Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) (6021)

  • Approved Abbreviation: DipArts/BA
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 6021
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 096977D

This program applies to students who commenced in Autumn 2021 or later. 

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2019 and 2020, please refer to 6021.3 - Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

For Commencement Year Term 2 2018 to Term 3 2018, please refer to 6021.2 - Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

For Commencement Year Term 2 2017 to Term 1 2018, please refer to 6021.1 - Diploma in Arts/Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary)

The BA (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) is a three year degree specially designed to lead into the Master of Teaching (Secondary), an accredited postgraduate teaching qualification. Together, the two degrees provide direct access to a teaching career in four years and improved prospects for career advancement. The Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) component provides focussed study in a teaching discipline, such as English, History, a Language Other than English or Human Society and Its Environment, as well as opportunity to study an Education Studies - Secondary Teaching Minor that develops understandings of contemporary education issues, teaching and learning. As well as being equipped with all the necessary elements of an initial teacher qualification, Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Secondary) graduates are prepared for a wide range of alternate employment opportunities with strong communication and people skills, creativity and capacity for independent thought, flexibility and adaptability in new situations, all increasingly demanded by employers.

The first year of this program is delivered by Western Sydney University The College, as an agent of Western Sydney University, via extended face-to-face hours in smaller learning environments. A Diploma in Arts exit point is also available at the end of the first year of the program.

Graduates of this degree are eligible for direct entry into the Master of Teaching (Secondary) via Transition to Teaching pathway. Completion of both the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs provides a teaching qualification for Secondary. Eligible students will receive advice during their final study session in the Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Secondary) regarding how to accept an offer into the Postgraduate program to attain a teaching qualification.

For further information concerning the requirements for secondary teaching, students are advised to consult the Subject Content Requirements for Primary and Secondary Teaching NSW (Abridged) from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA).

For more information on Western Sydney University, The College, please refer to their web site.

Western Sydney University, The College

Early Exit

Students may exit this program on completion of 110 credit points with a 7049 Diploma in Arts

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

For program advice duirng Year 1 , contact The College:  College Program Enquiries
For program advice during Years 2 and 3, contact the School of Humanities & Communication Arts:  Program Advice

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Bankstown City Campus 1 2 Full Time Internal See above
Bankstown City Campus Part Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road2 Full Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal See above
Penrith Campus2 Full Time Internal See above
Penrith Campus Part Time Internal See above
The College - Nirimba Education Precinct1 Full Time Internal See above
1

Students will study at WSU - The College Nirimba or Bankstown City campus in their first year of study.

2

From second year onwards, students will study at either Bankstown City, Parramatta (Victoria Rd), or Penrith campus.

Admission

For more information on applying please see link to The College admission pages below.

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/thecollege/how_to_apply

Domestic students are required to have

  • Completed an English unit in the NSW Higher School Certificate, or
  • Competency in English at IELTS 6.0 equivalent (unless a native speaker), or
  • Passed The College English test with 70% or higher, or
  • Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English subject at C grade level or higher.

Students must meet other entry requirements such as

  • An ATAR identified prior to the offer of a place, or
  • Completed The College Foundation Studies program with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

International students must satisfy one of the following language requirements

  • IELTS 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in each sub band, or
  • Completed the College EAP 4 program with a 50% pass, or
  • Passed The College English test with 70% or higher, or
  • Passed The College Foundation Studies Academic English subject at C grade level or higher for which advanced standing can be applied for.

Academic Entry Requirements vary according to country of origin. However, in general

  • Completion of Year 12 or its equivalent is the minimum entry requirement, or
  • Completed The College Foundation Studies program with a Grade Point Average of 5.5 or higher.

For students wishing to qualify as a teacher of music by completing the major “Music in Secondary Teaching”

Students undertaking this major will be selected on an interview/audition in which personal aptitude, professional experience and educational qualifications are taken into consideration. After you have applied to UAC you are required to book yourself in for an interview/audition and download a questionnaire at this University’s online audition booking system available at

Online audition booking system: https://admissions.westernsydney.edu.au/

If you have difficulty in accessing the web, call 1300 897 669. Please bring the completed questionnaire with you to the audition. At your audition you will be asked to perform from two contrasting pieces of music. For more information, please contact a Bachelor of Music Academic Program Advisor via the email address: enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 270 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended Sequence tab.

