Why study health and physical education teaching at UoN?

The School of Education at the University of Newcastle is the largest provider of on-campus initial teacher education in Australia.

Our programs develop graduates who are:

• Inspirational teachers with the capability to act professionally, ethically and effectively in their classroom destinations
• Insightful scholars with the capability to engage in rational enquiry into curriculum, policy and practice
• Innovative leaders with the capability to play a constructive role in public discourse on and beyond education.

The health of the nation is a major issue in today's world. Teachers have a vital role to play in helping students develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to lead healthy lifestyles. The Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Health and Physical Education program at the University of Newcastle develops graduates who have the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for a highly successful career in health and physical education.

The Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/Bachelor of Health and Physical Education is offered as a four year full-time degree or part-time equivalent. The degree requires the successful completion of 320 units of study that are normally offered as 40 units per semester for eight semesters. Students will complete the equivalent of 90 days professional experience in relevant school settings.

If you have a passion for learning, a commitment to helping young people, and a desire to transform people's lives, you'll find teaching a truly rewarding career.

What you will study

In your first year you will be introduced to the foundations of education, learn how to incorporate technology into teaching and learning and commence studies in how to teach the core secondary personal development, health, and physical education (PDHPE) curriculum. Find out more

Gain real-world experience

Our degrees involve an exciting combination of courses including studies in the philosophy and psychology of learning and teaching and studies in the social and cultural contexts of education. Find out more

Graduating with Honours

With increasing competition in all sectors of employment, students who graduate with Honours have a distinct advantage. It is often considered by employers as an added skill and has been used by previous graduates to pursue higher positions and salaries. Find out more

Teachers are in demand

Now is a great time for you to get into teaching. Teachers are in demand both nationally and internationally, and this demand is only expected to increase as the current teaching workforce reaches retirement age. Find out more

What you will study

In your first year you will be introduced to the foundations of education, learn how to incorporate technology into teaching and learning and commence studies in how to teach the core secondary personal development, health, and physical education (PDHPE) curriculum. You will also begin study of sports science and health science; and begin your physical education studies with an examination of court and striking games, and motor skill development.

In your second year you will study the psychology of learning and teaching; the social contexts of education, the theory and practice of classroom and behaviour management and continue your study of health and sports science, and continue your physical education studies by learning about performance activities and invasion games. You will also engage in your first 20-day supervised professional experience placement in a secondary school.

In your third year you will study special education, or how to work with children who have additional learning needs, and have the opportunity to employ the strategies you learn in a 20-day supervised professional experience placement. You will also study Aboriginal education, policy and issues; and expand your repertoire by furthering your knowledge of PDHPE curriculum and pedagogy. You will also continue studies in health and sports science, and learn strategies for engaging people in lifetime physical activity.

In your final year you will study how to teach the discipline-specific literacies of your subject area, and engage in the study of how to teach senior PDHPE curriculum. You will complete your understanding of physical education by studying physical activity behaviour, sports coaching, and the sociology of sport and physical activity. Your year will conclude with a 50-day internship where you will be responsible for a series of PDHPE classes in a secondary high school.

Additional specialisation options

In this degree you will have the opportunity to take two elective courses. These may be taken in any area that you like, or in areas that will provide you with an additional competitive advantage in the job market upon graduation. Areas of specialisation that are available in this program and that may provide you with an edge in the career market include:

• special education
• Honours research.

This degree program is subject to approval from the NSW Institute of Teachers.

Gain real-world experience

Our degrees involve an exciting combination of courses including:

• studies in the philosophy and psychology of learning and teaching
• studies in the social and cultural contexts of education
• discipline studies (in areas related to school curricula)
• secondary specialist curriculum and pedagogy studies
• professional studies (including a minimum of 90 days professional experience)
• a minimum of 20 units of free electives.

Students in our degrees will complete a minimum of three professional experience placements.

In-school professional experiences are supervised by school or University staff and may involve placement in schools in geographic regions outside the Newcastle area. By the completion of the degree, students are expected to satisfy a range of professional teaching competencies and meet the graduate level Professional Teaching Standards of the NSW Institute of Teachers.

Graduating with Honours

With increasing competition in all sectors of employment, students who graduate with Honours have a distinct advantage. It is often considered by employers as an added skill and has been used by previous graduates to pursue higher positions and salaries. You can develop and carry out research on a topic of interest, potentially leading to further academic study such as a PhD.

As a student of the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) / Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, you may elect to complete an embedded Honours degree, assuming you meet and maintain the eligibility requirements, which are determined by the Academic Senate.

To be eligible for Honours, you must complete:

• EDUC4955 Education Honours I: Introduction to Education Research (10 units)
• EDUC4965 Education Honours II: Research Design and Methods (10 units)
• EDUC4990 Honours III: Project and Thesis (20 units)

You will be introduced to discussions and concepts in educational research. You will engage with key debates in the philosophy of social science, consider the role of theory in educational research as well as evaluate questions concerning ethical conduct and the building of productive research partnerships.

If you would like to understand more about studying an embedded Honours program and your eligibility, contact your program convenor.

Teachers are in demand

Now is a great time for you to get into teaching. Teachers are in demand both nationally and internationally, and this demand is only expected to increase as the current teaching workforce reaches retirement age.

According to the NSW Department of Education, demand for teachers is particularly strong in the secondary teaching areas of mathematics, science, technology, English, special education, legal studies, business studies and commerce.

However teachers of all secondary subjects can find work, often full-time, and certainly as casual and temporary teachers throughout NSW. Similar opportunities for graduates exist across State and Territory systems of education as well as in Catholic and Independent schools.

A rewarding career path

Teaching is an immensely rewarding career, where you can have a profound impact on young people’s education, career aspirations and lives generally.

Your work in schools can impact positively on local communities and even contribute to the creation of a better world. At its core, teaching is ethical and political work that is critical to how society functions. There are also opportunities for promotion within teaching as well as many opportunities to use a teaching degree as a basis for employment in other occupations.

A passport to travel

There are fantastic opportunities for teachers to take their professional knowledge and work across the globe. The recruitment of Australian teaching graduates is particularly strong in countries across Asia, the United Kingdom and the Americas, but similar opportunities can be found throughout the world.