How do I become a secondary Psychology teacher?

Psychology teachers help students investigate the concepts of human behaviour and why people act the way they do, based on observational analysis, psychological theories and scientific methods.

Please note: SATAC codes apply to domestic applications only.

What do I need to study?

To become a secondary Psychology teacher, you will need to study one of the following options below.

OPTION 1

Four-year undergraduate Honours degree.

Take a direct path into secondary teaching with a four-year undergraduate Honours degree. Complete a major and sub-major in the Learnings Areas of your choice, both teachable from years 7 – 12.

Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) 
(SATAC code: 434003)

Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) (Mount Gambier)
(SATAC code: 474092)

Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) (Whyalla)
(SATAC code: 464172)

AND Choose
> Psychology
as your sub-major Learning Area

Please refer to Future Students Enquiries for further information.

Other requirements

  • Teaching Capability Statement minus-thick plus-thick

    All applications to commence study in our Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching degrees require applicants to submit a 400-600 word Teaching Capabilities Statement in addition to your SATAC application. Students in the packaged Bachelor and Master program are not required to submit this statement to SATAC, these students will be invited to submit their statements by UniSA toward the end of the last year of their Bachelor degree. This supports the national priority to ensure those entering the teaching profession have the personal qualities to best support learners and graduate as classroom ready, high quality teachers. The Teaching Capabilities Statement complies with the national Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) initial teacher education program standard of academic and non-academic entry requirements.

    You can access more information about the Teaching Capability Statement through our website.

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    Learning Areas – Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours)

    Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) students will complete a major and sub-major as part of their degree in which they intend to teach and that aligns with the Australian National Curriculum. 

    Students can select from the following areas: 

     Majors: 

    • English* 
    • Mathematics 
    • Science
      • Biology
      • Chemistry
      • Physics
    • Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)*
      • Geography
      • History
    • The Arts 
      • Drama and Creative Arts
      • Visual Arts
    • Technologies
      • Design and Technology
      • Digital Technologies (sub-major only)*
      • Food and Textiles Technologies
    • Languages
      • French^
      • Italian^
      • Japanese^, or 
      • English as an Additional Language or Dialect (sub-major only)†

    Sub-majors: 

    • English as an Additional Language or Dialect†
    • Digital Technologies* 
    • Outdoor Education 
    • Psychology* 
    • Religious Education (Catholic Studies) 

    * Available at Mount Gambier and Whyalla campuses also 
    ^ Assumed knowledge for the French, Italian or Japanese major or sub-major: SACE Stage 2 Language 
    † Entry requirements apply for the English as an Additional Language or Dialect sub-major 

    Learning Areas – Master of Teaching (Secondary)

    Graduates wishing to gain entry to the Master of Teaching must have completed a major and preferably a minor Learning Area (not essential) in which they intend to teach and that aligns with the Australian National Curriculum.

    A major consists of a minimum of 6 courses/27 units or equivalent with a minimum of 2 courses at Australian third year undergraduate level or equivalent. A minor consists of a minimum of 4 courses/18 units or equivalent with a minimum of 2 courses at Australian second year undergraduate level or equivalent.

    The discipline specific Learning Areas aligned to the Australian Curriculum include:  

    • Arts Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Arts Education. These include dance, drama, media arts, music, and visual arts. Applicants for Arts Education may qualify with a major and a minor in different Arts areas or a minor in a different approved learning area.
       
    • English Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to English Education. Studies must include English language, literacy and literature (including, but not limited to, poetry, prose, dramatic literatures, children’s literature, postcolonial literatures, diaspora, and literary theory). Applicants will normally have completed a major in English and a minor in a different approved learning area.
       
    • Health and Physical Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Health and Physical Education, such as Human Movement. Applicants will normally have completed a major in Health and Physical Education and a minor in a different approved learning area. A completed degree in Sport & Recreation Management or Exercise and Sport Science or equivalent will not be considered for entry.
       
    • Humanities and Social Sciences Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Humanities and Social Sciences. Studies could include Geography, History, Civics & Citizenship, Economics and Business. Applicants will normally have completed a major in Humanities and Social Sciences and a minor in a different approved learning area.
       
    • Languages Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major learning area relevant to Languages Education. These include Languages Other Than English. Applicants will have completed a major in Languages and a minor in a different approved discipline-specific learning area aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
       
    • Mathematics Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Mathematics Education. Studies must include algebra and geometry and may include statistics and probability. Applicants will normally have completed a major in Mathematics and a minor in a different approved learning area.
       
    • Science Education Learning Area: Applicants must have completed studies in a major relevant to Science Education. Studies must include Biology, Chemistry or Physics and may also include Earth & Environmental Sciences. Applicants for Science Education may qualify with a major and minor in different Science areas or a minor in a different approved learning area.

    If applicants do not have a minor Learning Area, they can choose to complete one of the following as part of their postgraduate studies:

    • TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages),
    • Islamic Studies
    • Integrated Teaching and Vocational Education or
    • Lutheran Studies
  • Placement requirements for all UniSA Bachelor of Education and Master of Teaching programs minus-thick plus-thick

    In the lead-up to each professional experience placement you need to ensure that several important prerequisites and requirements are completed or satisfied, including:

    • Working with Children Check (WWCC), through the Department of Human Services (DHS)
    • Responding to Abuse and Neglect - Education and Care (RAN-EC), involving a 7 hour face-to-face
    • Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE), to be completed at the required standards during your studies. 

    You can access more information about placement requirements through our website.

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    For more information on any of the entry or placement requirements listed above, please visit our UniSA Education Futures requirements page.

    Find out more

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