Biology and Human Biology Major Teaching Area

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Major details for:

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

Major overview

Become a biology teacher and bring the science of life into the classroom

Fascinated by how living organisms function and how the human body works? Turn that curiosity into a teaching career with the Biology and Human Biology Teaching major in our Bachelor of Education (Secondary Teaching). This major gives you the qualification needed to teach secondary science, including Biology and Human Biology to Years 11 and 12.

Early in your secondary education degree, you’ll build classroom confidence using our SimLab™ virtual classroom technology where you can practise leading lessons, managing behaviour and responding to classroom challenges before entering your first school placement.

You’ll then apply these skills through placements in a wide range of education settings, which may include metropolitan, rural or remote schools as well as international, multicultural, hospital, private and state school environments.

Throughout your teaching degree, you’ll deepen your understanding of biological science while building the teaching skills needed to guide students in exploring living systems and the human body, and learn how to encourage curiosity, questioning and critical thinking in the science classroom. To broaden your employment opportunities, you’ll also study English, Mathematics, Humanities and Social Sciences or Secondary Education Support as a second teaching area.

Along the way, you’ll also develop an online teaching portfolio featuring 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.
Gain practical teaching experience across diverse learning environments, from metropolitan schools to rural, remote, international and specialist education settings.
Demonstrate your teaching capabilities with a professional online portfolio featuring lesson plans, teaching resources and reflections to share with future employers.

What you’ll learn

Plan and deliver engaging Biology and Human Biology lessons for secondary school students.
Develop strategies for teaching general science topics in lower secondary years.
Guide students in investigating living systems, ecosystems and the human body.
Create safe and effective laboratory and classroom learning environments.
Reflect on and refine 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

With our Biology and Human Biology Teaching major, you’ll gain the qualification needed to teach secondary science subjects such as Chemistry, Physics and Earth and Space, as well as teach Biology and Human Biology to Years 11 and 12. By selecting a second teaching area, you’ll graduate with the ability to teach across multiple subjects, expanding your career opportunities in secondary schools.

Graduates from this major work across government and independent schools, specialist education programs and diverse learning environments.

Potential roles include:

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

For more details about our Biology and Human Biology 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	No	No
Semester 2, 2026	Murdoch	No	Yes	No
Semester 1, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	Yes	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	Yes	No	No
Semester 2, 2027	Murdoch	No	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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