How do I become a secondary Science teacher?

Science teachers provide students with the opportunity to explore nature and the behaviour of the physical universe.

What do I need to study? 

To become a secondary Science 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 Learning Areas of your choice, both teachable from years 7 – 12.

Bachelor of Secondary Education (Honours) 
(SATAC code: 443003)

AND Choose
> Biology*
> Chemistry* or
> Physics*
as either your major or sub-major Learning Area

OPTION 2

Packaged Bachelor and Master program.

Consider a packaged program to guarantee your place into the Master of Teaching (Secondary)^ directly after your bachelor’s degree. Apply directly to SATAC using the unique code listed.

 Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching (Secondary)
(SATAC code: 434101)

^Subject to meeting GPA requirements and subject selection.

OPTION 3

Bachelor's degree with separate Master option.

Enjoy the flexibility of completing a bachelor's degree with the option to continue with postgraduate studies in teaching and graduate in only five years.

On successful completion of your undergraduate degree, you will need to apply via SATAC and enrol in the following postgraduate teaching program at UniSA:

Master of Teaching (Secondary) – Science Education 
(SATAC code: 4CM121)

Notes

* Prerequisite for the Physics major or sub -major
 SACE Stage 2 Physics

* Prerequisite for the Chemistry major or sub -major
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry

* Prerequisite for the Bachelor of Science :
At least two of the following: 
SACE Stage 2 Physics 
SACE Stage 2 Specialist Math 
SACE Stage 2 Biology 
SACE Stage 2 Chemistry 
SACE Stage 2 Mathematical Methods 
SACE Stage 2 Earth and Environmental Science

* Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science need to select a Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Geoscience, Applied Physics of Geospatial Information Systems specialisation.

**Students must complete the Biology for Education Stream courses. Students will be able to teach Science up to Year 10 and Environmental Science and Biology in Years 11-12. If unsure, students are advised to contact Campus Central to discuss their course selection with a member of the UniSA Education Futures Teaching and Learning Team.

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.

  • Learning Areas minus-thick plus-thick

    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:

    • Arts – Drama and Creative Arts or Visual Arts
    • Religious Education (Catholic Studies) (sub-major only)
    • English*
    • Humanities and Social Sciences* – Geography or History
    • Languages – French^, Italian^, Japanese^, or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (sub-major only)†
    • Mathematics
    • Outdoor Education (sub-major only)
    • Psychology (sub-major only)*
    • Science – Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
    • Technologies – Design and Technology, Digital Technologies (sub-major only)*, or Food and Textile Technologies

    * Available at Mount Gambier and Whyalla campuses
    ^ 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 a minor Learning Area 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.

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

    • Catholic 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.

  • More information minus-thick plus-thick

    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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