Program Overview

Get the qualification you need to teach students from Years 7 to 12 in a teaching area you’re passionate about.

In addition, you will also choose a second teaching area (known as a minor), with the exception of Health and Physical Education (this must be combined together). By having qualifications in two teaching areas, you will have a competitive advantage with a variety of employers across Australia and overseas.

In this course, you’ll explore the role of education in society, learn how to manage a secondary level classroom, and get valuable experience working in school placements across the secondary years.

Major: Physical Sciences Teaching

This major will develop your understanding of the core concepts, subject matter and content relationships of Physical Sciences as well as the skills and knowledge on how to teach it! This involves learning about how adolescents learn, acquiring and practicing a range of strategies to engage and motivate, and learning about how to cater for students from different backgrounds.

To understand the concepts behind Physical Sciences, a second teaching area of Mathematics is also required. Therefore, this major is combined with the second teaching area of Maths.

Secondary Science teachers (trained in Physics and Chemistry) are in high demand due to ongoing shortages in the STEM related fields.

You’ll learn in a range of environments, from lectures and tutorials to labs and a range of practical placements.  You’ll also practice dealing with challenging behaviour, parent teacher interviews and other situations through our SimLabTM technology – a virtual classroom using actors and avatars, which is the only technology of its kind in WA.

3 reasons to study Education at Murdoch

• Learn to become a confident and motivated teacher as you get mentored by our experienced teaching professionals.
• Get essential experience in a range of practical placements which could include metropolitan, rural, remote, international, hard-to-staff, multicultural, hospital, private and state school environments.
• Build an online portfolio as part of your degree to share your experience with future employers.

What you’ll learn

• Essential content in Physics, Chemistry and Sciences to be qualified to teach up to and including ATAR Year 11 and 12 Physics and Chemistry.
• Essential content in Mathematics to be qualified to teach up to and including ATAR Year 11 and 12 Mathematics Specialist.
• A range of teaching and instructional strategies to explore Maths and Sciences in Secondary classes
• The diverse roles and responsibilities of being a Secondary teacher in Australians schools