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Secondary education programs now at USC
18 August, 2004
QTAC Codes:
Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Science: 017021
Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Arts: 017001 Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Business: 017011
Australia's fastest growing university is pleased to announce it will be offering three combined education degrees for secondary teaching in 2005.
The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) will offer new four-year education programs with courses from Science, Arts or Business giving graduates a combined Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Business.
USC Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Thomas said this is the first time secondary education programs have been offered on the Sunshine Coast.
"These degrees have been created to answer a need in the industry. Secondary school teachers are in high demand," Professor Thomas said.
"As well as increasing the range of subjects and courses available at the University, this new degree means people will not have to move away from the Coast if they want to study to become a secondary school teacher."
"This is a significant step forward for the growth of this University and the region."
"We have also considered the quality of the course, and an intake of only 120 students means USC can offer smaller class sizes compared to other Queensland universities," Professor Thomas said.
Dr Jennifer Nayler, who has joined USC from the Queensland University of Technology, is a Lecturer in Education and is involved in setting up the new degree.
"The combined education degrees being offered by the University of the Sunshine Coast are targeting a specific demand in the industry. There is a real need in the profession for secondary school teachers," Dr Nayler said.
Continuing the University's commitment to providing graduates with extensive industry experience, the teaching degrees will include actual school experience in the first semester of the first year.
But industry experience planned for the course covers much more than the classroom.
"Students will engage in a range of activities in the community as part of their degrees and will be provided with a variety of opportunities to work among young people who are the same age as secondary school students," Dr Nayler said.
"This will give our graduates a richer understanding of issues and problems facing young people that may impact on their school life and ability to learn."
Industry links have been taken into the future with a fibre optic link to neighbouring Chancellor State College.
This will allow USC students to observe real classroom activity in real time.
"Education students will be able to watch a teacher manage and teach a class and once the session is over, the teacher can discuss their teaching methods with our students and students can ask questions in a two-way discussion.
"It will be a dynamic, exciting course and IT will play a big part in the degree we offer," Dr Nayler said.
"Schools are changing and this new degree will be up-to-date and reflect that."
"The University of the Sunshine Coast is excited to offer this degree to students," she said.
Students who combine a Science degree with Education will be able to teach subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Health, Marine Studies, Mathematics, Multi-Strand Science or Physical Education.
Arts graduates with the Education degree will be able to teach English, Geography, History, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese and Studies of Society and Environment.
Those who combine Business subjects can teach Accounting, Business or Computer studies.
Career opportunities extend beyond the classroom with options to teach in training organisations and also the possibility of a career in the related discipline of Science, Arts or Business.