Fast Facts
Location
Commencing
- Townsville: February, July
- Cairns: February, July
Fees
$7,235.00+
+estimated annual Commonwealth Supported Fee
Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
Duration
4 years full-time
or part-time equivalent
Entry Requirements
OP 14
English (4,SA), Mathematics A, B or C (4,SA)
ATAR 66.45
English (Units 3/4,C), General Maths or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Maths (Units 3/4,C)
Rank 70
QTAC Codes
- 313111
- 323111
Course detail
Gain a full understanding of intercultural and ethical approaches to professional practice. Base your teaching on current research and policy that addresses social justice, diversity, and sustainability.
Take part in placements in practical settings from your very first year of study, and experience teaching in metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Make a positive difference in the lives of young people and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Additional information
About JCU's Bachelor of Secondary Education
Develop young minds and build leaders of the future with a high school teaching degree. Teaching is a rewarding career path allowing you to contribute to shaping the minds of future generations. James Cook University’s Bachelor of Education (Secondary) graduates experience exceptional employment outcomes* teaching in Australia and around the globe.
A High School Teaching Degree with Holistic Focus
Your educational journey at JCU prepares you for your career goals and more. As you achieve your high school teaching degree, you will learn far more than just the fundamentals of education. Your secondary teaching courses give you a strong foundation in how education intersects with sustainability, diversity, and issues of social justice.
You care about developing society's intercultural understanding. You know that ethics will be important to you as a professional and a value you want to pass onto your future students. Gain the skills and knowledge to understand the learning strategies of pedagogy, create lessons plans and successfully manage a classroom with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from JCU.
Like a Bachelor of Secondary Education, this degree prepares you to apply your skills in high-school classrooms across Australia or internationally. Gain work experience in rural and remote environments and learn to tackle the challenges these areas present.
An Inclusive Environment
Like a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), this degree provides you with a supportive foundation to fuel your passion to teach the next generation. Begin your career with the knowledge to succeed and the skills to create a positive learning environment for students from a variety of backgrounds.
Develop specialised skills as you work with secondary school students from urban, rural and remote communities. Understand intercultural and ethical approaches to working with Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and create a beneficial learning environment for all students.
Learning is a lifelong process and curriculums need to be forward thinking. Build the skills to develop educational material that meets the learning objectives of new curriculums. Gain these necessary practical experiences with your secondary education degree from JCU.
Secondary Teaching Courses with Comprehensive Support
Inspire your students as they grow and learn from your teachings. Experience the support you need to learn how to teach and manage a classroom through your secondary pre-service teacher education courses from JCU. You will learn from lecturers who are committed to student success, they will help you integrate pedagogical and technical knowledge with critical reflection and real-world skills.
You can also take advantage of JCU’s Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), one of our most popular resources. These sessions enable students from the same course to revise difficult material, consider different perspectives and discuss ideas together to gain a deeper understanding. Students who consistently attend PASS achieve higher marks and are more likely to pass assessments and classes.
Benefit from JCU's network of professional connections and interact with other professionals in your field. You will have a chance to watch experts modelling effective communication and the integration of theory and practice.
JCU's Secondary Education Degree Can Lead To A Fulfilling Career
A degree and a job are important, but a fulfilling career that satisfies your passions will equip you to make a positive difference. Like a Bachelor of Secondary Education, you can specialise in the subjects you are most interested in.
You will choose two teaching areas to specialise in during your studies. Complement your teaching skills and choose from languages, science, mathematics, history, health, law, or business. You can choose two complementary areas of focus or pursue diverse interests for a well-rounded skillset.
A Secondary Education Degree Will Open Futures
You will decide the course of your own future and your education at JCU will give you many options. With your Bachelor of Education (Secondary), you will be in high demand. Your specialist skills will make you ready to work in Australia or abroad, in a variety of schools, including state, independent, and Catholic schools.
Your career path is not limited by teaching in the classroom. Like a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), graduates of JCU’s Bachelor of Education (Secondary) work in education management, community development, and government roles. Whatever you choose, your education degree from JCU will position you as a leader in Australian education.
Hide additional information
Consult the handbook for teaching areas available at each campus.
*Good Universities Guide 2019
JCU Education (Secondary) graduates are in high demand for their specialist skills with rural and remote communities.
Graduates pursue careers both in Australia and overseas, in public, independent, and Catholic schools.
You could find employment as a secondary teacher, or pursue roles in education management, government departments, or community development.
