Education Studies
The Education Studies major and minor is offered by the Sydney School of Education and Social Work.
Education units can be taken as part of a major in the field, or as unit choices for students taking other majors. If you are interested in taking individual Education units, check the necessary prerequisites listed in the unit of study table.
About the major and minor
Education is the means by which we learn about the world and our place within it. More than this, educational practices shape how we think and play an active role in determining the forms of knowledge, cultural practices and identities that come to matter in society. Education is a meaning making practice.
Education is not only intended for students enrolled in initial teacher education programs. It offers a means by which others may reflect upon their own experiences of learning, and develop a deeper understanding of how schooling, and other types of formal and informal learning, function in society in ways that produce difference, inequality and opportunity.
A major in Education Studies supports you to apply knowledge from diverse fields of study such as Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, Psychology, Sociology, and History to problems in education. It will challenge you to become a more informed, critical and active citizen in a world in which knowledge is exploding, and contests over the authenticity of knowledge demand active life-long critical thinkers. The development of these kinds of thinkers is a primary goal of education in democratic societies.
The Education Studies major is a compulsory component for Bachelor of Education courses that commence in 2022 onwards.
Learning outcomes
| No. | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|
| 1 | Critically appraise the potential of teachers’ work to make creative, positive contributions to enhancing learning outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds. |
| 2 | Select and apply appropriate knowledge from a range of disciplines to inform professional practice. |
| 3 | Develop and apply pedagogical practice informed by theory, policy and research to achieve positive outcomes for students, families and communities. |
| 4 | Actively and collaboratively seek opportunities to enhance professional practice through feedback, mentoring, research, and professional learning. |
| 5 | Can identify and purposefully engage in culturally responsive pedagogies that are inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledges. |
| 6 | Critically appraise dominant constructions and sources of knowledge about peoples, societies, and institutions and challenge those that undermine equitable approaches to practice. |
| 7 | Present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences using flexible modes of communication. Construct and engage with research-informed arguments about the role and function of education in society. |
| 8 | Work ethically, inclusively and collaboratively in partnership with professional colleagues, students, families and communities in ways that recognize and promote diversity. |
Honours
Honours in Education Studies will be available from 2025.
Honours admission requirements
Admission to Honours is via the Bachelor of Advanced Studies or Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and requires the completion of a major in Education Studies with an average of 70% or above.
Prior to commencing honours, you will need to ensure you have completed all other requirements of the Bachelor of Education, Bacehlor of Arts or other bachelor degree, including Open Learning Environment (OLE) units and, where undertaking the Bachelor of Advanced Studies, a second major.
Contacts and further information
Website: Sydney School of Education and Social Work
Education Program Support Team
Phone: +61 2 9351 2634
Email: