Bachelor of Secondary Education

School of Education

The Bachelor of Secondary Education is a contemporary degree which combines a strong theoretical framework with approximately 27 weeks of practical teaching experience in the classroom. In addition, you have the freedom to choose two teaching areas that you wish to be accredited to teach in Years 7 to 12.

• Why study this degree?

  On top of equipping you to teach in secondary schools across NSW, this four-year degree offers the chance to develop an expertise in subjects such as English, mathematics, history, drama, business studies (including commerce, economics and legal studies), and religious studies (including Catholic Religious Education and Studies of Religion).

  Fully accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), your Bachelor of Secondary Education will provide you with the opportunity to teach at government, independent and Catholic high schools from years 7-12 throughout Australia and in many other parts of the world.

  Should you wish to pursue further studies, you can enrol in a number of our postgraduate programs, such the Graduate Certificate in Education (Special Needs), Master of Education (Special Needs) and the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education. The Masters of Philosophy (Education) and Doctor of Education degrees, meanwhile, combine coursework with an independent research project.

  Please note: Initial Teacher Education students must have achieved a standard of three Band 5 HSC results on admission, or must alternatively be admitted and successfully pass eight discipline (non-ITE) courses in their first full-time year of university study to be eligible to enrol in curriculum and pedagogy courses or undertake supervised professional experience. All teacher Education students in NSW are required to enrol, pay and sit the national Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) and demonstrate the required minimum level of personal literacy and numeracy prior to their final professional experience. Students are encouraged to sit the test early in their degree.

• Program summary

  Year One

  • Learning and Development
  • Academic Skills and Digital Literacy
  • Literacy, Numeracy and ICT
  • 2 courses in your First Teaching Area
  • 2 courses in your Second Teaching Area

  Year Two

  • Foundational Principles of Teaching
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student: Culturally Responsive Connections
  • Teaching Method 1A (First Teaching Area)
  • Teaching Method 1B (Second Teaching Area)
  • 2 courses in your First Teaching Area
  • 1 course in your Second Teaching Area
  • Professional Experience 1: Secondary

  Year Three

  • Inclusive Education
  • Teaching Method 2A
  • Teaching Method 2B
  • 2 course in your First Teaching Area
  • 1 course in your Second Teaching Area
  • Professional Experience 2: Secondary

  Year Four

  • Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
  • Professional Engagement
  • Professional Experience 3: Secondary Internship
  • 4 electives

  Teaching  areas

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • History –  Modern or Ancient
  • Drama  (Theatre Studies)
  • Business  Studies
  • Studies of Religion
  • Economics
  • Legal Studies

  Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements NSW

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below.  In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency.  We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program.  See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Prescribed ATAR/Selection Rank*

  OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of 2 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  *Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 150 in the Multiple Choice section and 150 in the Written English section^.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Secondary Education graduates will be able to:

  1. Apply evidence-based learning and teaching approaches that demonstrate expert judgement in being inclusive of all learners
  2. Synthesise relevant curriculum to design and implement pedagogy that responds to a diverse range of learners
  3. Apply advanced literacy and numeracy knowledge and skills across all curricular areas
  4. Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of scholarly practice to extend professional understanding through inquiry and research
  5. Establish dispositions of critical reflection to continually improve the teaching and learning cycle
  6. Integrate creative, effective and contemporary information and communication technologies to enhance learning
  7. Interpret student data to design and implement authentic assessment to report on and improve student learning
  8. Articulate professional values and ethical standards that demonstrate a commitment to secure socially just and sustainable futures for learners; and
  9. Engage appropriately and effectively with parents and caregivers and other educational stakeholders to inform responses to education priorities.

• Practical component

  Students are required to complete approximately 27 weeks of professional experience as indicated in the Bachelor of Secondary Education Award Requirements. To be able to undertake Professional Experience all students must complete a Working with Children Check, Anaphylaxis e-training, Child Protection Awareness Training and sign the DoE Consent Form. Please visit this page for further details.

• Career opportunities

  The following careers are open to graduates of this program:

  • Catholic schools
  • Government schools
  • Independent schools

• Real world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Professional accreditation

  This degree is fully accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

• Study abroad

  A global perspective adds a valuable dimension to your university education. At Notre Dame University you can study while experiencing the world. We encourage students to become active global citizens through a range of exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit International Opportunities to find out more.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  
  

  CSP
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at university where the government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  • The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.
  • The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  
  

  HECS-HELP
  The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  
  

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees Page.

• Student profile data

  The tables below give an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this Program. It provides data on all students who commenced in this Program in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  TABLE 1a – Bachelor of Secondary Education BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	<5	N/P
  (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study	<5	N/P
  (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)	<5	N/P
  (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	N/A	N/A
  Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	<5	N/P
  Admitted   on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks &   recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)	25	71%
  International students	N/A	N/A
  All students	35	100.0%

  TABLE 1b – Bachelor of Secondary Education ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2021 INTAKE

  RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors) *	Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]
  Highest rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A
  Median rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A
  Lowest rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A

  Notes:  

  “<5” – the number of students is less than 5
  N/A – Students not accepted in this category
  N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent the calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

• More information

  Considering your uni options?

  Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.

  
  

  For more information, please call our Prospective Students Office on +61 2 8204 4404 or email sydney@nd.edu.au.

  
  

  All international enquiries should contact the International Students Office on international@nd.edu.au.