• Charles Sturt University has launched two new education degrees
• The Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Education (secondary) are tailored to today’s dynamic education sector
• The first intake of students will begin in 2025

Charles Sturt University has launched two new education degrees to help relieve the ongoing teacher shortages across Australia, especially in regional communities.

The Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Education (Secondary) courses are tailored to meet the needs of students via online-only and hybrid learning options and a dedicated placement team to ensure practical components of the courses can be completed close to home.

The new degrees, beginning in 2025, will be available through a combination of online and on-campus learning, with the primary education at Charles Sturt in Albury-Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Bathurst and Port Macquarie, as well as a completely online option, while the secondary education degree will be online only.

Course Director for the Bachelor of Education (Secondary) in the Charles Sturt School of Education, Dr Rachael Hutchesson, said the new offerings would prepare the next generation of teachers for a fulfilling career.

“The University has been teaching teachers for decades with a reputation for longevity, knowledge and success, and we aim to continue this with the new degrees,” she said.

Those studying the secondary education offering will be able to select two teaching areas to hone their skills in, including Human Society and its Environment (HSIE), Science, Creative Arts, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE), English and Mathematics.

“We understand that each of our students have different passions, skills and areas of expertise, so to be able to assist them in fine-tuning them is essential not only to their individual success, but also to be able to meet the demand for skilled educators in these specific fields,” Dr Hutchesson said.

“Employers seek educators who can adeptly integrate technological advancements while possessing a profound comprehension in areas like global history, economics, physics, biology, the arts, health and wellbeing, and much more.”

Course Director for the Bachelor of Education (Primary) in the Charles Sturt School of Education, Dr Tace Vigliante, said the new degree would provide students a qualification to teach across the primary years K-6 with the opportunity to choose a primary curriculum area such as PDHPE, Creative Arts, English, HSIE or STEM to specialise in.

Students can also focus on areas that complement and enhance their primary teaching abilities such as psychology, early childhood education or literacy and ICT in education in their elective studies.

“Students will be in schools from the first year of study in the Bachelor of Education (Primary),” Dr Vigliante said.

“Creating engaging and responsive learning environments that build on children’s curiosity about the world around them is truly an honour, and we provide our students with the theorical and practical expertise to achieve this,” Dr Vigliante said.

“But whether you aspire to guide the bright minds of students in kindergarten through to Year 6 or are drawn to the dynamic world of educating older students from Years 7 to 12, these two new programs are tailored to fuel your passion and prepare you for success in shaping the next generation and making a difference in their lives.”

The new degrees will also address ongoing struggles around cost of living and relocation stresses, with a dedicated team on board to assist in finding school placements across public, Catholic and independent schools within 60 minutes of a student’s home, anywhere in Australia.

Applications for the new degrees will open soon, with expressions of interest able to be logged online now via https://engage.csu.edu.au/teaching-degrees.