Master of Teaching

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes (GA):

1. GA1: Intellectual rigour Research, synthesise, create and evaluate complex ideas and theories to transform and disrupt thinking in educational practice.
2. GA2: Creativity Exercise cognitive and technical skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise knowledge to develop innovative and creative responses to local and global challenges in educational settings.
3. GA3: Ethical practice Demonstrate an advanced and integrated understanding of professional, ethical, legislative requirements and human rights principles in education settings.
4. GA4: Knowledge of a discipline Critically analyse disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge application in relation to curriculum content and frameworks.
5. Integrate scholarly knowledge of pedagogical principles for effective assessment practices and supportive learning environments.
6. GA5: Lifelong learning Apply learning and reflective practice to develop personal and professional skills, including literacy, numeracy and academic integrity.
7. GA6: Communication and social skills Effectively use leadership skills to interpret, communicate and direct teamwork in professional educational settings.
8. GA7: Cultural competence Implement and incorporate respect for diversity in oneself and others while actively embedding proactive and inclusive strategies to encourage and support student engagement.
9. Apply a broad knowledge and understanding of the impacts of culture, cultural identity and linguistic backgrounds on the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Our two-year Master of Teaching program qualifies you to be a teacher in Australia, and many countries overseas. Teaching is a career in which you can make a positive and life-long impact on the lives of children and young people.

You can choose to specialise in early childhood education, primary education, or secondary education. Please see below for availabilities and start dates for each specialisation.

As well as undertaking an education research project, this course includes professional experience learning via placement in early childhood education settings, schools, and/or community sites of a total 480 hours (60 days). Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed in Faculty of Education Professional Experience Requirements, must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning days must be completed, and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Primary and Secondary Initial Teacher Education students across Australia need to attempt the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) in their first year of study and successfully complete the LANTITE. Early Childhood Initial Teacher Education students do not have to do the LANTITE.

Undertaking full-time study may be required from January to December (6 teaching terms) depending on your program of study.

Please note: Primary and secondary education require the completion of previous studies related to teaching areas. For secondary, if you have not already completed these studies, you may be required to complete additional units as part of your degree.

Students seeking to transfer to another degree, such as the Graduate Diploma of Teaching, are advised to contact Client/Student Services for guidance and support.

Award requirements

To be eligible to receive the Master of Teaching students must complete the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising:

• 1 Specialisation (192 credit points) in Early Childhood or Primary or Secondaryand
• 2 Professional Experience units (0 credit points).

Students completing Primary and Secondary specialisations students must also meet:

• Both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) as required by the Federal Government.
• English language proficiency requirements for teacher registration in Australia.

Professional Experience

This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Education Professional Experience Requirements website, must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. Preparatory coursework components must be completed prior to the commencement of placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Access and Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Access and Inclusion website for further information and contact details.

Choose your subjects

Majors

You will choose either an Early Childhood, Primary or Secondary specialisation and complete two research units that focus on a contemporary research problem in education that is significant to your field of teacher training.

• The Early Childhood specialisation qualifies you to become an early childhood teacher (six-weeks to five-years).
• Available at all campuses and all start dates for domestic and international students.
• The Primary specialisation qualifies you to teach kindergarten to Year 6 children. To see what you need to have studied for a primary key learning area please see Master of Teaching Previous Studies Subject Guide.
• Available at Gold Coast campus and online: all start dates for domestic students. Available at Gold Coast campus: all start dates for international students. Available at Perth campus: all start dates except February for international students.
• The Secondary specialisation qualifies you to become a secondary school teacher. To see what you need to have studied for a secondary teaching subject, please see Master of Teaching Previous Studies Subject Guide. Depending on your previous study, you may need to complete additional units, some of which may only be available on campus.
• Available at Gold Coast campus and online: all start dates for domestic students. Available at Gold Coast campus: all start dates for international students. Available at Perth campus: all start dates except February for international students.

All core education units can be studied on campus or online (some online units require attendance at on-campus workshops).

Note: International EAP3 students can progress to a Master of Teaching (Early Childhood specialisation) with an equivalent of IELTS 7.0.

Exit points

Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Certificate in Education (Early Childhood) after completing the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points) in the Early Childhood Specialisation.

Students may be eligible to exit with the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) in the Early Childhood Specialisation comprising 8 coursework units and 2 professional placement units.

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

Indicative total fee $9,808

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.

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Applicants’ qualifications must meet the requirements for admission for:

• secondary specialisation: Graduate study as advised by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Graduate Teacher Standard Descriptor 2.1.1 (Subject Content Knowledge) or be able to meet these requirements by completing no more than two units which on all occasions will be undertaken as part of the degree; or
• primary specialisation: Graduate study as advised by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Graduate Teacher Standard Descriptor 2.1.1 (Subject Content Knowledge), AND NSW Band 4 in Mathematics or equivalent.
• early childhood (Birth to 5 years) specialisation: Graduate study in an Australian Bachelor degree or equivalent.

To meet the minimum English Language requirement for admission to this course, an applicant must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• have completed approved qualifications where language of instruction was English as outlined in Rules Relating to Awards – Rule 2 – Section 2; or
• have completed a 3-years bachelor’s degree (AQF7 or higher) of full-time study in English in Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland; or
• have achieved within (2) years of the proposed start date, an overall score of 7.0, with no band below 7.0 in the English International English Language Test System (IELTS) test or approved equivalent as outlined in Rules Relating to Awards – Rule 2 – Section 2.

To register as a teacher in Australia the minimum English Language requirements are:

• the full four years of required higher education study (or qualifications assessed as comparable) have been undertaken in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and the Republic of Ireland; or
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic)
  • A minimum score of 7 is needed in reading and writing
  • A minimum score of 8 is needed in speaking and listening.
  • This equates to an average band score of 7.5 across all four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, or
• The International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR)
  • A score of Level 4 is needed in all four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, undertaken at approved testing sites where the assessment is teacher focused.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows. Don’t meet the English language requirements? View our English language programs.

• Overall: 7.0
• Reading: 7.0
• Writing: 7.0
• Listening: 7.0
• Speaking: 7.0

Credit for Prior Learning, also referred to as ‘Advanced Standing’ or Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), is the process of looking at your prior study and/or experience to assess if you can be awarded academic credit or gain entry to a course on the basis of your existing knowledge and skills.

Early Childhood Specialisation: you will complete 60 days (480 hours) of professional placement during this course in two environments — a preschool setting and an infant and toddler setting. Students are responsible for travel to attend placements, which may not always be within their local area.

Primary/Secondary Specialisation: you will complete a program of 60 days (480 hours) professional experience in school during the course, which enables you to put theory into practice as you observe and reflect on classroom dynamics. 

Professional experience provides opportunities for you to become acquainted with the formal and informal aspects of what occurs in classrooms and schools or early childhood settings and to demonstrate your independent and professional capabilities as teachers.

Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, including a Working with Children Check, must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

All core education units can be studied on campus or online (some online units require attendance at on-campus workshops).