review

Importantly, student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study (subject to a Commonwealth specified cap), effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Student's online webpage at http://sydney.edu.au/future_students

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

International students

Indicative international tuition fees for undergraduate students

This international tuition fee is an indication only of the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The exact tuition fees that you pay will depend on the specific units of study in which you ultimately enrol.

For further information about how to calculate your specific total tuition fees, please refer to the University's webpage at http://sydney.edu.au/future_students/international_undergraduate/costs_scholarships/index.shtml

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Student's online webpage at http://sydney.edu.au/future_students/international_undergraduate

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.