The early exit College Diploma consists of 110 credit points which includes three College Preparatory subjects.

Western Sydney University The College Subjects

Nirimba, Bankstown, Parramatta City and Penrith Campuses

Please note that all campuses may not have intakes each year.

  • Students must pass all College Preparatory subjects before progressing to the Year Two subjects.
  • Students must pass at least 70 credit points of University level subjects in Year One before progressing to the Year Two subjects.

In order to ensure that Bachelor of Arts student meet the program requirements, all students must seek advice from their Academic Program Advisor when transitioning to the second year of their program.

Qualification for this award then requires the successful completion of a further 160 credit points with no less than 60 credit points at Level 3.

Western Sydney University Subjects

Bankstown, Parramatta (Victoria Road) and Penrith Campuses

All students must complete

  • 80 credit point First Teaching Area Arts Major from the list below
  • 40 credit point Education Studies - Secondary Teaching minor
  • 40 credit point Second Teaching Area Arts minor from the list below

First Teaching Area - Arts Major

All students must complete one of the following majors. This will meet the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) content requirements for your first teaching area. Explanation of these majors can be found under the program listings below.

Note: Not all majors are available on all campuses, please check availability.

Inherent Requirements

The following majors and minors have inherent requirements that must be met in order to complete the major or minor:  Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for these majors and minors online.

Inherent Requirements

Education Studies Minor

Please note that subjects within the Education Studies minor are mainly available at Bankstown or Penrith campuses with some subjects on offer at Parramatta Campus and online.

Second Teaching Area - Arts minor

All students must also complete a different Arts minor from the list below. 

Please seek advice from an Academic Program Advisor about good first and second teaching area combinations.

Note: not all minors are available on all campuses, please check availability.

Note restrictions on some minors as follows:

  • The Creative Writing minor is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area.
  • The Linguistics minor is only available to students completing an English Major as their first teaching area.

Minors

Recommended Sequence

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 270 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Students may exit from this program after successful completion of all Year 1 College subjects below, and graduate with the Diploma in Arts.  Students who progress onto Year 2 may also be awarded the Diploma if they gain a passing grade in all of the Year 1 College subjects.

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1Credit Points
First term of study  
LANG 0003 Academic English (WSTC Prep) 10
LANG 0009 Academic Skills for Arts (WSTC Prep) 10
COMM 0011 Texts and Communication (WSTC Prep) 10
LANG 1032 Thinking Critically About Texts and Society (WSTC) 10
Second term of study  
LANG 1031 Foundations of Academic English (WSTC) 10
HUMN 1059 When Worlds Collide: European Empires and the World, c.1600-1950 (WSTC) 10
HUMN 1056 Diversity, Language and Culture (WSTC) 10
Third term of study  
LANG 1016 Introduction to Literary Studies (WSTC) 10
HUMN 1055 Australian Politics and Active Citizenship (WSTC) 10
HUMN 1067 Introduction to Culture and Society (WSTC) 10
Select one of the following: 10
World Politics and International Relations (WSTC)  
Mathematical Patterns and Relationships (WSTC)  
 Credit Points110
Year 2
Autumn session
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Minor subject 10
Select one Minor subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Minor subject 10
Select one Minor subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Education Studies - Secondary Teaching minor subject 10
Select one Education Studies - Secondary Teaching minor subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Major subject 10
Select one Education Studies - Secondary Teaching minor subject 10
Select one Education Studies - Secondary Teaching minor subject 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points270

Equivalent Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2022 or earlier.

HUMN 1018 Everyday Life (WSTC), replaced by HUMN 1067 Introduction to Culture and Society (WSTC)

POLI 1003 Introduction to International Relations (WSTC), replaced by POLI 1008 World Politics and International Relations (WSTC)