Overview

Religious Education as a teaching area provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the beliefs, values, practices and traditions of Christianity, with particular attention to the Catholic tradition and its contribution to contemporary society. The teaching area explores key themes such as Scripture, the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the sacraments, the Church, ethics, social justice and Catholic Social Teaching.

Students develop the knowledge and skills required to teach Religious Education in Catholic schools while engaging critically with questions of faith, meaning, identity and spirituality. The teaching area encourages reflection on issues of human dignity, the common good, inclusion and stewardship, and explores religion in dialogue with contemporary culture and diverse worldviews. Through this study, students develop the capacity to teach Religious Education in ways that are academically rigorous, engaging and responsive to the needs of diverse learners and school communities.

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Completion requirements

Students in the

  • Bachelor of Education (Secondary) must complete:

First teaching area:

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

OR

Second teaching area:

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


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

First Teaching area:

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


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

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



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

  • THBS100Introduction to the Bible10 CP
  • THCT100What Christians Believe10 CP

    • Part A.2 : 200-level units

    Complete 10 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • THBS205Narratives of Ancient Israel10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS209New Testament Letters10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS210The Canonical Gospels10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS211Psalms and Old Testament Wisdom Literature10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS212Jewish Society and Literature (516 BCE to 200 CE)10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS220Critical Approaches to the Bible: Interpretation and Exegesis10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THCT202Christian Symbol, Ritual and Sacrament10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT212Jesus the Christ10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT213The Triune God10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT215Defining Moments in Church History10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT220Theological Thinking and Methods10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCP224Marriage and Family: Catholic Faith and Practice10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP225Mission of the Church10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THEL214Cults, Gods and Religion in Ancient Rome10 CP
  • THEL215All Roads Lead to: Mapping Laudato Si' and UN Sustainable Development Goals10 CP

    • Part A.3 : 300-level

    Complete at least 20 credit points from the following:

  • THBS302Johannine Literature10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS303Biblical Prophets10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS304Archaeology and the Bible10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THCT307Church: Its Nature and Mission10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT308Contemporary Issues in Moral Theology10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT309The Spirit in Word and Life10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT310Australian Catholics: History and Identity10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT311The Christian Vision of Being Human10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT312Ecumenism: the Quest for Christian Unity10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT313Patristics: the Early Church Fathers10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT316Introduction to Moral Theology10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCP301Canon Law of the Church10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP304Christian Community Engagement10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP305Contemporary Approaches to Pastoral Practice20 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP306Theology, Immersion and Service-Learning10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THEL300Theology Special Study 110 CP

    Can be undertaking under any of the discipline areas listed above.

  • THEL301Theology Special Study 210 CP
  • THEL302Theology Special Study 310 CP
  • THEL303Theology Special Study 410 CP

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

  • THBS100Introduction to the Bible10 CP
  • THCT100What Christians Believe10 CP

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

    Complete 20 to 30 credit points from the following:

  • THBS205Narratives of Ancient Israel10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS209New Testament Letters10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS210The Canonical Gospels10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS211Psalms and Old Testament Wisdom Literature10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS212Jewish Society and Literature (516 BCE to 200 CE)10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS220Critical Approaches to the Bible: Interpretation and Exegesis10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THCT202Christian Symbol, Ritual and Sacrament10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT212Jesus the Christ10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT213The Triune God10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT215Defining Moments in Church History10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT220Theological Thinking and Methods10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCP224Marriage and Family: Catholic Faith and Practice10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP225Mission of the Church10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THBS302Johannine Literature10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS303Biblical Prophets10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THBS304Archaeology and the Bible10 CP

    Biblical Studies

  • THCT307Church: Its Nature and Mission10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT308Contemporary Issues in Moral Theology10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT309The Spirit in Word and Life10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT310Australian Catholics: History and Identity10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT311The Christian Vision of Being Human10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT312Ecumenism: the Quest for Christian Unity10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT313Patristics: the Early Church Fathers10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCT316Introduction to Moral Theology10 CP

    Christian Thought

  • THCP301Canon Law of the Church10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP304Christian Community Engagement10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP305Contemporary Approaches to Pastoral Practice20 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THCP306Theology, Immersion and Service-Learning10 CP

    Christian Practice

  • THEL300Theology Special Study 110 CP

    Can be undertaking under any of the discipline areas listed above.

  • THEL301Theology Special Study 210 CP
  • THEL302Theology Special Study 310 CP
  • THEL303Theology Special Study 410 CP
  • THEL214Cults, Gods and Religion in Ancient Rome10 CP
  • THEL215All Roads Lead to: Mapping Laudato Si' and UN Sustainable Development Goals10 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:

  • EDRE299Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment in Religious Education 110 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:

  • EDRE544Change and Continuity in Religious Education10 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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