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Secondary education courses

Help young people grow into confident adults with your secondary teaching degree

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Introduction to Secondary education

Do you feel a calling to become a teacher? Earn your secondary teaching degree online and turn into the role model you’ve always wanted to be.

Here at Open Universities Australia, you can compare online courses delivered by universities from across the country. We make it easier to narrow down your options and find your best fit, so you can graduate with the skills you need to succeed in the classroom.

Secondary education student Louise
Louise studied secondary education with Curtin University through Open Universities Australia

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Online secondary education subjects and short courses

Discover 95 ways to study secondary education with leading Australian universities.

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Secondary education study FAQs

Why should you study secondary teaching?

If you'd like to do something that truly matters with your career, then high school teaching is a fulfilling choice. You’ll have a direct impact on teenagers in Years 7 to 12 (ages 12 to 18), when they’re still figuring out who they want to be. High school teachers are specialists in one or two subjects, so you’ll introduce them to interests that could end up defining their careers.

Demand for high school teachers in Australia is also very high. It’s estimated that schools will need at least 4,000 extra secondary teachers by 2025, which means your passion and enthusiasm for education will always be needed.

What you'll learn in a secondary teaching degree

When you study your secondary teaching degree online, you have the flexibility to learn about teaching methods and theories at a pace that suits your lifestyle. You can expect to cover essential topics like:

  • leadership and classroom management
  • lesson planning
  • assessment at a secondary school level
  • teaching with technology
  • diversity in the classroom
  • establishing a teacher identity.

You’ll also be required to choose one or two teaching specialisations, which means you can build your career around a special interest. You will explore how to teach young adults from Years 7 to 12 in these curriculum areas only.

What teaching specialisations can you choose?

  • Arts (Visual Arts or Drama)
  • English
  • Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS)
  • Mathematics
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Technologies

Student stories and study advice

Want a career change from teaching but not sure how?

Spoiler—you have more transferable skills than you think. By the end of this article, you may even have a game (not lesson) plan to go on.

What is TESOL?

Want more than a traditional teaching career? Life as a TESOL teacher could be the ideal path for you. Let's explore what this teaching specialty is, and why it can lead to opportunities all over the world.

What makes a good teacher?

The best teachers aren’t just knowledgeable authority figures—they also know how to inspire and motivate their students. Here are the characteristics of a good teacher. 

Early childhood education vs childcare courses: What’s the difference?

Want to teach and inspire young children before they reach primary school? There are two main study paths to choose from, depending on your goals.

We’re here to guide you to the right uni course

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Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.

Over 497,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.

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Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.

You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni

We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.

You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year

We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.

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As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.

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  • Choosing a course that suits you best
  • Enrolling, and planning your studies
  • Understanding your funding options

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