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
Handbook year | 2020 |
Course code | 109410 |
Course type | Bachelor Degree (AQF Level 7) |
Professional accreditation status | This course is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates of this course are eligible for Teacher registration in Australia. |
Division | Tropical Environments and Societies |
Award Requirements
Admission Requirements
Course pre-requisites | English and Mathematics A or B or C Students considering Mathematics or Physics as teaching areas will need to have passed Mathematics B (or equivalent) Students considering Chemistry as a teaching area will need to have passed Senior Chemistry (or equivalent) |
Minimum English language proficiency requirements | Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of an overall score of 6.5 in Academic IELTS (or equivalent) with sub-scores no less than 7.0 in Speaking and Listening and no less than 6.0 in Reading and Writing. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. English test results must be no more than two years old at the commencement of the course. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website. |
Additional selection requirements | All applicants for initial teacher education courses must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria. Applicants’ non-academic capabilities will be assessed by way of an instrument applied by QTAC and developed in consultation with the Australian Council of Deans of Education. Students must meet English language proficiency requirements for teacher registration in Australia, either on entry to or on graduation from the program. |
Post admission | Professional practice: This course includes prescribed professional placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Policy. Suitability to Work with Children Card (blue card): This course includes prescribed professional placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to Work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland Police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: English Proficiency: Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds are advised that the Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of meeting the following English language requirements prior to graduation:
The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. Students are advised that the Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of meeting the English language requirements as stated above prior to graduation. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website. |
Academic Requirements for Course Completion
Credit points | 96 credit points as per course structure |
Additional completion requirements | Successful completion of Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is an expected requirement of the Australian Ministers for Education for all graduates. Therefore all students enrolled in an initial teacher education course (either undergraduate or postgraduate) will be expected to sit and meet the test standard prior to graduation. All students must sit and meet the standard of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to graduation. The cost of the testing will be met by the applicant. Refer to teacheredtest.acer.edu.au. All students must successfully complete a final-year teaching performance assessment (Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment [GTPA]) embedded in a subject and a professional placement of no less than four weeks in the final year of the degree, prior to graduation that is shown to: a) be a reflection of classroom teaching practice including the elements of planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting; b) clearly assess the content of the Graduate Teacher Standards; and c) demonstrate an understanding of moderation processes that support consistent decision-making against achievement criteria. The GTPA is built into course requirements and assessments. All students must possess dispositional attributes deemed suitable for the profession of teaching. |
Course learning outcomes | On successful completion of the Bachelor of Education (Secondary), graduates will be able to:
|
Course Structure
CORE SUBJECTS
Level 1
ED1401:03 Education Perspectives and Practice
ED1421:03 Foundations of Language and Literacy in Education
ED1481:03 Educational Psychology: Learners and Learning
ED1491:03 Foundations of Mathematics and Numeracy for Secondary Teachers or MA1000:03 Mathematical Foundations (students selecting Mathematics as a First or Second Teaching Area must select MA1000)
Level 2
ED2491:03 Planning for Engaging Learning
ED2991:03 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Level 3
ED3297:06 Reflective Teaching Cycles and Positive Learning Environments (Secondary)
ED3442:03 Inclusive Education: Differentiated Learning for Students with Special Needs and Abilities
ED3443:03 English as an Additional Language/Dialect for Indigenous learners
Level 4
ED4460:03 Service Learning for Sustainable Futures or ED4493:03 Advanced Teaching in Health ad Physical Education
(students selecting Health and Physical Education as a Teaching Area must select ED4493)
ED4461:03 Indigenous Futures
ED4488:03 Fourth Year Professional Experience A
ED4490:06 Fourth Year Professional Experience B
ED4621:03 Leading Wellbeing and Sustainability in Learning Communities
ED4623:03 Teachers as Ethical and Collaborative Change Agents
ED4995:03 Education across Culturally Diverse Contexts
OPTIONS
Select a first teaching area from Table A
PLUS
Select a second teaching area from Table B
TABLE A (FIRST TEACHING AREAS)
Credit points in teaching area | 24 credit points |
Special requirements | Nil |
FTA | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville | ||
Townsville | Chemistry (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study of this teaching area | |
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | Students taking this teaching area will be required to undertake a two week French immersion fieldtrip in a Francophone country located in the Pacific region. | |
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | Sound achievement in Year 11 and Year 12 Japanese (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study in this teaching area | |
Townsville | ||
Townsville | Mathematics B (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study of this teaching area | |
Townsville | Mathematics B (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study of this teaching area The Mathematics Second Teaching Area is recommended for students selecting the Physics First Teaching Area (FTA) in order to meet the subject prerequisite requirements of the Physics FTA. |
TABLE B (SECOND TEACHING AREAS)
Credit points | 18 credit points |
Special requirements | Nil |
STA | AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville | ||
Townsville | Chemistry (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study of this teaching area | |
Cairns Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | ||
Townsville | ||
Cairns Townsville | Mathematics B (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study of this teaching area | |
Townsville Cairns | Mixed mode *Two curriculum subjects will be taught out of Townsville and Cairns with the remaining subjects offered externally via cross institutional study. | |
Townsville | Mathematics B (or equivalent) is a prerequisite for study of this teaching area | |
Townsville Cairns | Mixed mode *Two curriculum subjects will be taught out of Townsville and Cairns with the remaining subjects offered externally via cross institutional study. |
Campus
COURSE AVAILABLE AT | NOTES |
Cairns | Not all Teaching Areas are available at the Cairns campus. |
Townsville |
Candidature
Expected time to complete | 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time |
Maximum time to complete | 11 years |
