Overview

The Music teaching area develops students’ knowledge and skills in music language, analysis, and musicianship, preparing them to teach music with confidence in educational settings. Students build the capability to perform, create, interpret, and critically evaluate music, while learning to apply these skills in safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive ways aligned with contemporary educational and creative industry practices. This teaching area offers a broad, generalist music education that supports pathways into secondary classroom teaching, as well as related professional fields such as community music education and music therapy. An audition is not required for entry into the Music teaching area at ACU, making it accessible to students with a passion for music and teaching.

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Completion requirements

Students in the

  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete:

First teaching area:

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

OR

Second teaching area:

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


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

First Teaching area:

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


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

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

Students taking Music as their First Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) or Bachelor of Education (Primary and Secondary) must complete 60 credit points of Music 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:

  • MUSC161Foundations of Music Practice10 CP
  • MUSC162Writing About Music: Legacies and Futures10 CP

    • Part A.2 : 200-level units

    Complete 10 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • MUSC202Music in Australia10 CP
  • MUSC268Song Writing and Arranging10 CP
  • MUSC269Contemporary Harmony10 CP
  • MUSC277Western Art Music: Evolution and Revolution10 CP
  • MUSC280Music, Culture and Diversity10 CP
  • MUSC281Popular Music: Stage and Screen10 CP

    • Part A.3 : 300-level units

    Complete 10 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • MUSC335Composing Music10 CP
  • MUSC336Researching Music10 CP
  • MUSC337Ensemble Direction and Performance10 CP
  • HUMA320Major Creative Project10 CP

    Restriction requirement for HUMA320. Permission from the National Head of School or Course Coordinator is required prior to enrolling in this unit if you wish to count towards a particular major.

  • HUMA332Arts and Humanities Special Project10 CP

    Restriction requirement for HUMA332. Permission from the National Head of School or Course Coordinator is required. Quotas apply. An application process will apply for special projects on offer and academic merit will be considered. The student must be undertaking a major taught by the National School of Arts and Humanities (not including Mathematics and Technology).

Students taking Music as their Second Teaching Area in the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete 40 credit points of Music 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:

  • MUSC161Foundations of Music Practice10 CP
  • MUSC162Writing About Music: Legacies and Futures10 CP

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

    Complete 20 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • MUSC202Music in Australia10 CP
  • MUSC268Song Writing and Arranging10 CP
  • MUSC269Contemporary Harmony10 CP
  • MUSC277Western Art Music: Evolution and Revolution10 CP
  • MUSC280Music, Culture and Diversity10 CP
  • MUSC281Popular Music: Stage and Screen10 CP
  • MUSC335Composing Music10 CP
  • MUSC336Researching Music10 CP
  • MUSC337Ensemble Direction and Performance10 CP
  • HUMA320Major Creative Project10 CP

    300-level cross-credited electives Restriction requirement for HUMA320. Permission from the National Head of School or Course Coordinator is required prior to enrolling in this unit if you wish to count towards a particular major.

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:

  • EDMU250Pedagogical Studies in Music (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 : C.2

    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:

  • EDMU550Pedagogical Studies in Classroom Music (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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