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- The Course
- Course Structure
- Admission Requirements
- Additional Requirements
- Cost of Study
- How to Apply
- About the School
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Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) /
Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) BSocSc(Psych) BTeach(Sec)
CSU’s Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) is a special double degree course offering secondary teacher-training plus foundation studies in psychology in preparation for further study to qualify as a psychologist / school counsellor.
About the course
This four-year double degree program is specifically designed to provide the prerequisites for school counsellor training.
It provides accredited qualifications in teaching and the prerequisites for postgraduate study in psychology. Provided you gain a Credit average in your psychology major in the double degree, are willing to work in a designated workforce needs area in NSW, and have suitable personal qualities, you can apply for DET sponsorship to continue training as a school counsellor, including completing the Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology. Following successful internship you would then be a teacher and a psychologist.
Where it will take you
The NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) has a considerable and growing need for school counsellors.
On completion of this course, you can apply for sponsorship by DET to continue down the path towards a school counsellor qualification. If successful in gaining DET sponsorship, you are initially employed to teach full-time in a DET school in either non-coastal rural NSW or western or south western metropolitan Sydney for a period of two years, following which you enter school counsellor retraining and gain a postgraduate qualification in psychology.
If you prefer to remain a teacher, the double degree will qualify you to teach in secondary schools throughout Australia and in many overseas countries.
If you wish to become a psychologist in another field this course will qualify you for entry into any fourth year psychology program in preparation for specialist training, subject to meeting entry requirements. Psychologists are also employed in health, community services, corrective services as well as many private corporations.
School counsellors
School counsellors are specialist personnel who have an important role in facilitating the social, emotional and educational development of young people in schools. They must be qualified as teachers and psychologists, and also have teaching experience. They work across all school grades from Kindergarten to Year 12 by:
- providing counselling services to students
- helping teachers develop their professional skills
- helping parents with problems their children may be having
- assessing children with special learning needs
- working with specialist learning teams
- referring students to other specialist services
and - working with principals and school staff to help make schools safe, friendly and conducive to learning.
Training pathway
School counsellor training takes a total of six years and has two phases.
Phase one is CSU’s four-year Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) / Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) double degree.
Phase two is the two-year DET school counsellor retraining program. To be eligible for entry into phase two students must have a meritorious academic record in their psychology studies.
Graduates of the double degree will be qualified as four-year trained teachers of English or Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education (PD/H/PE) and also possess the prerequisites for entry into the fourth-year psychology programs.
Sponsorship selection
Graduates of the double degree may be sponsored by DET for phase two of school counsellor training if they:
- are eligible to enter the Postgraduate Diploma of Psychology
- are prepared to work in rural NSW
- are successful during their teaching practicums; and have suitable personal qualities.
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) component is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council and provides the prerequisites for postgraduate school counsellor training or for other accredited fourth year psychology programs leading to registration as a psychologist in NSW.
The Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) component will enable graduates to be employed as secondary teachers in NSW and elsewhere. This double degree is accredited by NSW DET as equivalent to four-year trained status.
Additional requirements
Refer to the Additional requirements section for information on:
- NSW Teachers Institute requirement
- Literacy requirement
- Criminal Record Clearance
- Senior First Aid Certificate
- Immunisation
Your course is recognised by industry
This course was developed in conjunction with education providers to meet their specified needs. It is also recognised and accredited by psychology professional bodies.
Professional experience
In-school professional experiences are provided where students can accumulate a substantial number of days in schools.
Graduation requirements
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points (32 subjects). Upon completion of the double degree, students graduate with two separate awards, the Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) and the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary).
Ask a question about this course.
For answers to common inquiries, please read the Frequently Asked Questions page.
This online course brochure is for prospective students. If you are a currently enrolled student, please consult the Charles Sturt University handbook