Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) Master of Teaching in Secondary Education (English/Society and Culture)

Do you have a passion for Communication (Writing and Publishing) and are you looking to pursue a career in Teaching? The Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing) Master of Teaching in Secondary Education (English and Society and Culture) offers you the knowledge and practical hands-on experience required to teach over 72,000 secondary school pupils studying English and 4500 students studying Society and Culture in NSW (NSW Education Standards Authority, 2021 HSC Enrolments by Course, 2021).

Our combined "Vertical Stack" course (undergraduate + postgraduate degree) enables you to gain a greater depth of disciplinary knowledge in Communication (Writing and Publishing) before you commence your teaching subjects in the Master of Teaching from your second year of study. Gaining a wider and deeper understanding in your field of study gives you more confidence when you commence as a teacher. You enter the classroom up to date on the most current developments in the discipline, and this is highly valued by schools.

The unique vertical structure of this combined course means you do not need to meet the standard three Band 5 HSC results, including English, for admission to an initial teacher education course.

To ensure that we maintain a high quality of teachers in the education sector, you will need to  achieve a Credit average in the first two years of your university studies before progressing into your final years of the program.

If you do not meet the Credit average, you will still be able to continue in the Bachelor of Communication (Writing and Publishing), and graduate with that qualification.

You will spend 80 days in one of more than 200 secondary schools across NSW. This practical   experience with a trusted UTS partner school will help you gain the skills and confidence in curriculum and classroom management required for effective teaching in English and Society and Culture, and will also help you develop personal and professional networks within and beyond education for your future career path.

Not only will you be accelerated in your career pathway to secondary teaching by achieving two qualifications, including one at postgraduate level, within the duration of a single undergraduate degree, you will have the benefits of a range of career options.

Areas of study

Contextual studies of education, creative fiction writing, critical analysis, fiction writing, genre writing, methods subjects for teaching areas taught in secondary schools, narrative, poetry, professional experience, screenwriting, society and culture, textual theory.

Career opportunities

Secondary teacher in English and Society and Culture-HSIE, in a public or private school, locally or internationally (subject to meeting relevant employer requirements). Graduates may also seek work as a fiction and non-fiction writer, editor, publisher, scriptwriter, literary agent, communication coordinator, arts and cultural administrator, copywriter, feature writer, publications officer, freelance writer, book marketing coordinator, digital content producer, marketing content producer for government, NGOs and cultural groups, video game writer, writer for media organisations.

Professional recognition

This course is accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) as a recognised secondary school teaching qualification. To gain employment as a teacher in NSW schools, graduands must meet the requirements of NESA, including language proficiency.

Practical experience

Students undertake professional experience totalling 80 days of supervised teaching practice in schools. Students work under the supervision of an in-service high school teacher in their area(s) of specialisation and are mentored by a tertiary education supervisor.

Additional information: Course progression criteria exist and students are required to:

• satisfactorily complete the NSW Government's LANTITE Literacy and Numeracy test before progressing to the second Professional Experience supervised teaching placement in Year 3; and
• achieve credit average results at the completion of 96 credit points (typically at the end of Year 2).

Students who do not achieve a credit average will be transferred to the relevant standalone bachelor degree. Upon completion, they will be eligible to apply to the Master of Teaching in Secondary Education via the regular graduate entry pathway. Applicants should review the course's inherent requirements prior to enrolment.

Fees and charges

Refer to UTS current fee information.