Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

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, economics, English, French, geography, health and physical education, history, information communication technologies (ICT), Japanese, legal studies, mathematics, physics, industrial technologies and design, and food technologies and design.

Not all teaching areas are available at the JCU Cairns campus. View the handbook for more information.

All students enrolled in an Initial Teacher Education course must achieve the required standard for both the Literacy and Numeracy Tests for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE).

Additional information

Consult the handbook for teaching areas available at each campus.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary).

Work Integrated Learning

This course requires work-integrated learning (WIL) activities, such as placements, fieldwork, internships or industry-partnered projects. During the course, you will be required to complete a minimum of 428 hours of WIL.

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.

Courses are charged per year of full-time study. International course fees are reviewed annually and subject to change.

A Student Services and Amenities Fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

Student Visa holders must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of their Student Visa (except Norwegian, Swedish and Belgian citizens). Costs depend on the length of study and the number of dependants accompanying the student. For more information see Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).

Scholarships and financial aid are also available for international students.

All applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.

Your application must include a written statement that outlines:

• Why you want to be a secondary school teacher, and
• If you have any involvement in personal learning and leadership activities.

Please submit your written statement to admissions@jcu.edu.au as soon as possible.

As well as having the prerequisites for this course, all applicants for initial teacher education courses (pre-service teachers) must also satisfy other academic and non-academic entry criteria.

Applicants’ non-academic capabilities will be assessed by the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

English Language Requirements

Check the minimum English language proficiency requirements for this course in the Course Handbook.

If you meet the academic requirements for this course, but not the minimum English requirements, you will receive a packaged offer. This includes the opportunity to take an English language program as well as an offer to study a degree at JCU. Your JCU degree offer will be conditional on you gaining a certain grade in your English program.

Application dates vary between courses, whether they're delivered in semester, trimester or carousel study modes. View our Application due dates page for more information.

Gather the documents you need to apply and submit an application via JCU's online application portal.