Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Curriculum Knowledge

Learn how best to teach the national and state curriculum in various classroom contexts.

Learning Environments

Create innovative learning environments that harness the power of educational technology to facilitate dynamic learning.

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills

Develop communication skills to explore educational leadership and policy, while navigating relationships with colleagues, students and their families.

Assessment Strategies

Use both qualitative and quantitative assessment methods to evaluate student progress and extend student learning.

Teaching Pedagogy

Analyse core teaching pedagogies – which focus on literacy and numeracy – as they are best applied across a range of subject areas.

Indigenous Education Perspectives

Develop an understanding of contemporary and historical Indigenous education perspectives, as a means to better engage with and advocate for Indigenous children and their families.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Strengthen your understanding of equity and diversity in education. Why it matters, and a teacher’s responsibility to cultivate an inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all students.

Become a secondary school teacher for the 21st century. As a secondary school teacher, you’ll have a crucial role to play in the development of young Australians.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased recognition that education will be fundamental to rebuilding the economy. Due to the shortage of secondary school teachers, the Department of Education and Training (DET) is seeking to increase the supply of quality teachers, and support future economic recovery.

Swinburne Online’s Master of Teaching (Secondary) can be studied in an accelerated mode that allows you to join the workforce quickly, or at your own pace. The course blends in-school experience with online coursework, and aims to equip you with a holistic skill set that balances teaching methods with care for students’ wellbeing.

As a Swinburne Online student, you will also have access to unique development opportunities. These include the Swinburne Teachers and Regional Remote Schools (STARS) program, which is part of the Access Quality Teaching Initiative. The program will place you in professional experience placements in regional, remote and/or lower socio-educational advantage schools in Victoria, giving you valuable experience with a diverse range of educational communities.

Increasing innovation within school settings is the new priority within classrooms, as well as preparing secondary school students for the enriching, technology-centric careers that will define the future workforce.

Upon graduation, you will be eligible for provisional registration by the Victorian Institute of Teaching as a secondary teacher, or – by reciprocal arrangements – with teacher education authorities in other states.

This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). To check reciprocal arrangements, please contact VIT or the registering authority in the state/territory you wish to register to teach.

Recommended study pattern

Core units

Understanding Behaviour for Classroom Practice (EDU60016)

Curriculum Development, Assessment and Responsive Pedagogy (EDU60043)

Transformative Technologies in Education (EDU70013)

Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum (EDU70014)

Understanding Indigenous Education & Perspectives (EDU80012)

Assessment and Data (EDU80013)

Teaching for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDU80014)

Innovation for Education (EDU80018)

Educational Leadership and Policy (EDU80019)

Building and Sustaining Positive Relationships (EDU80048)

Teacher Professionalism and Ethical Conduct (EDU80050)

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 1 (EDU60050)

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 2 (EDU80060)

Supervised Practicum units

Professional Experience 1 (EDU70017)

Professional Experience 2 (EDU80051)

Professional Experience 3 (Ready to Teach) (EDU80021)

Specialist Teaching areas

To undertake the Master of Teaching (Secondary) you are required to qualify for two specialist teaching areas, with at least one being a major teaching area.

Major Teaching area

A major will be equivalent to three-quarters of a year of prior full-time study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over three years. In most programs, this equates to six units, with no more than two at first-year level and no fewer than two at third-year level.

Minor Teaching area

A minor will be equivalent to half a year of prior full time study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over two years. In most programs, this equates to four units, with no more than two at first-year level.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Teaching (Secondary), students must complete 16 units 200 credit points comprising:

• 13 core units (182.5 credit points)
• 1 supervised practicum unit (12.5 credit points)
• 2 supervised practicum units (0 credit points).

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $51,360

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

17

Applicants require a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification that includes at least a major study in one approved secondary teaching area (equivalent to one year full time equivalent study) and a minor in at least one other recognised teaching area (equivalent to half a year of full time study). Both undergraduate and postgraduate prior study can be considered in your teaching area(s) method(s) assessment. For approved teaching areas, please visit the Victorian VCE study design and ACARA subject areas.

CASPer suitability tool

From 2018, under the new AITSL and government Initial Teacher Education (ITE) requirements, all students applying to ITE courses across Australia will need meet suitability for teaching (non-academic selection) criteria as a part of course entry criteria.

If you’re looking to apply for our Master of Teaching (Secondary) course, you will need to complete the CASPer suitability tool.

Additional requirements

Admission to this course will consider both academic and non-academic results. All applicants must sit a selection assessment for non-academic personal and professional attributes.

Applicants applying to transfer from an initial teacher education course from another Provider must disclose all LANTITE (National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students) attempts.

Applicants who have unsuccessfully attempted the LANTITE three or more times will not be eligible to receive an offer.

Evidence of English language proficiency is not required if the applicant has completed a bachelor degree in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland.

For Bachelor degrees completed in other countries, the following criteria applies:

• IELTS (Academic Module): Overall 7.0 with no individual band below 7.0 and a score of no less than 7.5 in speaking and listening; or
• Swinburne English Language Centre: EAP 5 Advanced level with overall 75% and all skills 70% or above
• TOEFL iBT: minimum score 95 (Reading no less than 20, Writing no less than 22)
• Or equivalent measures available at the Swinburne English Language Requirements page.

The date of the assessment must be no more than 2 years prior to the time of application for registration.

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 Consultant about applying for RPL.

Placements are flexible

Professional experience, or placements in secondary school settings, form part of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course. Placements are a key part of your education course and are a requirement for teacher registration.

Swinburne Online offers pre-service teachers the unique opportunity to engage in a flexible placement model during each Quarter. This means pre-service teachers are able to choose dates within each Quarter to complete the required number of days specified for each Professional Experience. This flexible model supports Swinburne Online pre-service teachers to organise placements around their work or family commitments.

During this time, all Swinburne Online pre-service teachers are also enrolled in a professional experience or placement unit and are supported by eLearning Advisors (eLAs), who are also teachers themselves. They are passionate professionals with years of industry experience, specially trained for teaching online students. They will help to guide pre-service teachers through their unit content and are on-hand to help with any placement related questions.