Overview

The English teaching area invites students to explore the power of stories, language, and ideas, and to discover how texts help us make sense of the world. Students engage with a wide range of literary and contemporary texts while developing strong skills in reading, writing, speaking, and critical thinking. When studied as part of a teaching qualification, English prepares future teachers to share their enthusiasm for literature and language with young people, and to create inclusive, engaging classrooms where discussion, creativity, and interpretation are valued. Graduates are well prepared to teach English in secondary schools and to communicate thoughtfully and confidently in a wide range of professional and community settings.

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Completion requirements

Students in the

  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete:

First teaching area:

  • 60 cp from English Discipline Area units (Part A)
  • 20 cp from English Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)

OR

Second teaching area:

  • 40 cp from English Discipline area units (Part B)
  • 20 cp from English Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)


  • Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) must complete:

First Teaching area:

  • 60 cp from English Discipline Area units (Part A)
  • 20 cp from English Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)


  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/Bachelor of Arts must complete:
  • 20 cp from English Undergraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.1)

*Please note students should also complete the English Major (First Teaching Area) or Minor (Secondary Teaching Area) as part of the Bachelor of Arts


  • Master of Teaching (Secondary)
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Internship)
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Leading Learning)
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary) /Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
  • Bachelor of Arts/Master of Teaching (Secondary)
  • Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation)/Master of Teaching (Secondary) must complete:
  • 20 cp from English Postgraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.2)


Students studying English as their First Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) or Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) must complete 60 credit points of English discipline units as outlined in Part A.1 (on-campus courses) OR A.2 (Employment-based or online courses).

Part A.1 OR Part A.2

    Part A.1 : On-campus courses

    • Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
    • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with Special Education Major
    • Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary)

    Part A.1.1 AND Part A.1.2 AND Part A.1.3

    Part A.1.1 : 100-level discipline units

    Complete 10 to 20 credit points from the following:

  • ENGL110Reading Literature: Form and Genre10 CP
  • ENGL111Literature Across Time and Space10 CP
    • Part A.1.2 : 200-level discipline units

    Complete 10 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • ENGL200Nineteenth-Century Literature: Revolutions in Writing10 CP
  • ENGL202Twentieth-Century Literature10 CP
  • ENGL204American Writing10 CP
  • ENGL205Australian Literature for Children and Young Adults10 CP
  • ENGL210Shakespeare and the Renaissance10 CP
  • ENGL221Cultural Studies10 CP
  • ENGL224Romantic Generations10 CP
  • ENGL231Australian Literature10 CP
  • ENGL232Irish Literature10 CP
  • ENGL234The Literature of Other Worlds: Fantasy and Science Fiction10 CP
  • ENGL235Writing with Style10 CP
  • ENGL236Writing Asia10 CP
  • ENHU271Literature and the Environment10 CP
  • PERF215On Screen: Movies, TV, Video Games10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • WRIT200Creative Writing International10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • WRIT201Emerging Writing10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • WRIT230Creative Non-Fiction10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

    • Part A.1.3 : 300-level discipline units

    Complete at least 20 of the following:

  • ENGL331Literary Theory Ways of Reading10 CP

    COMPULSORY UNIT

  • ENGL333Global Literary Cultures10 CP
  • ENGL334Reading and Writing the Self10 CP
  • ENGL336Literature in a Digital World10 CP
  • ENGL338Adaptation: From Page to Screen10 CP
  • ENGL339Gothic Fiction10 CP
  • HUMA332Arts and Humanities Special Project10 CP

    Restriction requirement for HUMA332. A quota applies to this unit. An application process applies for special projects on offer and academic merit will be considered. The student must have a GPA of at least 5.5 and be undertaking a major taught by the National School of Arts and Humanities (not including Education Studies, Mathematics and Technology). Permission from the National Head of School is required prior to enrolling in this unit.

  • HUMA318The Literature and Drama of New York City10 CP

    • Part A.2 : Online courses (Employment Pathway or ACUO version)

    Complete exactly 60 credit points from the following:

  • ENGL110Reading Literature: Form and Genre10 CP
  • ENGL111Literature Across Time and Space10 CP
  • ENGL205Australian Literature for Children and Young Adults10 CP
  • ENGL234The Literature of Other Worlds: Fantasy and Science Fiction10 CP
  • ENGL331Literary Theory Ways of Reading10 CP
  • ENGL339Gothic Fiction10 CP

    • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with an Employment Pathway
    • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with a major in Special Education and an Employment Pathway
    • Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) ACU Online


Students studying English as their Second Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete 40 credit points of English discipline units as outlined in Part B.1 (on-campus) OR B.2 (employment-based).

