Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)

Course information for

Duration
2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fees (first year)*

$4624 CSP

Start dates
ACU Term 1, ACU Term 3

Overview

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) is a graduate-entry, pre-service teacher education course for those who want to qualify as both an early childhood and primary school teacher. This course cultivates graduates who are passionate about, and committed to, the generation and dissemination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that facilitate high-quality learning in a child’s early years. Delivered fully online, this course is made up of a series of online units and block day placements in early childhood and primary school settings.

An exceptional benefit to this course is you will be able to build on your undergraduate studies and graduate with a teaching specialisation area within the primary curriculum.


Achieve your goals with a scholarship.  

A generous Commonwealth Teaching Scholarship is available to support new undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolling in an initial teacher education (ITE) program to help meet the costs of their study. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply here.

Professional experience

Pre-service teachers must complete professional experience placements in a relevant prior-to-school and formal primary school settings in line with the requirements of state/territory teacher accreditation authorities. During this time you'll be required to be available on a full-time basis.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as an early childhood or primary school teacher in government, independent, Catholic schools or other faith-based schools.

Accreditation

This program has been accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching and listed on the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) accredited programs list.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • early childhood education
  • primary school education
  • religious education
  • education research
  • play education
  • curriculum development
  • education consulting 
  • policymaking

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing ACU Term 1

  • Curriculum Studies UnitsEDMA500Foundations of Mathematics and Numeracy Curriculum and Pedagogy for Children10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies UnitsEDEN502Foundations of Literacy Development and Children's Literature10 cp
  • ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education UnitsLNTE110Literacy and Numeracy Diagnostic0 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES560Foundations of Development and Learning in Australian Early Childhood Contexts

    Professional Experience: 10 days with children from birth to 35 months

    10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies UnitsEDTE560Technologies Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (B-12)10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies UnitsEDHP560Health, Wellbeing and Physical Education (B-12 Years)10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies UnitsEDAR560The Arts Curriculum and Pedagogy (B-12)10 cp
  • ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Units ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education UnitsLNTE100 LANTITE - Literacy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students ANDACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education UnitsLNTE101 LANTITE - Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students

    Students must register with ACER to undertake the two LANTITE tests. 

    0 cp
  • Curriculum Studies UnitsEDEN503Reading and Writing Instruction in the Early Years (B-8)10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDET561Effective Teaching 1: Early Years Learning and Pedagogies: Play-Based Curriculum and Assessment

    Professional Experience: 20 days with children aged 3 to 5 years

    10 cp

Commencing ACU Term 1 - Part-time

Commencing ACU Term 3

Commencing ACU Term 3 - Part-time

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Masters (Coursework) - AQF Level 9

Exit Points

A student who has successfully completed the following requirements may exit from the course with that qualification. Note that none of these qualifications qualifies a student to teach in Australia.

Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies: 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings

Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies: 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings

A student who does not meet the LANTITE requirements may exit with the Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies or Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies if they meet the requirements of those awards.

Additional course information

Non-academic assessment - suitability for teaching

Applicants who apply for entry into this initial teacher education course will be required to complete a non-academic assessment. The assessment is to demonstrate suitability for teaching and will be part of your application when applying for admission into this course. Please visit our Suitability for teaching page for more information.

Literacy and Numeracy Test in Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE)

Students will be required to demonstrate they have achieved approved benchmarks in literacy and numeracy as demonstrated through the Literacy and Numeracy Test in Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE). Successful completion of LANTITE is a requirement for course completion.

If you have started your ITE course at another institution and wish to transfer to ACU to complete your studies, please be sure that you have read and understand the requirements for receiving credit for previous studies and those on completing LANTITE.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

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

  1. have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification, with:
  2. subject content studies equivalent to one year of full-time study in one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum; including
  3. subject content studies equivalent to one quarter of a year in a selected subject specialisation.
  4. demonstrate suitability for teaching as evidenced by completion of the relevant State assessment which will be provided in the application process.

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.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.

Applicants with higher education study

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements for your chosen course.

If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner. Speak to your course consultant for more information or to discuss your eligibility.

Applicants with work and life experience

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements for your chosen course.

English language requirements

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

  • No score less than 7 in reading and writing. No score less than 8 in listening and speaking.


Pearson Test of English (PTE)

  • A minimum of 65 in reading and writing and a minimum of 79 in listening and speaking


Test of English as a Foreign Language – Academic (TOEFL)

  • No score less than 24 in reading, 27 in writing, 28 in listening and 26 in speaking


ACU English Language Test

  • A++ (85 or above)


C1 Advanced

  • A minimum of 185 in reading and writing and 200 in listening and speaking.

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Pathways

Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) has specific requirements of entry which are related to accreditation and teacher registration requirements. Credit and recognition of prior learning (RPL) are available.

Further study

Graduates may progress to masters by coursework.

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$4624 CSP

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 20 credit points (normally 2 units) per term.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

  • the number of units studied per term;
  • the choice of major or specialisation; and
  • elective units.

The university reviews fees annually.

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, a scholarship and income support.

Scholarships

You could be eligible for the Scholarship for ACU Online, ACU's Online Campus created to help ACU online students with the costs associated with studying. We also have university wide scholarships you may be eligible for. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.  

Check your eligibility

Apply for this course

ACU Online Applicants

Staff Profile

Dr Anne Scott

Senior Lecturer (English Education), Course Coordinator, Master of Teaching (Primary), School of Education VIC

Dr Anne Scott is a senior lecturer at Australian Catholic University. She was a primary school teacher for fourteen years and held various curriculum leadership roles. Currently, she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate units as well as supervising postgraduate research students in the School of Education (Victoria). In 2009, Dr Scott won the Faculty of Education Excellence in Teaching Award and in 2010 an Australian Learning and Teaching Citation. Dr Scott continues to work closely with teachers in the areas of literacy and numeracy education. At present Dr Scott is a member of a team investigating children’s uses of technology in their everyday lives to consider the changing needs of students’ learning in the 21st Century. Since 2008, Dr Scott has worked with Professor Philip Clarkson and Dr Andrea McDonough researching teacher change linked to the Contemporary Teaching and Learning Mathematics Project (CTLM). A key feature of this activity is the partnership fostered with teachers to support and enhance professional learning as teachers capture and reflect on video snippets of their classroom practice.

Dr Kim Rowston

Senior Lecturer (Education), School of Education NSW/ACT

Dr Kim Rowston is a lecturer in the School of Education at Australian Catholic University (ACU), Strathfield Campus. Before joining ACU in 2012, Dr Rowston was a secondary teacher in the Technology and Applied Studies key learning area for twenty years in state and independent schools.During this time, she held various leadership roles and played a significant part in the design and implementation of integrated STEM cross-curriculum programs. Dr Rowston specialises in Design and Digital Technologies undergraduate and postgraduate curricula, as well as supervising postgraduate research students (NSW). Dr Rowston’s doctorial research applied a social cognitive lens to investigate the factors influencing pre-service teachers’ technology integration practice. She is particularly interested in understanding pre-service teacher efficacy as they transition into the profession, early career teacher well-being, including the role of school cultures during this process. She is also a professional member of the Australian Technologies Teacher Educators Network and the Australian Association of Research in Education (AARE).

 

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