Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

James Cook University

CRICOS Institution Code 00117J

Duration

208 weeks

Delivery

On campus, trimester study periods

Study Load

Full time / Part time

Intakes

Townsville: February, May / Cairns: February, May

Course Overview

About This Course

Learn to establish positive and engaging learning environments for secondary school students. Benefit from a wide range of placement opportunities across your degree in regional, rural and remote areas. Develop skills to improve Indigenous education outcomes and leverage a world-class education into a career that will change lives, including your own. 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 85 days of placements in practical settings from your very first year of study, and experience teaching in metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Make a difference in the lives of young people, and improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Students choose two teaching areas to specialise in. Teaching areas offered at JCU include biology, business, chemistry, English, French, geography, health and physical education, history, digital technologies, Japanese, legal studies, mathematics, physics, industrial technologies and design, and food technologies and design.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Brisbane

349 Queen St, BRISBANE, QLD 4000

Open in Maps ↗

Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Provider's Published Fee

$5,742 per year (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Duration

208 weeks

Intakes

Townsville: February, May / Cairns: February, May

Study Mode

Full time / Part time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic Students:

ATAR 65
English (Units 3/4,C), General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4,C); or equivalent
Alternate Pathways

International Students:

English (Units 3/4,C), General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4,C); or equivalent
English language requirementsIf your native language is not English, you must meet the minimum English language requirements for this courseView the international entry requirements for this course

Additional Requirements:

English and General Mathematics or Mathematical Methods or Specialist Mathematics (Units 3/4,C)
Students considering Mathematics or Physics as teaching areas will need to have passed Mathematical Methods (Units 3/4,C) (or equivalent)
Students considering Chemistry as a teaching area will need to have passed Chemistry (Units 3/4,C) (or equivalent)
Trade qualified students (with Apprenticeship and Trade Certificate III qualifications in Fitting and Turning/Machining, Metals Engineering, Carpentry, Joinery, or related areas) considering the Industrial Technologies and Design teaching area must also have a minimum three years of recent, relevant, post-training industry experience
Students considering Food Technologies and Design as a teaching area will need to have full chef qualifications (Apprenticeship and Trade Certificate III in Commercial Cookery), or equivalent; and have a minimum three years of recent, relevant industry experience (post training). Trade qualified students considering either Industrial Technologies and Design or Food Technologies and Design as a teaching area will only be granted admission to these teaching areas on the basis of pre-approval by the course coordinator of suitable credit for prior learning and/or industry experience
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

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

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.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) / AITSL

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

AITSL

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units65 units

ED1401

Education Perspectives and Practice

ED1421

Foundations of Language and Literacy in Education

ED1481

Educational Psychology: Learners and Learning

ED1491

Foundations of Mathematics and Numeracy for Middle School Teachers

ED2491

Planning for Engaging Learning

ED2991

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

ED3297

Reflective Teaching Cycles and Positive Learning Environments (Secondary)

ED3442

Inclusive Education: Differentiated Learning for Students with Special Needs and Abilities

ED3443

English as an Additional Language/Dialect for Indigenous learners

ED4622

Learning and Teaching in Rural and Remote Contexts

ED4486

Fourth Year Professional Experience A

ED4490

Fourth Year Professional Experience B

ED4621

Leading Wellbeing and Sustainability in Learning Communities

ED4623

Teachers as Ethical and Collaborative Change Agents

First Teaching Area (Secondary Biology) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Business) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Chemistry) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Digital Technologies) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary English) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Food Technologies and Design) [Industry Entry] 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary French) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Geography) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Health and Physical Education) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary History) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Industrial Technologies and Design) [Industry Entry] 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Industrial Technologies and Design) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Japanese) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Legal Studies) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Mathematics) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Physics) 24cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Biology) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Business) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Chemistry) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary DigitalTechnologies) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary English) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Food Technologies and Design) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Geography) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Health and Physical Education) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary History) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Mathematics) 18cp

Second Teaching (Secondary Music) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Physics) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Visual Arts) 18cp

Secondary Vocational Education and Training Specialisation 18cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Biology) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary English) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Food Technologies and Design) [Industry Entry] 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary French) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Geography) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary History) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Industrial Technologies and Design) [Industry Entry] 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Industrial Technologies and Design) 24cp

First Teaching Area (Secondary Japanese) 24cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Biology) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary English) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Food Technologies and Design) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Geography) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary History) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Mathematics) 18cp

Second Teaching (Secondary Music) 18cp

Second Teaching Area (Secondary Visual Arts) 18cp

Secondary Vocational Education and Training Specialisation 18cp

ED4995

Education Across Culturally Diverse Contexts

ED4460

Service Learning for Sustainable Futures

ED4493

Service Learning in Health and Physical Education

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What teaching areas can I specialise in with this degree?

Students choose two teaching areas to specialise in. Teaching areas offered at JCU include biology, business, chemistry, economics, English, French, geography, health and physical education, history, digital technologies, Japanese, legal studies, mathematics, physics, industrial technologies and design, and food technologies and design. Please note that not all teaching areas are available at the JCU Cairns campus — consult the handbook for teaching areas available at each campus.

How much practical classroom experience will I gain during the course?

You will take part in 85 days of placements in practical settings from your very first year of study, with experience teaching in metropolitan, rural and remote locations. Eligible students can also now receive a Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) of $338.60 per week during mandatory placements.

Are there any scholarships available for this course?

Yes. Full-time domestic students in this course are eligible to apply for the Australian Government's Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship, which consists of yearly payments of $10,000 for the expected full-time duration of your degree — a total of $40,000 over four years for undergraduate students. If you choose to complete your final professional placement in a government school located in a remote area, you may also be eligible for an additional $2,000 payment. Successful applicants are required to make a four-year commitment to teaching in a government school, fulfilled within 10 years.

How long does it take to complete the Bachelor of Education (Secondary)?

The course takes 3.5 to 4 years to complete as a full-time student studying on campus in trimester study periods, or part-time equivalent. Please note that Trimester 2 commencement results in a duration of 4 years plus 2 months. Course duration varies according to intake, subject load and credit awarded.

What if I already have an undergraduate degree and want to move into secondary teaching?

If you already have an undergraduate degree in another area and are looking for a career change into education, JCU recommends considering the Master of Teaching and Learning (Secondary). Throughout this two-year degree, you will have opportunities to maximise your professional experience through prescribed placements in secondary schools.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Typical Salary (AUD)

Entry-level (0-2 years)$72,000 – $90,000/yr

Early Career (2-5 years)$90,000 – $105,000/yr

Mid-Level (5-10 years)$105,000 – $125,000/yr

Career Paths

Early Childhood Teacher
Primary School Teacher
Secondary School Teacher
Special Education Teacher
Teacher Librarian

Key Skills

Lesson planning and curriculum design aligned to the Australian Curriculum
Differentiated instruction to meet diverse learner needs
Classroom management and positive behaviour support
Formative and summative assessment design and analysis
Inclusive education practices for students with disabilities and additional needs

Full course overview

💬

Need guidance?

Free advisor support

Our advisors help international students choose the right course and navigate visa pathways — at no cost.

Hear From the Students

Honestly I was lost when I first started looking at Australian colleges. There are just too many options and every agent gives you different info. A friend told me about FindTheCourses and within a week I had shortlisted 3 programs that actually matched my budget and visa situation. My advisor Sanjay was super helpful — never felt like I was being pushed into anything.

Priya Sharma

India

Master of Nursing · Griffith University

Promote your Institution with Find the Courses