Part B.1 OR Part B.2

    Part B.1 : On-campus

    Bachelor of Education (Secondary)

    Part B.1.1 AND Part B.1.2

    Part B.1.1 : 100-level discipline units

    Complete 10 to 20 credit points from the following:

  • ENGL110Reading Literature: Form and Genre10 CP
  • ENGL111Literature Across Time and Space10 CP
  • ENGL140Children's Literature: Worlds of Fiction10 CP
    • Part B.1.2 : 200 and 300-level discipline units

    Complete 20 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • ENGL200Nineteenth-Century Literature: Revolutions in Writing10 CP
  • ENGL202Twentieth-Century Literature10 CP
  • ENGL204American Writing10 CP
  • ENGL205Australian Literature for Children and Young Adults10 CP
  • ENGL210Shakespeare and the Renaissance10 CP
  • ENGL221Cultural Studies10 CP
  • ENGL224Romantic Generations10 CP
  • ENGL231Australian Literature10 CP
  • ENGL232Irish Literature10 CP
  • ENGL234The Literature of Other Worlds: Fantasy and Science Fiction10 CP
  • ENGL235Writing with Style10 CP
  • ENGL236Writing Asia10 CP
  • ENHU271Literature and the Environment10 CP
  • PERF215On Screen: Movies, TV, Video Games10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • WRIT200Creative Writing International10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • WRIT201Emerging Writing10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • WRIT230Creative Non-Fiction10 CP

    Cross-credited units that count in the English major

  • ENGL331Literary Theory Ways of Reading10 CP
  • ENGL333Global Literary Cultures10 CP
  • ENGL334Reading and Writing the Self10 CP
  • ENGL336Literature in a Digital World10 CP
  • ENGL338Adaptation: From Page to Screen10 CP
  • ENGL339Gothic Fiction10 CP
  • HUMA318The Literature and Drama of New York City10 CP
  • HUMA332Arts and Humanities Special Project10 CP

    Restriction requirement for HUMA332. A quota applies to this unit. An application process applies for special projects on offer and academic merit will be considered. The student must have a GPA of at least 5.5 and be undertaking a major taught by the National School of Arts and Humanities (not including Education Studies, Mathematics and Technology). Permission from the National Head of School is required prior to enrolling in this unit.

    • Part B.2 : Online courses (Employment Pathway)

    Complete exactly 40 credit points from the following:

  • ENGL110Reading Literature: Form and Genre10 CP
  • ENGL111Literature Across Time and Space10 CP
  • ENGL205Australian Literature for Children and Young Adults10 CP
  • ENGL234The Literature of Other Worlds: Fantasy and Science Fiction10 CP
  • ENGL331Literary Theory Ways of Reading10 CP
  • ENGL339Gothic Fiction10 CP

    • Bachelor of Education (Secondary)- employment pathway

All students studying an English Teaching Area in any degree must complete 20 points of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment units, as outlined below.

Part C.1 OR Part C.2

    Part C.1 : Undergraduate CPA units

    Part C.1.1 AND Part C.1.2

    Part C.1.1 : Junior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDEN250Pedagogical Studies in English (7 to 10)10 CP
    • Part C.1.2 : Senior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDCU350Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 110 CP

    Study as part of the First Teaching Area

  • EDCU351Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 210 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

  • EDCU352Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 310 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

    • Part C.2 : Postgraduate CPA units

    Part C.2.1 AND Part C.2.2

    Part C.2.1 : Junior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDEN550Pedagogical Studies in English (7 to 10)10 CP

    • Part C.2.2 : Senior Secondary CPA unit

    Complete exactly 10 credit points from the following:

  • EDCU650Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 110 CP

    Study as part of the First Teaching Area

  • EDCU651Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 210 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

  • EDCU652Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment for Senior Studies 310 CP

    Study as part of the Second Teaching Area

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