Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education for 2012

Why study Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education?

The Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education (Secondary) double degree is suited to students with a passion for music, who want to share their passion with students in secondary schools. By combining studies of music with the theory and practice of teaching, you will qualify as a music professional and as a secondary school teacher.

Music education in secondary schools often extends beyond the classroom to include choirs, instrumental ensembles, and school productions. Participation in musical activities can improve a student's academic performance, strengthen school community ties and further develop personal and interpersonal skills.

In your music studies you will study music from practical, theoretical, critical, historical and contextual points of view. You will develop your skills in musical performance and musicology; effective communication; analysing and interpreting music for performance and conducting; and you will learn how to think independently about the issues surrounding music performance and promotion in the community. You will complete two major sequences in music, one in performance, and one chosen from musicology, composition or ethnomusicology.

The education studies provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical foundations of education, curriculum studies and practical teaching experience. Secondary education studies include adolescent learning, curriculum development, assessment, language and literacy and your curriculum specialisms. You will gain an understanding of the nature of education, classroom teaching and practice in schools, and the relationship between education and society. You will also gain valuable classroom experience by completing professional placements, undertaking a minimum of 80 days of supervised teaching placement in schools or other appropriate settings, which may include some overseas locations. The faculty's partnerships and placements office organise each placement. These placements give you vital teaching experience as well as connecting the theoretical components of your studies with the practical aspects of teaching. Placements occur throughout the program, and the duration of placements vary as the program progresses, increasing as your skills, knowledge and confidence improve. By the end of the professional placements, you will be experienced teaching in front of a class and ready to start your teaching career.

The Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) requires the successful completion of units totalling 216 credit points. The study equivalent to achieve 216 credit points would normally be 4.5 years of full time study; however this course has been structured to allow completion in just 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time. This is made possible by the incorporation of a 12 credit point study overload in Music in the third year and a 12 credit point study overload in the final year of the course.