The Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Arts may be taken as a double degree program in four years full-time (or the equivalent part-time). Students who study part-time would normally be expected to complete the double degree program within eight years. The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law.

The double degree program of Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Arts requires completion of a total of 144 units.

A Lutheran pathway is available for students wishing to teach in that system.

Students who commence, but subsequently do not wish to complete, either the full double degree program or the professional experience component of the double degree program may be eligible to:

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The course aims to produce graduates who:

  • are prepared to participate in a world that requires high levels of scientific, mathematical and technological literacy
  • can teach within and across learning areas
  • have developed studies in depth in two or three specific school curriculum learning areas relevant to teaching at secondary school level
  • are able to apply their knowledge and skills in a range of educational settings with diverse groups of students
  • have the capacity to undertake ongoing professional study through a variety of pathways.

Learning outcomes

In undertaking this double degree students will be able to:

  • demonstrate a commitment to working ethically and collectively with colleagues to achieve high quality, equitable outcomes for young people and the wider community
  • appreciate that teaching is a collaborative activity conducted within a professional community
  • recognise the ways that education can respond to the demands made by a complex and ever-changing world
  • understand that their work as teachers is moderated by policy frameworks and legal requirements
  • articulate an understanding of young peoples' development, and individual, social and cultural differences
  • form mutually respectful relationships with young people that support their intellectual, ethical and social growth
  • engage young people in informed decision-making with regard to their curriculum and learning environments
  • utilise teaching strategies that will foster in young people deep understanding, a capacity for independent inquiry, and learning in cooperation with others
  • apply the history, content and principles of their subject specialisations to construct academically rigorous, developmentally appropriate and socially equitable curriculum
  • work both independently and collaboratively with young people, colleagues and communities to construct curriculum that spans disciplinary boundaries and focus on real-world applications
  • develop authentic means for assessing learning and to inform their teaching and young people's learning
  • be familiar with theories, factual content and research procedures in their major field of study
  • be able to analyse and critically evaluate ideas and solve problems.

Strands

Two Senior Years Teaching Areas

This strand in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Arts focuses on teaching students who are in secondary years. During their secondary years young people develop their plans for post-secondary education and work. As secondary teachers, graduates of this four-year pre-service qualification will play a key role in developing the knowledge, skills and resources that young people need to meet their goals.

This strand allows pre-service teachers to pursue a teaching specialisation in more depth and deepen their understanding in topics and issues of personal interest.  Graduates from this strand will be qualified to teach in at least two different school curriculum areas at secondary school level. The school curriculum subjects that are offered in the strand are:

English, Drama, Visual Art, Health Education, Information Technology, Junior Science, Biology, Earth Science, Mathematics, Languages other than English, Geography, History, Legal Studies, Society and Culture, Psychology and Business Education.

One Senior Teaching Area and Two Junior Secondary Teaching Areas

Alternatively, the double degree Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Arts can effectively develop the specialist knowledge and skills required for teachers to teach the senior years area to Year 12 and two areas to Year 10.

As part of the double degree program teacher education students will focus on preparing to teach in three different learning areas selected from the following:

Humanities and Social Sciences, Information and Design Technology, Drama, English, Visual Art, Science, Mathematics, Languages other than English, and Health Education. 

Credit

Limited credit may be granted for recognition of prior studies undertaken at the University or other approved tertiary institutions. Further information is available on this page.

Program of study

BEd(Sec)BA Secondary Two Senior Teaching Areas

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Arts, a student must:

  • complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, consisting of 72 units in the Bachelor of Education component and 72 units in the Bachelor of Arts component, according to the program of study below; and
  • meet the required benchmark in the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). Students must normally meet the benchmark within three attempts and before 72 units of study have been attempted. The Faculty Board may, under exceptional circumstances and subject to specific conditions, permit further attempts of the LANTITE after 72 units of study have been attempted.

A student whose Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 5.00 after attempting the first 72 units of study (excluding topics for which a Withdraw, Not Fail (WN) has been recorded) will normally be required to enter into a counselling process with the Faculty to demonstrate their capacity to achieve the range of attributes and motivations that have been determined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as being common to effective teachers. As part of this process students who are unable to satisfactorily demonstrate their capacity to achieve the range of attributes and motivations before graduation will be supported through a range of options appropriate to their circumstances.

The Bachelor of Education component must include:

  • 9 units of Education topics at First Year level
  • 9 units of Education topics at Second Year level
  • 27 units of Education topics at Third Year level including professional experience
  • 27 units of Education topics at Fourth Year level including professional experience.

