Bachelor of Education (Secondary and Special Education)

This rich archaeology major sequence will focus on Ancient Israel and its material remains including landscapes, architecture, artefacts, and people. It will provide you with core instruction on archaeological evidence and theory combined with opportunities for hands-on experience in the field through a real archaeological excavation in Israel.

You will learn about ancient peoples in the Near East from earliest habitation through interactions of the ancient Israelites with the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Canaanites, Philistines, Greeks and finally the Romans. Along the way, you can choose to study related units in history, languages and science depending on your personal interest. You can broaden your experience with an intensive study trip to Rome where you will learn about its past and heritage. Top achieving students can undertake a personalised special research project and progress to honours.

While this major is primarily offered through the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation), archaeology is interdisciplinary. This means you will also have the opportunity to choose it as a major or minor within a range of other single and double degrees offered at ACU, such as theology, global studies, business, law, and education (availability of the major will vary across campuses).

The major is also a pathway to becoming a secondary-school history teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

The business studies major sequence offers you the opportunity to gain a broad understanding of units in human resource management, finance, marketing and accounting. If you’re studying a Bachelor of Arts you could choose to combine your business studies major with a range of related areas such as economics, politics and international relations or media.

The major is also a pathway to becoming a secondary-school business studies teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

Consider past, present and emerging technologies and investigate why people develop and use specific technologies and what their potential impacts are on individuals, communities and the environment.

In this design and technologies major sequence you will develop skills in areas including textiles, food and industrial design using timber, metal, plastics, 3D printing and electronics and will work toward developing innovative, product design projects. You will have the opportunity to select from the following sequences: food technology, textiles and design, industrial (timber, metal, electronics, engineering and graphics and multimedia), generic design and technology.

The major is also a pathway to becoming a secondary-school technologies teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

The Australian Government regards high-quality science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education as critically important for current and future productivity.

The major sequence in drama provides you with a comprehensive overview of theatrical literature and history and a grounding in production work. Through performances, workshops and practical classes, ACU’s drama sequence develops your skills in many areas including theatre production, stage management, direction, and acting, as well as knowledge of theatre history and repertoire. You’ll gain transferrable skills in communication and public speaking, allowing you to seek employment in the performing arts industry or use the skills developed in other professional contexts. When combined with an appropriate tertiary teaching qualification, the drama major is a pathway to becoming a secondary-school drama teacher. You do not need any previous theatre experience and there are no prerequisites for studying this sequence at ACU.

Through the study of a broad range of literary texts and approaches to reading them, the English major sequence familiarises you with literary traditions and contemporary literary cultures. This major sequence will reveal the varied ways in which people have lived, thought, felt and imagined, opening up new worlds of understanding. You will develop vital transferrable skills in effective reading, writing, analysis and interpretation that will equip you for a rewarding career in teaching, journalism, the media, or other professions that require articulate and culturally literate graduates.

The geography, environment and society major sequence exposes you to the major environmental issues and challenges our world faces today. It provides a methodology for analysis and interpretation and allows you to critically evaluate management strategies. There is an emphasis on project-based research and learning as the sequence progresses, with associated development of skills in data collection (in the field and from secondary sources), collation and analysis using industry-standard equipment and methods, including GIS and Remote Sensing. Field-based learning is a crucial aspect of studying geography at ACU, with opportunities for exciting field trips within Australia and overseas. These skills may then be applied to a range of applied professional situations.

The history major sequence brings the past to life by introducing you to a diverse range of societies and cultures that have shaped the modern world. History at ACU has an exciting and innovative global focus. You will have the opportunity to study European, American, Australian, Indigenous, Asian and Ancient history, and to engage with key themes such as war and peace, race and class, gender and sexuality, violence and terrorism, and film and popular culture. In exploring the people, ideas and events that have defined the past and given meaning to the present, you will develop critical skills that will equip you for a rich and rewarding professional career. 

The major sequence in mathematics is designed to provide you with a broad introduction to the study of traditional and contemporary mathematics. Highlights include introductions to cryptography, project management, networks, mathematical modelling, and finance. The major also covers the traditional areas required by those intending to become primary or secondary teachers, as teaching of mathematics from K-12 is a high demand field and the demand will grow in the future. The major sequence can act as a pathway to becoming a secondary-school maths teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

Our music major sequence develops your knowledge and skills in music language, analysis and musicianship. You’ll be supported to become a professional musician as you learn to apply the knowledge and skills required to perform, create, manipulate, interpret and critique music in safe and culturally appropriate ways, and in ways that align with the competency norms of Australia's creative industries. A music sequence does not require an audition for entry at ACU. The major is also a pathway to becoming a secondary-school music teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

Our multicultural societies are home to a vibrant mix of religious beliefs and experiences. Undertaking a major sequence in study of religions is an exploration of this diversity and its implications for contemporary society. You will study three of the major world religions —Christianity, Judaism and Islam — as well as having the opportunity to study religions practised in contemporary South and East Asia. We also look at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spiritualities, and their connectedness to Country, as well as exploring the spiritual and religious traditions of other Indigenous peoples from around the world. In all units of study, study of religions goes beyond merely understanding the practice of religion. You will graduate with a critical awareness of the historical and contemporary aspects of each religion, as well as the need for interfaith relations and dialogue.

Cultivate an adult faith and deeper spirituality. A major sequence in theological studies gives you new enthusiasm, fresh insight and deeper understanding to the gift of faith, and greater depth to spiritual experience. Key themes in theological studies include: the person and work of Jesus Christ; the Word of God in the Scriptures; the sacraments and the Church’s liturgy; and the values, practices, responsibilities and traditions of a Christian way of life. It relates faith, spirituality and scholarship to a concern for human flourishing, the common good, the dignity of the human person, and stewardship of the environment and all creation. Various theological approaches will be considered in the light of contemporary world views and interfaith dialogue. You can examine the theme of social justice and its importance in the mission and teaching of Jesus, a study which assists you in thinking critically about the world around you.

The major is also a pathway to becoming a secondary-school teacher when combined with a tertiary teaching qualification.

The visual arts major sequence provides a mix of art and design history and theory electives and studio-based fine art. You’ll experience a range of professional practice opportunities such as entering your work in art competitions, writing publish-ready interviews, articles and art reviews and presenting you artwork in group exhibitions in the ACU gallery. You will be trained by staff who are active practitioners in their field and benefit from small class sizes in an intimate studio environment. If you’re on an education pathway, you can combine a major in the visual arts with a teaching qualification to prepare you for secondary level visual arts teaching.