Careers - Secondary Teaching - History
A career in History teaching
In NSW and other Australian states prospective History teachers usually need to be qualified to teach in History and in one other secondary school teaching subject (curriculum area) or in Counselling. If you are interested in a career as a History teacher you would normally be required to complete university studies in:
- History ( either Ancient or Modern History )
- 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 History teachers
The University of Sydney offers these alternative ways of gaining a qualification as a teacher of History:
- 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 History (or related discipline).
Prerequisite and recommended studies: School leavers
No HSC subjects are prescribed for those intending to pursue a career in History teaching, as it is possible to enrol in 1st year university subjects in History without having studied History in the HSC. However, it is clearly desirable that those intending to study History at university in order to become a History teacher, should include a History 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 History teaching, click here.
Prerequisite studies: Graduates
Graduates with a first degree which includes studies appropriate to teaching History 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 History 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.