The Bachelor of Arts component must include:

  • 36 units of one Arts major sequence appropriate for teaching in the secondary years and selected from the relevant and available majors as listed in the BA Course Rule and
  • 27 units of Teaching Major and 9 units of Arts electives*

Teaching Major

Students undertake a sequence of 6 topics appropriate for teaching in the secondary years and selected from the relevant and available majors as listed in the BA Course Rule. The Teaching Major will consist of

  • 9 units of Year 1 topics;
  • 9 units of Year 2 topics; and
  • 9 units of Year 2 or Year 3 topics.

*BA electives can be selected from any of the BA majors/minors at any level provided the entry requirements are met.

Except with the permission of the Board:

  • no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice
  • professional experience topics may not be attempted more than once.

Students should note that teaching practicum topics require full-time commitment for their duration.

LIST OF TOPICS

The BA major and electives may be chosen from topics and topic sequences listed in the BA handbook. The minor strand of studies will be chosen from the BA handbook but choice of topics will be guided according to the course rules for this double degree.

Core - Year 1 topics

9 units comprising:

 EDUC1120  Teaching and Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1223  Middle Schooling Philosophy and Pedagogy  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1227  Professional Experience: Year 1 (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

choose 9 units of BA Major topics
choose 9 units of Teaching Major topics

Elective - Year 1 topics

choose 9 units of BA Elective topics

Core - Year 2 topics

9 units comprising:

 EDUC2320  Learners and their Development - Middle and Secondary Schooling  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2326  Professional Experience: Year 2A (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)
 EDUC2420  Teaching Indigenous Australian Students  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2426  Professional Experience: Year 2B (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)

Option - Year 2 topics

choose 18 units of BA Major topics
choose 9 units of Teaching Major topic

Core - Year 3 topics

18 units comprising:

 EDUC3526  Literacies Across the Curriculum in the Middle and Secondary Years  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3530  Professional Experience: Year 3A (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)
 EDUC3620  Relationships for Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3628  Numeracy and ICT Across the Middle and Secondary Curriculum  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3642  Professional Experience: Year 3B (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)

Option Curriculum Specialisation - Year 3 topics

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years from

EDUC3531A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531B  English Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531D  HASS Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531F  Mathematics Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531H  Science Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years from

EDUC3643A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643B  English Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643D  HASS Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643F  Mathematics Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643H  Science Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643J  General Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 3 topics

choose 4.5 units of BA Major topics AND
choose 4.5 units of Teaching Major topics  

Core - Year 4 topics

18 units comprising

 EDUC3627  Contemporary Issues in Secondary Schooling  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4720  Differentiation for Diverse Learners (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4742  Professional Experience: Final Assessment for Registration (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4820  The Professional Educator  (4.5 units)

Option Curriculum Specialisation - Year 4 topics

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1 from:

 EDUC4729A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729B  English Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729K  Mathematics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729L  History Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729M  Biological Sciences Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729N  Psychology Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729O  Geography, Legal Studies, Business Studies Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729P  Information Technology Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2 from:

 EDUC4730A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730B  English Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730H  Advanced Science Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730K  Mathematics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730L  History Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730M  Biological Sciences Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730N  Psychology Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730O  Geography, Legal Studies, Business Studies Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4730P  Information Technology Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 2  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 4 topics

choose 4.5 units of BA Major topics
choose 4.5 units of Teaching Major topics

BEd(Sec)BA One Senior Teaching Area and Two Junior Secondary Teaching Areas

To qualify for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), Bachelor of Arts, a student must:

  • complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, consisting of 72 units in the Bachelor of Education component and 72 units in the Bachelor of Arts component, according to the program of study below; and
  • meet the required benchmark in the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE). Students must normally meet the benchmark within three attempts and before 72 units of study have been attempted. The Faculty Board may, under exceptional circumstances and subject to specific conditions, permit further attempts of the LANTITE after 72 units of study have been attempted.

A student whose Grade Point Average (GPA) falls below 5.00 after attempting the first 72 units of study (excluding topics for which a Withdraw, Not Fail (WN) has been recorded) will normally be required to enter into a counselling process with the Faculty to demonstrate their capacity to achieve the range of attributes and motivations that have been determined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as being common to effective teachers. As part of this process students who are unable to satisfactorily demonstrate their capacity to achieve the range of attributes and motivations before graduation will be supported through a range of options appropriate to their circumstances.

