Bachelor Of Education (secondary) :: Undergraduate :: Courses
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
Secondary education degrees are designed to prepare graduates for careers in secondary teaching. Graduates are qualified to teach in the Seventh-day Adventist Church school system both in Australia and overseas, as well as in the wider educational sector of government and non-government schools. Honours degrees allow selected students to complete a program in research methodology and conduct their own research under supervision. Furthermore, this program enhances the efforts of high potential students to influence professional practice through research and facilitates access for students to proceed to research-based studies at Masters or Doctoral level.
Each degree combines studies in particular teaching field disciplines with professional studies in the theory and practice of education. Professional studies comprise at least half of each course; the other half consists of studies in teaching field disciplines, Christian Studies subjects and electives.
Each degree requires the completion of 32 subjects (192 credit points) typically spread over four years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) study.
The Christian Studies and professional studies are common to each degree.
The professional studies in Education contribute 96 credit points to the integrated degree; specialised discipline studies contribute 96 credit points.
The Professional Education components of the degree are described under Secondary Education Degrees.
Duration
Four years full-time or equivalent part-time.
Credit points
192 credit points
Accreditation
The degrees are accredited by the NSW Department of Education and Training.
Entry requirements
The general entry requirements for Avondale College degree courses are stated in the Academic Policies section of the Handbook. In addition, the following majors have specific entry requirements:
Home Economics/Design and Technology
- HSC (or equivalent) Chemistry, or
- February Chemistry Bridging Course (before Semester 3 commences)
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
February Chemistry Bridging Course (before Semester 3 commences) unless successfully completed HSc Chemistry.
Information Technology
HSC (or equivalent) Mathematics is recommended
Summary of minimum requirements in the BEd (Secondary) degree
| Component of Course |
Home Economics/Design and Technology (Credit Points) |
PDHPE (Credit Points) |
Information Technology (Credit Points) |
| Christian Studies subjects
| 18
| 18
| 18
| Specialisation
| 90
| 90
| n/a
| Major
| n/a
| n/a
| 48
| Minor
| n/a
| n/a
| 24
| Electives
| n/a
| n/a
| 18
| Education subjects
| 36
| 36
| 36
| Curriculum subjects
| 12
| 12
| 12
| Professional Development and Experience
| 36
| 36
| 36
| TOTALS
| 192
| 192
| 192
Discipline areas
Students may study to become secondary teachers in any of the following areas by enrolling in the BEd (Secondary) degree
Home Economics/Design and Technology
Information Technology
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education
Students wishing to become secondary teachers in other areas should enrol in:
BA/BTch
- English
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Music
- Religious Studies
- Visual Arts
BBus/BTch
- Accounting
- Information Technology
- Management
- Marketing
BSc/BTch
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Food and Nutrition
- Geography
- Information Technology
- Mathematics
- Physics
Christian Studies subjects
As part of their course students study some subjects that address the religious, ethical and social value emphases of Avondale College’s philosophy of education derived from its Seventh-day Adventist faith tradition.
In the BEd degree the sequence is:
*SDA students may select the following alternative to
ED243 :: Christian Studies for Teachers II:
#The following alternatives to
ED243 :: Christian Studies for Teachers II are available to students of other faiths:
All students may substitute an approved subject from the Faculty of Theology for
CR243 :: Christian Studies II.
Professional studies
The professional studies common to each secondary education degree are as follows:
Education subjects
Education elective
In semester eight students choose one education elective from the following list:
In some courses students are required or strongly recommended to choose a discipline specific elective which will further contribute to expertise in curricular applications in their chosen teaching field/s:
Curriculum studies
Curriculum studies subjects focus on content and methods of teaching for the various teaching fields/specialisations in the secondary school curriculum. Students are familiarised with both NSW State and Seventh-day Adventist syllabus documents, with the intention that they should be prepared to teach competently in either government, independent, or church-related schools. The Curriculum Studies in particular discipline areas (subjects with CZ codes) are required for both the major and minor teaching fields: see under Subject Synopses for specific curriculum studies subjects.
The Professional Development and Experience subjects address the teaching strategies, skills and practices involved in teaching in the secondary classroom and provide opportunities for continuous school-based professional experience offering increasing responsibilities within a variety of school settings, for periods of two to six weeks at a time. Students are involved in a total of 80 days of professional experience.