Introduction to Secondary Humanities and Social Sciences Education unit (EMT540)

Hobart, Online

Introduction

This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of the key subject disciplines, History and Geography, in the secondary school. Students will learn about key aspects of historical and geographical knowledge and understanding and skills and begin to understand how such discipline knowledge can be transformed into classroom practice. Emphasis will be given to learning about how to teach using primary sources and developing an understanding of the importance of fieldwork in History and Geography. Students learn how to examine Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences for planning, teaching and evaluating History and Geography lessons. Students will improve their research skills and knowledge of available teaching and learning resources. Students will experience a variety of teacher- and student-centred teaching and learning strategies.

Summary

Unit name	Introduction to Secondary Humanities and Social Sciences Education
Unit code	EMT540
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Faculty of Education
Discipline	Education
Coordinator	Doctor Bianca Coleman
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Postgraduate

Availability

Location	Study period	Attendance options		Available to
Hobart	Semester 2
Online	Semester 2

Note

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.

Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period	Start date	Census date	WW date	End date
Semester 2	5/7/2026	27/7/2026	30/8/2026	24/10/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

• Design effective teaching and learning activities for secondary students that are consistent with the Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Create learning resources, which may include ICT resources, which support secondary students understanding of content and skills from the Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Evaluate teaching resources and learning sequences based on an understanding of subject-specific pedagogies and methods for teaching
• Incorporate theoretical and professional literature, and apply academic language and APA referencing conventions, to communicate ideas about teaching the Australian Curriculum: Humanities and Social Sciences in the secondary school

Fee Information

Field of Education	Commencing Student Contribution 1,3	Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3	Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3	Domestic Full Fee 4
070105	$592.00	$592.00	not applicable	$2,562.00

• Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
• HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility³
• FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility⁴

¹ Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
² Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
³ Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
⁴ Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Concurrent Prerequisites

EMT502

Teaching

Assessment	Explanation of History and Geography (20%)|Geography Lesson Sequence (40%)|History Lesson Sequence (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Taylor, T., Fahey, C., Kriewaldt, J. & Boon, D. (2019). Place and time: Teaching history, geography and social science (2nd ed.). Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson.   Note: The textbook is available as for a limited loan period for the University Library as an eBook. Reading Lists provide direct access to all material on unit reading lists in one place. This includes eReadings and items in Reserve. You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.

Recommended

Allender, T. Clark, A., & Parkes, R. (Eds). (2019). Historical thinking for history teachers: A new approach to engaging students and developing historical consciousness. Allen & Unwin.   Gilbert, R., & Hoepper, B. (Eds.). (2017). Teaching humanities and social sciences: History, geography, economics and citizenship in the Australian Curriculum (6th ed.). Cengage.  McInerney, M., Caldis, S., Cranby, S., Butler, J., & Maude, A. (2021). Teaching secondary geography. Cambridge.

The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.