Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

Course description

The Bachelor of Education (Secondary) is an initial, undergraduate teaching qualification. . This course combines contemporary research and advanced pedagogy, with authentic practicum opportunities, which prepares pre-service teachers for the world of work. The program is underpinned by a commitment to social justice and has been developed for a continually changing and complex profession. Central to this course is the purposeful use of advanced technologies as a discipline area as well as a means of teaching and learning. Graduates are prepared to be future teachers, educational leaders and innovators in secondary school settings.

Professional experience places students within a school setting to fulfil the practical elements of their teaching degree: students complete three professional placements at a secondary school, a total of 80 days.

As a result, graduates are qualified to teach Years 7 to 12 and have the opportunity to apply for positions in both government and non-government secondary schools. In addition, graduates are prepared to be future educational leaders and innovators with a strong identity of themselves as teachers and researchers in the industry.

The degree is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching. Graduates can apply for registration in all Australian states and territories.

Course learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• show initiative and judgement when making decisions or solving problems and have broad and coherent knowledge of secondary aged students and how they learn
• critically review theory and practice, and have broad and coherent knowledge of specific secondary school content areas within the Australian context
• show initiative and judgment to plan for, and implement, effective teaching and learning in diverse contexts with the capacity to solve problems with intellectual independence
• adapt knowledge and skills to critically analyse information in diverse contexts, and to create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
• assess, provide feedback and report on student learning using clear and coherent communication with the ability to critically analyse, consolidate and synthesise assessment information
• demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning to identify, engage in and apply professional learning, individually and in collaboration with others
• engage professionally with colleagues, families and students, and the communication skills to present clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and ideas.

Course structure

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Education (Secondary) students must complete 400 credit points comprising of:

Education studies comprising:

• 11 core units of study (162.5 credit points)
• 3 Professional Experience units of study (37.5 credit points)
• 16 discipline studies units (200 credit points)

Discipline studies:

Students choose from four Discipline Studies options:

Option 1: Two Specialisations
16 units from the following 2 specialisations (200 credit points total):

• Visual Communication Design (100 credit points) and
• Information Technology (100 credit points)

Option 2: Two Specialisations
16 units from each of the following 2 specialisations (200 credit points total):

• Product Design Innovation (100 credit points) and
• Information Technology (100 credit points)

Option 3: One Specialisation and one approved Co-Major 
8 units from one of the following specialisations (100 credit points)  

• Product Design Innovation (100 credit points) or
• Visual Communication Design (100 credit points) or
• Information Technology (100 credit points)

and one approved co-major (100 credit points):

Option 4: One Specialisation and one approved Minor 
12 units from one of the following specialisations: (150 credit points)

• Visual Communication Design (150 credit points)
• Product Design Innovation (150 credit points)
• Information Technology (150 credit points)

and one approved minor (50 credit points)

Students need to select discipline areas carefully based on the discipline area they wish to seek employment within.

Additional information: In some schools, Woodwork and Metalwork teachers also need to comply with the Department of Education and Training (DET) recommendations and complete the 'Course in Safe use of Machinery for Technology Teaching Woodwork/Metalwork’. 

In addition, students are responsible for arranging and successfully completing the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) normally within three attempts through the Australian Council for Education Research prior to completing 200 credit points of study.

Academic Progress – special requirements

In addition to the standard academic progress rules, the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) has the following additional academic progress rules which are established in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 62(2):

1. A student is classified as 'at risk' of unsatisfactory progress if they:
(a) behave in a manner which breaches the Swinburne Student Charter whilst on a teaching placement

(b) fail to attempt both component tests of the National Literacy and Numeracy test (LANTITE) prior to completing 100 credit points of studies

2. A student is classified as having 'unsatisfactory progress' if they:
(a) fail to successfully complete the National Literacy and Numeracy test (LANTITE) prior to completing 200 credit points of studies or following three attempts
(b) fail a Teaching Placement unit
(c) have their teaching placement terminated early by a school. In the case of early termination of a teaching placement by a school, the student will be deemed as having 'unsatisfactory progress' and a progress review processes will commence within two weeks of the cessation of the placement.

Students who are identified as having unsatisfactory progress will be subject to the show cause provisions in the Progress Review section of the Academic Progress Policy.

Please note: entry requirements to some majors may require additional admission requirements.

Education Studies units
Student must complete the following eleven units (162.5 credit points):
EDU10020 Understanding Theories of Teaching, Learning & Development
EDU10021 Transformative Technologies in Education
EDU10022 Teaching for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
EDU20052 Understanding Behaviour for Classroom Practice
EDU20021 Understanding Indigenous Education and Perspectives 
EDU20022 Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum
EDU30061 Educational Leadership and Policy *
EDU30065 Assessment and Data * 
EDU30033 Innovation for Education *
EDU20051 Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 1 (25 credit points)
EDU30060 Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 2 (25 credit points)*  

Professional Experience units
Students must complete the following three units (37.5 credit points):
EDU10023 Professional Experience 1
EDU20023 Professional Experience 2
EDU30032 Professional Experience 3  (Ready to Teach) *

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

Discipline studies
Students must complete one of the following 200 credit points options:

Option 1: Two Specialisations
Sixteen units from the following two specialisations (200 credit points total):

• Visual Communication Design (100 credit points) and
• Information Technology (100 credit points)