The Bachelor of Education component must include:

  • 9 units of Education topics at First Year level
  • 9 units of Education topics at Second Year level including professional experience
  • 27 units of Education topics at Third Year level including professional experience
  • 27 units of Education topics at Fourth Year level including professional experience.

The Bachelor of Arts component must include:

  • 36 units of one Arts major sequence appropriate for teaching in the secondary years and selected from the relevant and available majors as listed in the BA Course Rule and
  • Teaching Minor 1 plus a Teaching Minor 2.

Teaching Minor 1

Students undertake 22.5 units comprising:

  • 18 units of a minor appropriate for teaching in the secondary years and selected from the relevant and available majors as listed in the BA Course Rule and comprising:

                 9 units of Year 1 topics; and
                 9 units of Year 2 topics.

  • plus EDUC3531 Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years (4.5 units)

Teaching Minor 2

Students undertake an 18 unit minor appropriate for teaching in the secondary years and selected from the relevant and available majors as listed in the BA Course Rule and comprising:

  • 9 units of Year 1 topics; and
  • 9 units of Year 2 topics.

Except with the permission of the Board:

  • no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice
  • professional experience topics may not be attempted more than once.

Students should note that professional experience topics require full-time commitment for their duration.

LIST OF TOPICS

The BA major and electives may be chosen from topics and topic sequences listed in the BA handbook. The minor strand of studies will be chosen from the BA handbook but choice of topics will be guided according to the course rules for this double degree.

Core - Year 1 topics

9 units comprising:

 EDUC1120  Teaching and Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1223  Middle Schooling Philosophy and Pedagogy  (4.5 units)
 EDUC1227  Professional Experience: Year 1 (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

choose 9 units of BA Major topics
choose 9 units of Teaching Minor 1 topics
choose 9 units of Teaching Minor 2 topics

Core - Year 2 topics

9 units comprising:

 EDUC2320  Learners and their Development - Middle and Secondary Schooling  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2326  Professional Experience: Year 2A (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)
 EDUC2420  Teaching Indigenous Australian Students  (4.5 units)
 EDUC2426  Professional Experience: Year 2B (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)

Option - Year 2 topics

choose 18 units of BA Major topics
choose 9 units of Teaching Minor 1 topics

Core - Year 3 topics

18 units comprising:

 EDUC3526  Literacies Across the Curriculum in the Middle and Secondary Years  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3530  Professional Experience: Year 3A (Middle and Secondary Schooling) (0 units)
 EDUC3620  Relationships for Learning  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3628  Numeracy and ICT Across the Middle and Secondary Curriculum  (4.5 units)
 EDUC3642  Professional Experience: Year 3B (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)

Option Curriculum Specialisation - Year 3 topics

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years from

EDUC3531A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531B  English Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531D  HASS Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531F  Mathematics Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531H  Science Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3531I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation A1: Curriculum Development in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years from

EDUC3643A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643B  English Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643D  HASS Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643F  Mathematics Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643H  Science Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)
EDUC3643J  General Curriculum Specialisation B1: Developing Curriculum in Context in the Middle Years  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 3 topics

choose 4.5 units of BA Major topics      
choose 4.5 units of Teaching Minor 2 topics  

Core - Year 4 topics

18 units comprising:

 EDUC3626  Contemporary Issues in Middle Schooling  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4720  Differentiation for Diverse Learners (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4742  Professional Experience: Final Assessment for Registration (Middle and Secondary Schooling)  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4820  The Professional Educator  (4.5 units)

Option Curriculum Specialisation - Year 4 topics

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3 from:

EDUC4728A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728B  English Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728D  HASS Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728F  Mathematics Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728H  Science Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)
EDUC4728I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation: Middle Years 3  (4.5 units)

choose 4.5 units of Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1 from:

 EDUC4729A  Drama Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729B  English Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729C  Health Education Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729E  Languages Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729I  Visual Arts Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729K  Mathematics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729L  History Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729M  Biological Sciences Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729N  Psychology Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729O  Geography, Legal Studies, Business Studies Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC4729P  Information Technology Curriculum Specialisation: Senior Years 1  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 4 topics

choose 4.5 units of  BA Major topics
choose 4.5 units of Teaching Minor 2 topics

The recommended Bachelor of Arts majors or minors are:

* Senior Teaching Areas only

** Students can choose either English or Creative Writing but not both together

# Chinese, German and Japanese are available cross-institutionally at the University of Adelaide. Please refer to http://hss.adelaide.edu.au/current-students/undergrad/majorsminors/