Master of Teaching (Secondary)

What you’ll learn:

1. Curriculum Knowledge: Learn how to best teach the national and state curriculum in various classroom contexts.
2. Learning Environments: Create innovative learning environments that harness the power of educational technology to facilitate dynamic learning. 
3. Interpersonal and Leadership Development: Develop the skills to explore educational leadership and policy, while navigating relationships with colleagues, students and their families. 
4. Teaching Pedagogy: Analyse core teaching practices, including literacy and numeracy, as they are best applied across a range of subject areas. 
5. Assessment Strategies: Engage with diagnostic, formative and summative assessment methods to evaluate student progress and inform teaching practice.
6. 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.
7. 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.

What is the Master of Teaching (Secondary)? 

Swinburne Online’s Master of Teaching (Secondary) combines in-school teaching experience with online coursework. Our master's gives you the practical teaching strategies and curriculum depth you need to teach young people in secondary schools.

With the Department of Education’s drive to increase teaching positions and placements, now more than ever, there is a need for teachers in Australia.

Who is this course for? 

• Career changers: Those looking to move into secondary teaching who already hold an undergraduate degree and want a clear, supported pathway into the profession. 
• Non-teaching professionals: Graduates from non‑education fields who want to apply their subject expertise in a secondary school setting and get a teaching qualification. 

How you’ll study

• The Master of Teaching (Secondary) runs across four Teaching Periods per year.
• Expected study load is between 8–10 hours per week, per unit.
• Set your own study pace by taking one or more units per Teaching Period.
• You’ll have 24/7 access to your online classroom, discussion boards, and learning content. 
• Learning is delivered through interactive materials, including videos, quizzes, podcasts, diagrams, and written content.

This course is not available to international students.

Recommended study pattern

To be awarded the Master of Teaching (Secondary) you must complete 16 units in total made up of: 

• 11 Core Units  
• 5 Placement*

*Placements, embedded into specific theory units, will set you on a strong path to put theory into practice as you develop your teaching skills. 

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)

Placement 1

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 1 (EDU60050)

Professional Experience 1 (EDU70017)

Placement 2

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 2 (EDU80060)

Professional Experience 2 (EDU80051)

Placement 3

Professional Experience 3 (Ready to Teach) (EDU80021)

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 $46,690

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.

Study on your own terms with this forward-thinking university.

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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15

To enter the course, you’ll need:  

• Successful completion of a recognised bachelor’s degree (or equivalent qualification) that includes at least a major study in one approved secondary Specialist Teaching Area (equivalent to one-year full time study) and; a minor in at least one other recognised Specialist teaching area (equivalent to half a year of full time study) For approved teaching areas, please visit the Victorian VCE study design and ACARA subject areas. 
• The CASPer Suitability Tool: Completion of the CASPer test as part of your application. This is an online situational judgement assessment of non-academic personal and professional attributes, required by AITSL and government Initial Teacher Education (ITE) standards.  
• Meet the English language requirements: If your Bachelor’s degree was completed in a non-English speaking country, you may need to complete an approved English Language Proficiency test, in line with Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) requirements. 

Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies

Pathway to the Master of Teaching (Secondary)

The Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies (GCES) is a supported, non‑accredited pathway into the Master of Teaching (Secondary). It is designed for students who miss the final CASPer suitability test deadline and want to commence study in the upcoming intake without delaying their pathway into teaching. 

• Start without delay –commence your studies even if you miss the final CASPer test date for the Master of Teaching (Secondary). 
• No initial CASPer required – the GCES is a supported pathway into the Master of Teaching (Secondary). It is designed for students who want to begin their studies immediately while preparing for the CASPer suitability test. 

How the pathway works 

• You’ll study the same units as students enrolled in the Master of Teaching (Secondary). 
• All successfully completed units are credited towards the Master of Teaching (Secondary). 
• Once you successfully pass your GCES and a CASPer test, you are eligible to directly transition into the Master’s degree. 

Study duration and learning outcomes

• Up to 6 months full‑time, or part‑time equivalent 

Build skills in:

• Educational theory 
• Education systems and professional practice 
• Contemporary issues in education 
• Develop an understanding of education in Australian and global secondary‑school contexts, preparing you for further study in teaching

Additional requirements

Alongside the entry criteria, there are some additional requirements and conditions you’ll need to be aware of as part of the application process. 

• LANTITE disclosure — Transferring from another initial teacher education course? You’ll need to disclose all LANTITE attempts. 

English language requirements

You may need to provide evidence of English language skills, depending on where your previous qualification was completed. 

You don’t need to provide evidence if you completed a bachelor's degree taught and assessed in English in: 

• Australia 
• New Zealand 
• United Kingdom 
• United States of America 
• Canada 
• Republic of Ireland. 

 If your qualification was completed in another country, you’ll need to meet one of the following: 

• IELTS (Academic) – overall score of 7.0, with no band below 7.0, and at least 7.5 in speaking and listening 
• Swinburne English Language Centre – EAP 5 (Advanced) with an overall 75%, and 70% or above in all skills 
• TOEFL iBT – minimum overall score of 95, with at least 20 in Reading and 22 in Writing 
• Or an equivalent qualification, as outlined on the Swinburne English Language Requirements page. 

 Test results must be no more than two years old at the time of application. 

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have completed recent prior studies you may be eligible to request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous studies related to your chosen subjects.

This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, where every applicant is assessed individually.

How do professional placements work?

Professional experience placements are a core part of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) and are completed alongside your online study.  

• You’ll do three professional experience placement units (1 credited, 2 not-for-credit).
• Placements are completed in secondary school settings under the guidance of an approved Supervising Teacher.
• You’ll source your own placements, but you can ask for guidance from learning advisors.