VCE Planning & Units Offered

At Viewbank College, most students will undertake a VCE program of 22 units over 2 years.  Students will study 12 units, (6 per semester) at Year 11, and 10 units (5 per semester) at Year 12.  Variations on this program will, however, be available to some students.

VCE requirements direct students towards a breadth of choice while also enabling specialisation to suit individual aspirations. The selection of an appropriate course is of vital importance and should be carefully considered. 

Before final course decisions are made, all students will undergo individual interviews with Careers Counsellors, House Leaders or Heads of House.  It is here that details of course selection will be finalised in accordance with students' final reports.  Failure by any student to present for these final course selection interviews may jeopardise their chances of being enrolled in the subjects of their choice.

Students should consider the following guidelines and factors when choosing a VCE program and subjects. 

1. Career intentions - Studies should be appropriate for the career a student intends to follow. 

2. Future options - In choosing a VCE course, students should endeavour to keep career and further study options as open as possible. Consider two or three possible VCE courses rather than just one. 

3. Prerequisite subjects for tertiary courses - Many courses at universities have prerequisite studies. Students should research the prerequisites for courses they are interested in. Prerequisites are compulsory to gain entry into those courses. 

4. Interests and abilities - It is important that a student chooses studies which interest them and in which they can achieve. Students who choose unwisely and are unable to cope with a study may lose confidence and find themselves struggling in other studies as well. 

5. Achieving a balance - It is important to maintain a balance between career interests and the value of education in its own right. Students should attempt to balance their emotional, intellectual, physical and artistic needs when choosing their subjects. 

6. Resources  - The most useful resources are as follows: 

• www.viewbankcollegecareers.com which contains external links to post-school options, including universities, TAFEs, workplace learning and apprenticeships.

• The Careers staff at Viewbank College – this is the recommended primary resource for pathways information.

Students should discuss their subject selections with a wide range of interested people - parents, subject teachers, Careers staff and House Leaders/Heads of House. 

The school intends to offer the VCE units listed in this handbook.  However, subjects will only run if there is sufficient demand from students. The feasibility of a class running is dependent on many variables and constraints: the timetable, the minimum class size and the physical and human resources available at the school. Many of these issues cannot be dealt with until late in the year when results are known and the program for the rest of the school is determined.  The school also reserves the right to modify a student's course selection in view of his/her final report.

The College will always endeavour to satisfy the choices and requirements of as many students as possible. Unfortunately, there can be situations where students may not receive their first choice. 

VCE Units Offered (across year 11 & 12) 

Subjects Offered for Acceleration to students in prior year levels

Unit 1&2

• Biology
• Psychology
• Business Management
• Legal Studies
• History: Modern History
• Health and Human Development
• Physical Education
• German
• Japanese Second Language
• Applied Computing
• Food Studies
• Art: Creative Practice
• Media
• Visual Communication Design
• Music

Unit 3&4

• Biology
• Psychology
• Business Management
• Legal Studies
• Health and Human Development
• Physical Education
• German
• Japanese Second Language
• Applied Computing: Software Development
• Art: Creative Practice
• Media
• Visual Communication Design
• Music

Subjects Offered for Acceleration to Year 10 and Year 11 Students

Unit 3&4

• General Mathematics
• Environmental Science
• Outdoor and Environmental Studies