Overview

The Geography teaching area engages students with the major environmental challenges shaping our world and the ways people interact with places and environments. Students develop the skills to analyse and interpret environmental and social issues, critically evaluate management strategies, and apply geographical thinking to real‑world contexts.

Learning is strongly practice‑based, with an emphasis on project work, field investigations, and the use of contemporary tools and techniques such as GIS and remote sensing. Field‑based learning is a key feature, offering opportunities for hands‑on experiences in diverse locations within Australia and overseas. When undertaken as part of a teaching qualification, this teaching area prepares graduates to teach Geography in secondary schools while developing analytical, research, and problem‑solving skills valued across a range of professional settings.

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Completion requirements

Students in the

  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete:

First teaching area:

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

OR

Second teaching area:

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


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

First Teaching area:

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


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

*Please note students should also complete the Geography 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 Geography Postgraduate Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (CPA) units (Part C.2)

Students taking Geography as their First Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) or Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) must complete 60 credit points of Geography Discipline units as outlined below.

Part A.1 AND Part A.2 AND Part A.3

    Part A.1 : 100-level units

    Complete 10 to 20 credit points from the following:

  • GEOG110Exploring Natural Environments10 CP
  • GEOG111Exploring Human Environments10 CP

    • Part A.2 : 200-level units

    Complete 10 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • GEOG219Geography Research and Project Management10 CP

    COMPULSORY

  • GEOG214Sustainability: The Global Challenge10 CP
  • GEOG216Climate Change: Past, Present and Future10 CP
  • GEOG218Natural Disasters: Risk, Response and Resilience10 CP

    • Part A.3 : 300-level units

    Complete at least 20 credit points from the following:

  • GEOG310Sustainable Cities and Communities10 CP
  • GEOG311Catchments to Coasts10 CP
  • GEOG312Mapping for a Complex World10 CP
  • GEOG313Environmental and Heritage Management10 CP
  • HUMA319Rome Field School: Landscapes Past and Present10 CP
  • GEOG317Political Geography: Critical Approaches to Borders, Bodies and Mobility10 CP

Students taking Geography as their Second Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete 40 credit points of Geography Discipline units as outlined below.

Part B.1 AND Part B.2

    Part B.1 : 100-level units

    Complete 10 to 20 credit points from the following:

  • GEOG110Exploring Natural Environments10 CP
  • GEOG111Exploring Human Environments10 CP

    • Part B.2 : 200- and 300-level units

    Complete 20 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • GEOG214Sustainability: The Global Challenge10 CP
  • GEOG216Climate Change: Past, Present and Future10 CP
  • GEOG218Natural Disasters: Risk, Response and Resilience10 CP
  • GEOG219Geography Research and Project Management10 CP
  • GEOG310Sustainable Cities and Communities10 CP
  • GEOG311Catchments to Coasts10 CP
  • GEOG312Mapping for a Complex World10 CP
  • GEOG313Environmental and Heritage Management10 CP
  • HUMA319Rome Field School: Landscapes Past and Present10 CP
  • GEOG317Political Geography: Critical Approaches to Borders, Bodies and Mobility10 CP

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:

  • EDSS250Pedagogical Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (7 to 10)10 CP

    Required for all students

  • EDSS291Place-based Humanities and Social Science Pedagogies for Sustainable Futures10 CP

    For students with two Teaching Areas in Humanities and Social Science, who have already studied EDSS250.

    • 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:

  • EDSS550Pedagogical Studies in Humanities and Social Science (7 to 10)10 CP

    Required for all students

  • EDSS551Place Based Humanities and Social Science Pedagogies for Sustainable Futures10 CP

    For students with two Teaching Areas in Humanities and Social Science, who have already studied EDSS550.

    • 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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