Careers - Secondary Teaching - Human Society & its Environment

A career in HSIE teaching

In NSW and other Australian states prospective Human Society and its Environment (HSIE) teachers usually need to be qualified to teach in HSIE and in one other secondary school teaching subject (curriculum area) or in Counselling. Since HSIE contains many subject areas, HSIE teachers can also train in two subject areas within HSIE. If you are interested in a career as a HSIE teacher you would normally be required to complete studies in:

• a major in one of the main teaching HSIE subject areas (Economics/Business Studies/Commerce, Geography, History )
• a minor in another HSIE subject area (Industrial Relations, Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Economics/Business Studies/Commerce, Law, History, Political Science)
• a minor in a second teaching subject outside the HSIE learning area (e.g. English, a Language, Mathematics or TESOL), or in Counselling, if they wish to have a teaching qualification outside HSIE
• Education as a social science
• professional and curriculum studies (teaching methodology) related to HSIE and one other teaching area if desired

Coursework (degree) options for prospective HSIE teachers

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

• 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 Social Science (or related discipline).

Prerequisite and recommended studies: School leavers

No HSC subjects are prescribed for those intending to pursue a career in HSIE teaching, as it is possible to enrol in 1st year university subjects in HSIE without having studied HSIE in the HSC. However, it is clearly desirable that those intending to study HSIE at university in order to become a HSIE teacher, should include a HSIE 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 HSIE teaching, click here.

Prerequisite studies: Graduates

Graduates with a first degree which includes studies appropriate to teaching in the Human Society and Its Environment 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 a HSIE discipline in an appropriate undergraduate degree
• completion of a minor in a second teaching subject, if you wish to qualify to teach outside the HSIE area
• completion of at least 1 year of study in either Geography or Economics (or an equivalent 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.