Overview

Launch your science career with a bang

If you have a love of all things science, and want to use that to enliven the minds of young people aged 12 to 18, then this four-year double degree is for you. You’ll select two disciplines from a choice of scientific streams, including biology, chemistry, ecology and mathematics, and will learn how to align your specialisations to core teaching principles and to the design of programs that celebrate integration, diversity and inclusion.

Across a number of Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) units, taught on-site in a secondary school environment, you’ll explore your theoretical scientific learning in a practical setting, gaining a good understanding of how a secondary school operates. You’ll graduate energised, motivated and enthusiastic, with all the necessary knowledge and skills required to pass on your passion for science to students across Years 7 to 12.

Study a Bachelor of Secondary Education/Bachelor of Science at UC and you will:

• demonstrate specialised knowledge and skills in two science disciplines, across a range of classes and year groups, within a secondary school environment
• learn the theories and principles that are the foundation for educational practice in secondary settings
• demonstrate an understanding of student needs and differences, and develop teaching activities for a range of indigenous, English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) and mainstream settings
• develop and implement effective assessment strategies and carry out evaluation of teaching programs, resources and your own teaching
• apply the required content knowledge for all secondary school curriculum areas to teaching and reporting methods, alternate/enhanced literacy and numeracy strategies, and the effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in teaching and learning.

Work Integrated Learning

A teaching degree, by its very nature, is the embodiment of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), with its focus on compulsory professional teaching practice. During this course, you’ll undertake a minimum of 80 days of practical placement across a range of different secondary school levels and settings, including science-specific positions, culminating in a 30-day teaching placement in your final year.

In addition to this, the course content is developed by secondary education professionals, and kept relevant and up-to-date through consistent monitoring of, and engagement with, the industry. You’ll undertake authentic assessment tasks which are highly relevant to the day-to-day practice of teaching, and will take part in regular professional development activities, field trips to educational STeM sites such as Questacon, lectures hosted by guest speakers from a range of education and teaching backgrounds, and more.

Career opportunities

• Secondary school teacher
• Science teacher
• Chemistry teacher
• Biology teacher
• Earth and Environmental Science teacher
• Physics teacher
• Maths teacher
• Head of department
• Principal
• Deputy principal
• Executive teacher
• Head teacher welfare
• Director of curriculum
• Year adviser
• Special needs teacher
• Gifted and talented teacher
• Relief teacher
• Guidance officer
• Careers adviser
• Learning support teacher
• Student adviser
• Education adviser
• Schools policy adviser
• Vocational education and training instructor
• Private tutor
• Schools engagement coordinator

Course-specific information

This course is registered by the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) and recognised as a teaching qualification throughout Australia. On graduating, students must register with the appropriate state teaching body in order to teach. Students must obtain a Working with Vulnerable People Check before their first placement.

Professional accreditation

This course is registered by the ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) and recognised as a teaching qualification throughout Australia.