Careers - Secondary Teaching - Drama

A career in Drama teaching

In NSW and other Australian states prospective Drama teachers usually need to be qualified to teach in Drama and in one other secondary school teaching subject (curriculum area) or in Counselling. If you are interested in a career as a Drama teacher you would normally be required to complete university studies in :

• Drama or Performance Studies
• a second teaching subject discipline area (e.g. History, English, a Language, Mathematics or TESOL) or in Counselling
• Education as a social science
• professional and curriculum studies (teaching methodology)

Coursework (degree) options for prospective Drama teachers

The University of Sydney offers these alternative ways of gaining a qualification as a teacher of Drama:

• a Bachelor of Education program (4 years full-time study). This is an undergraduate course for school leavers.
• a Bachelor of Arts (or an equivalent undergraduate qualification) followed be either a Master of Teaching or a Bachelor of Teaching (5-years or 4 and a half years of full-time study)
• a Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Education (Secondary: Humanities and Social Sciences) joint degree program (5 years full-time study). This is an undergraduate course for school leavers.
• a graduate Master of Teaching or a Bachelor of Teaching (of 3 or 4 semesters respectively) for graduates with a first degree with a major or a minor in Drama (or related discipline).

Prerequisite and recommended studies: School leavers

HSC subjects which will provide a good background for those intending to be Drama teachers include:

• Visual Arts
• Music
• Social Sciences
• Drama
• Dance
• Music
• Design and Technology
• Advanced English

UAI Entry levels

To view the minimum UAI entry scores in recent years for those courses which lead directly (or indirectly with subsequent postgraduate study) to a teaching qualification in secondary school Drama teaching, click here.

Prerequisite studies: Graduates

Graduates with a first degree which includes studies appropriate to teaching in a specialist area may be eligible for admission to the Master of Teaching/Bachelor of Teaching program. Entry into the postgraduate MTeach/BTeach course is competitive and will be based upon the following criteria and interview:

• completion of a major in Drama or Performance Studies in an appropriate undergraduate degree
• completion of a minor in a second teaching subject discipline area
• level of achievement in undergraduate studies (grade average)
• communication skills
• demonstrated commitment to teaching as a profession

Undergraduate studies which are generally appropriate for Drama teaching include:

• Performance Studies
• Theatre Studies
• Drama

For more information see Master of Teaching /Bachelor of Teaching program