Careers - Secondary Teaching - Geography
A career in Geography teaching
In NSW and other Australian states prospective Geography teachers usually need to be qualified to teach in Geography and in one other secondary school teaching subject (curriculum area) or in Counselling. If you are interested in a career as a Geography teacher you would normally be required to complete university studies in :
- Geography
- a second teaching subject (e.g. English, Geography, a Language, Mathematics or TESOL) or in Counselling
- Education as a social science
- professional and curriculum studies (teaching methodology)
Coursework (degree) options for prospective Geography teachers
The University of Sydney offers these alternative ways of gaining a qualification as a teacher of Geography:
- 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 Geography (or related discipline).
Prerequisite and recommended studies: School leavers
No HSC subjects are prescribed for those intending to pursue a career in Geography teaching, as it is possible to enrol in 1st year university subjects in Geography without having studied Geography in the HSC. However, it is clearly desirable that those intending to study Geography at university in order to become a Geography teacher, should include a Geography subject in their HSC. As well, you should also choose HSC subjects that are relevant to a second teaching area (see the information under the particular second teaching area you are interested in).
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 Geography teaching, click here.
Prerequisite studies: Graduates
Graduates with a first degree which includes studies appropriate to teaching in Geography may be eligible for admission to the Master of Teaching/Bachelor of Teaching program. Entry into the postgraduate MTeach/BTeach program is competitive and will be based upon the following criteria and interview:
- completion of a major in Geography in an appropriate undergraduate degree
- completion of a minor in a second teaching subject discipline
- level of achievement in undergraduate studies (grade average)
- good communication skills
- demonstrated commitment to teaching as a profession
For more information see that for the postgraduate Master of Teaching/Bachelor of Teaching program.