Option 2: Two Specialisations
Sixteen units from each of the following specialisations (200 credit points total):

• Product Design Innovation (100 credit points) and
• Information Technology (100 credit points)

Option 3: One Specialisation and one Co-Major
Eight units from one specialisation (100 credit points) and one approved Co- Major (100 credit points)

Choose from A or B
(A) Specialisation (100 credit points) 

• Product Design Innovation specialisation or
• Visual Communication Design specialisation 

and one approved co-major (100 credit points)

Information Technology

• Computer Science or
• Information System

General Science

• Biotechnology or 
• Environmental Science

Media

• Media Industries or 
• Social Media or
• Digital Advertising Technology

 (B) Specialisation (100 credit points)

• Information Technology and one approved co-major (100 credit points)

General Science

• Biotechnology (100 credit points) or
• Environmental Science (100 credit points)

Media

• Media Industries (100 credit points) or
• Social Media (100 credit points) or
• Digital Advertising Technology (100 credit points)

Option 4: One specialisation and one minor
Twelve units from one specialisation (150 credit points) and one approved minor (50 credit points)

Choose from C or D
(C) Specialisations (150 credit points)              

• Product Design Innovation specialisation (150 credit points) or
• Visual Communication Design specialisation (150 credit points)

and one approved minor (50 credit points):

Information Technology: 

• Computer Science or 
• Information Systems

General Science:

• Biotechnology

Media

• Media Industries or
• Social Media or
• Digital Advertising Technology 

(D) Specialisations (150 credit points)

• Information Technology (150 credit points)

and one approved minor (50 credit points):

Design Technologies

• Design Principles and Processes

General Science

• Biotechnology

Media

• Media Industries or
• Social Media or
• Digital Advertising Technology 

Specialisation units in detail:
Product Design Innovation specialisation (8 unit sequence)
Students completing this specialisation as part of Option1, 2 or 3 must take the following eight units (100 credit points):
DID10001 Product Visualisation 1: Hand Sketching 
DID10006 Materials, Finishes and Form
DID10003 Product CAD: 3D Modelling
DDD10006 Introductory Design Studio
DID20001 Design and Emotion Studio
DID20007 Product Visualisation 2: Digital Sketching
DID20002 Design for Manufacture 1: Materials and Processes
DDD30006 Design Thinking

Product Design Innovation specialisation (12 unit sequence)
Students selecting this specialisation as part of Option 4 must take the following eight units (100 credit points):
DID10001 Product Visualisation 1: Hand Sketching 
DID10006 Materials, Finishes and Form 
DID10003 Product CAD: 3D Modelling 
DDD10006 Introductory Design Studio
DID20001 Design and Emotion Studio
DID20007 Product Visualisation 2: Digital Sketching
DID20002 Design for Manufacture 1: Materials and Processes
DDD30006 Design Thinking

Students must choose four units (50 credit points) from the following options with no more than two at first year level:
DID10005 Innovation Design Studio 1
DID10007 Design Ethnography 
DDD10001 20th Century Design
DDD20007 Design Systems and Services
DES20057 Toolbox for Prototyping and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
DID20006 Innovation Design Studio 2

Visual Communication Design specialisation (8 unit sequence)
Students completing this specialisation as part of Option1, 2 or 3 must take the following eight units (100 credit points):DCO10001 Concepts and Narratives
DCO10007 Visual Communication Studio
DCO10002 Digital Design
DCO10005 Typography
DDD10001 20th Century Design
DCO20004 Web Design
DDD20004 Contemporary Design Issues
DDD20012 Experimental Image-Making Processes

Visual Communication Design specialisation (12 unit sequence)
Students selecting this specialisation as part of Option 4 must take the following twelve units (150 credit points):
DCO10001 Concepts and Narratives
DCO10007 Visual Communication Studio
DCO10002 Digital Design
DDD10001 20th Century Design
DCO10005 Typography 
DCO20004 Web Design
DDD20004 Contemporary Design Issues
DCO10003 Packaging Design 
DCO20001 Brand and Identity Design
DDD20012 Experimental Image-Making Processes
DDM20003 Digital Video Camera Techniques 
DCO20009 Typography for Print and Interactive Publication

Information Technology specialisation  (8 unit sequence)
Students completing this specialisation as part of Option1, 2 or 3 must take the following eight units (100 credit points):
TNE10005 Network Administration
TNE10006 Networks and Switching
COS20001 User-Centred Design
SWE20001 Development Project 1 - Tools and Practices
COS10005 Web Development
COS10009 Introduction to Programming
COS20007 Object-Oriented Programming
COS30017 Software Development for Mobile Devices

Information Technology specialisation (12 unit sequence)
Students selecting this specialisation as part of Option 4 must take the following eight units (100 credit points):
TNE10005 Network Administration
TNE10006 Networks and Switching
COS20001 User-Centred Design
SWE20001 Development Project 1 - Tools and Practices
COS10005 Web Development
COS10009 Introduction to Programming
COS20007 Object-Oriented Programming
COS30017 Software Development for Mobile Devices

Students must choose four units (50 credit points) from the following options:
COS30002 Artificial Intelligence for Games
COS30031 Games Programming
COS10004 Computer Systems
COS20019 Cloud Computing Architecture
TNE20002 Network Routing Principles
TNE30018 Enterprise Network Server Administration
COS30020 Web Application Development

Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) is 200 credit points (normally 16 units)