Maximum leave of absence | 3 years |
Progression
Course progression requisites | Students must successfully complete LANTITE prior to their placement and GTPA assessment in their final year of study. |
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s) | This course includes prescribed professional placements. Students may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense. Further information about placements can be found at Coursework Enrolment Policy. To undertake the final Professional Experience and Co-requisite subjects, students must have completed 72 credit points of level 1, 2 and 3 subjects in this course. |
Special assessment requirements | Suitability to Work with Children Care (blue card): This course includes prescribed professional or clinical placements that may involve contact with children under 18 years of age. Students are required to obtain a Suitability to work with Children Card (which involves a criminal history check undertaken by the Queensland police) before the start of the first placement. Students must retain a current Suitability to Work with Children Card for the duration of their course, as failure to do so will result in the termination of their admission to the course. For more information, refer to: Students who do not complete the required number of days of a professional experience subject or a professional component of a subject, without the approval of the Director of Professional Experience, will be determined to have failed the subject. Refer to Review of a Student’s Suitability to Continue a Course Involving Placement policy. |
Professional accreditation requirements | Successful completion of all subjects contributes to the requirements for the Queensland College of Teachers Graduate level of the Australian Professional Standards (APST). Please also see `Additional Completion requirements’ in reference to the GTPA. |
Maximum allowed Pass Conceded (PC) grade | Nil |
Supplementary exam for final subject | Not applicable |
Credit
Eligibility | Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure. |
Maximum allowed | 63 credit points |
Currency | Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course. |
Expiry | Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 21 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course. |
Other restrictions | Students may seek approval to do concurrent studies at another university in approved disciplines not offered at this university. Students normally will be granted a maximum of 15 credit points of credit for these studies. The maximum credit allowable for professional development courses within the degree is three credit points except where one course is judged to be larger in size than one division subject. Credit may be granted for professional development courses smaller than a division subject. However, no credit will be given for courses smaller than two credit points, or equivalent. Recognition of Current Competence (RCC) may apply where a teacher education student can clearly demonstrate outcomes relevant to a specific professional experience component of a Bachelor of Education program. If these outcomes can be demonstrated, the pre-service teacher will be granted credit for a part of the requisite days of the professional experience requirement. Demonstration of attainment of outcomes may be in the form of professional experience reports from other institutions and/or statements of teaching or related service. |
Award Details
Award title | BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (SECONDARY) |
Approved abbreviation | BEd(Secondary) |
Inclusion of majors on testamur | Not Applicable - this course does not have majors |
Exit with lesser award | Students who exit the course prior to completion and have successfully completed 12 credit points of appropriate subjects, may be eligible for the award of Certificate of Higher Education. Students who have completed 24 credit points of their course award requirements, and withdraw from or fail to meet the requirements for progression in the later years, may be eligible for the award of Diploma of Tertiary Studies. Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed 72 credit points of study and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive the award of Bachelor of Educational Services. |
Course articulation | Not applicable |
Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD7,235.00
A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.
A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.
An OP or ATAR is the score required for entry into most undergraduate courses. If you are not a Year 12 school leaver or do not have an OP or ATAR, you can be assigned an equivalent rank score. Ranks are calculated from previous study that you might have completed, either secondary, tertiary or vocational, or previous paid employment experience.
JCU offers pathway courses to help you move into a degree. Pathway courses provide you with an individualised study plan and specialised support as you transition to university.
Contact us to find about more.
Students are encouraged to undertake the Tertiary Access Course if they have not studied recently and/or want assistance making the transition to University studies.
Bridging subjects are designed to fill any gaps in your knowledge. We offer maths and chemistry bridging subjects that can be studied on-campus in Cairns and Townsville. You may need to enrol in a bridging subject if you have not achieved the grade of ‘Sound Achievement or better’ in Queensland Year 12 maths or chemistry.
Note the course QTAC code for the location you've chosen. You'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.
Applicants from non-English speaking backgrounds must also meet minimum English language proficiency requirements.
You can check those requirements for this course in the Course Handbook.
If you do not meet the English language requirements you can apply to study a University-approved English language program.
OP Score/Rank is indicative only. Entry scores will be finalised in the major offer round.
Real stories
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Student
Chelsea Clay
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
I am studying a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with my key learning areas in English and History. The professional experience placements are an amazing opportunity to connect what you learn in the lecture with what you see in the classroom. I’ve never felt more sure that I’m in the right career path.
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Alumni
Damon Green
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
I love seeing the kids at my school understand and apply something I’ve taught them and their excitement around that. I made a lot of great friendships at JCU that have continued through into the workplace. Although we’re all working at different schools now, we still collaborate and help each other out.
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Lecturer
A/Professor Louisa Tomas Engel
Course Coordinator, Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
JCU Secondary Education graduates have the knowledge and practical experience to inspire and shape young people in Years 7–12. We have a strong focus on rural and remote education, Indigenous education, and sustainability education - our graduates are in high demand for their specialist skills in these areas.
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Employer
Stephen Baskerville
Head of Campus, Kirwan State High School
We find that JCU graduates have highly developed professional knowledge and an openness to continuous learning. The level of practical experience they gain in their degrees helps them to transition quickly to full time teaching. JCU graduates have a strong understanding of teaching in a regional or remote context.