Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to:

1. apply critically concepts and theories from the foundation, Effective Teaching, Education Studies and CPA units to analyse, critically reflect on and question school-based experiences and improve their teaching.
2. synthesise complex information, concepts, theories and current debates relevant to secondary education and apply this knowledge to their teaching practice and professional engagement.
3. plan and implement effective and engaging learning environments that support equitable and ethical outcomes and the advancement of disadvantaged communities, including those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, based on effective communication and well-established relationships with key stakeholders.
4. apply pedagogical approaches, and learning resources, to address a range of problems in their teaching and evaluate their effectiveness through a process of evidence-based inquiry, working both autonomously and in collaboration with others.
5. evaluate issues of equity and social justice in Australian classrooms, schools, and education systems, and their impact on students and communities, through the triangulation of learners’ reflection on their own experience, their professional experience and their critical reading of the literature.
6. meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teaching at the Graduate level.

Graduates of this degree will have the skills, knowledge and practical hands-on practical experience required to teach in secondary schools. Graduates may also find career opportunities in education administration, policy development within the education sector, government or not for profit organisations, adult learning, community and advocacy agencies, youth agencies, training or consultancy.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as a secondary teachers in government, independent, Catholic, and other faith-based schools. This program has been listed on the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) accredited programs list and meets the teacher education component of the qualification requirement for registration (accreditation) as a secondary school teacher in all states and territories. Online students who successfully complete this course will be eligible to apply for teacher registration in Victoria. Those seeking registration in other states/territories can apply for registration under mutual recognition.

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:

1. have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification, with:
   1. a major study in one teaching area; and
      1. demonstrate suitability for teaching as evidenced by completion of the relevant State assessment, which will be provided in the application process.
   2. a separate minor study in a second teaching area, that may be separate from or related to the major study area;
   3. be able to select from teaching areas that are available within the course and meet the requirements of the applicant's local state/territory registration authority, and
   4. the combination of teaching areas identified would usually prepare the applicant to teach across all year levels of secondary schooling.

Applicants who completed Bachelor degrees outside Australia should review the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy to determine if they are required to meet additional English Language Proficiency requirements for entry into the course.

Applicants seeking teacher registration in Australia should check with state registration bodies to confirm English Language Proficiency requirements for teacher registration.

Practicum placement

Students must complete a minimum of 60 days of professional experience, during which time they are required to be available full-time. Supervised professional experience is at the heart of all our pre-service teacher education courses and the faculty will find appropriate placements to suit the needs of your course. Professional experience units are planned as a specific sequence allowing for progressive development of both classroom-based proficiency and an understanding of the relevance of theory to practice and practice to theory. These units apply skills, techniques and processes taught in the Foundations Studies and Professional Studies units.

The practicum will be supported by other forms of in-school experiences, such as school-based tutorials and workshops.

Placements will usually be arranged for the scheduled placement period in the professional experience calendar though this may not always be possible. The Professional Experience program consists of a minimum of 60 days of teaching rounds, usually broken into three blocks.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Coordinator about applying for RPL.

Transform your work and life experience into a teaching career. Graduate ready to design and implement engaging and flexible learning experiences to inspire and positively influence young people. The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is a graduate entry, initial teacher education course for those who want to teach in secondary schools. Whether you are looking for a complete career change or are a recent graduate, your undergraduate degree will form the foundations for your specialist teaching areas in this course. This course will prepare you to teach in one or two specialist teaching areas, depending on your undergraduate degree. Learn the craft of teaching from highly experienced mentor teachers in a range of educational contexts.

The following senior secondary level teaching areas are available (with some variations from state to state), with students also able to teach in the corresponding subjects in the junior levels:

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Business, Economics, English, History, Physical Education, Religious Education/Studies of Religion.

Recommended Study Pattern

To qualify for this degree, a student must complete 160 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:

a. 100 cp from Education Studies and Effective Teaching Units (Part A)

b. 40 cp from Curriculum Studies Units (Part B) consisting of either:

20 cp in each of two teaching subjects OR

40 cp from one teaching subject

c. 0 cp from ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Units (Part C)

d. 20 cp from Elective units (Part D)

Other requirements

All students enrolled must have the appropriate approvals before they may enter a classroom.

These are Blue Card (Queensland), Working with Vulnerable People Registration (Australian Capital Territory), or Working with Children Check (New South Wales, Western Australia, and Victoria), Working with Children Clearance (Northern Territory), or Police Record Check (South Australia and Tasmania).