Biology and Environmental Science Major Teaching Area

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Major details for:

Study mode: Full Time Part Time
Study mode: Full Time
Murdoch code: MJ-BEVS

Major overview

Become a science teacher and inspire curiosity about the natural world

If you’re fascinated by living systems and the environment around us, study a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Teaching) with a Biology and Environmental Science Teaching major and share the wonder of science and nature with the next generation. You’ll develop the knowledge and classroom skills to teach science in secondary schools, including Biology and Environmental Science for Year 11 and 12 students.

Build classroom confidence early in your secondary education degree using our SimLab™ virtual classroom technology. In this simulated environment, you’ll practise guiding discussions, managing behaviour and responding to real-world teaching scenarios before stepping into your first school placement.

You’ll then apply what you’ve learned in real classrooms through placements across a wide range of education settings. These may include metropolitan, rural or remote schools, as well as international, multicultural, hospital, private and state school environments.

Throughout your studies, you’ll strengthen your scientific knowledge while developing the teaching skills needed to help students investigate the natural world, ask questions and think critically about science. As part of your teaching degree, you’ll also study English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences or Secondary Education Support as a second teaching area, broadening your expertise.

By the time you complete your degree, you’ll have built an online teaching portfolio showcasing your lesson plans, teaching resources and reflections to share with future employers as you begin your teaching career.

Engineering students inspecting electrical switchgear on campus

3 reasons to study science teaching at Murdoch University

Practise teaching strategies in SimLab™, a virtual classroom environment where you can rehearse challenging classroom situations before entering your first school placement.
Develop experience across diverse learning environments through placements that may include metropolitan, rural, remote, international, multicultural, hospital, private and state school settings.
Build a professional online portfolio to demonstrate your lesson planning, classroom practice and teaching approach to future employers.

What you’ll learn

Encourage curiosity and critical thinking about biological and environmental systems.
Design engaging science lessons for secondary school students.
Apply effective teaching strategies that support diverse learners.
Manage classrooms and respond confidently to challenging behaviour.
Reflect on your teaching practice while building a professional teaching portfolio.

I think if you want to make change, then you need to be looking for places that enable you to show that you care. And Murdoch did that. Murdoch did that for me.

Jason Pitman, Education
Read full student story

Jason, Murdoch Student, with teaching staff in Murdoch building

Education student with children playing sports

Your future career in teaching

Become a high school science teacher and help students explore how living systems and the environment shape the world around them. With our Biology and Environmental Science Teaching major, you’ll be qualified to teach science in secondary schools, including Biology and Environmental Science for Year 11 and 12 students. Graduates from this major pursue careers across government and independent schools, specialist education programs and diverse learning environments.

Potential roles include:

Secondary school biology teacher
Environmental science ATAR teacher
Science or STEM specialist
Curriculum or subject coordinator
Head of Learning Area (HOLA)

For more details about our Biology and Environmental Science Teaching major, download our information pack.

Start dates

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Starting period	Location	Face to Face	Online	Mixed mode
Semester 1, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No

View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.

Major Structure

Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Unit code	Unit name	Credit points

How to Apply

Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.

Undergraduate Course

Bachelor of Education (Secondary Teaching)

Ready to inspire the next generation? This teaching degree will give you valuable experience and a competitive edge to launch your secondary teaching career.

Code: B1368

Selection rank: 70

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1300 687 3624

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3 reasons to study science teaching at Murdoch University

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