Course information for - 2026 entry
  • Domestic
  • International

Offered at 0 locations

Duration

Overview

The Master of Teaching (Primary) is a graduate entry, pre-service teacher education course for those who want to qualify as a primary school teacher. Gain the critical knowledge and skills to become a reflective, independent, and flexible teacher, able to adapt in a complex contemporary classroom environment.

Building upon the knowledge you have already gained from your previous qualification; this course will engage you with the breadth of curriculum and pedagogical knowledge required to teach children from ages five to twelve.

You will graduate classroom-ready with specialist knowledge and understanding of not only literacy and numeracy but of all learning areas of the primary school curriculum. Forming the foundations for your specialist teaching areas, previous study and learning interests will inform your teaching specialisation in an area of the primary curriculum from these options:

  • English and Literacy
  • Mathematics and Numeracy
  • Science
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • The Arts
  • Technologies
  • Health and Physical Education


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

Students must complete a minimum of 60 days professional experience during which time they are required to be available full-time.


Work placement

Professional experience units are planned as a specific sequence allowing for progressive development of both classroom-based proficiency and an understanding of the relevance of theory to practice and practice to theory. The practicum will be supported by other forms of in-school experiences, such as school-based tutorials and workshops.

Certain prerequisite or co-requisite units are required before students are placed in schools.

Supervised professional experience is at the heart of all our pre-service teacher education courses and the Faculty will find appropriate placements to suit the needs of your course. Placements will usually be arranged for the scheduled placement period in the professional experience calendar though this may not always be possible.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as a primary school teacher in government, independent, and Catholic schools or other faith-based schools. If you wish to teach in a Catholic primary school you will be required to have a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education qualification or equivalent (this may vary by diocese). You can study this concurrently with your master's degree at ACU.

Accreditation

This program has been listed on the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) accredited programs list.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • primary school education
  • academia
  • religious education
  • education research
  • play education specialist
  • learning designer
  • adult learning
  • curriculum development
  • education consulting
  • government education policy making

Course details

Course structure

Course map

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Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES500Foundations of Development and Learning in Australian Childhood Contexts10 cp
  • Curriculum StudiesEDEN502Foundations of Literacy Development and Children's Literature10 cp
  • Curriculum StudiesEDMA500Foundations of Mathematics and Numeracy Curriculum and Pedagogy for Children10 cp
  • Curriculum StudiesEDTE500Technologies Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (F-6)

    According to your speciality: Students specialising in Science or Humanities and Social Sciences should complete EDSI600 or EDSS600 (respectively) in Semester 1 of their first year and EDTE500 in Semester 1 of their second year.

    10 cp
    • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDET501Effective Teaching 1: Promoting Positive Learner Engagement

      Professional Experience: 20 days

      10 cp
    • Curriculum Studies EDEN503 Reading and Writing Instruction in the Early Years (B-8) 10 cp
    • Curriculum StudiesEDHP500Health and Physical Education Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (F-6)10 cp
    • Curriculum StudiesEDAR500The Arts Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (F-6)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

    Alternative unit offerings: Some units may also be offered in additional semesters from year to year.

    Commencing Semester 2

    Alternative unit offerings: Some units may also be offered in additional semesters from year to year.

    Commencing Semester 1 - Accelerated (1.5 years) - not offered

    Alternative unit offerings: Some units may also be offered in additional semesters from year to year.

    Commencing Semester 2 - Accelerated (1.5 years) - not offered

    Alternative unit offerings: Some units may also be offered in additional semesters from year to year.

    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 qualify a student to teach in Australia.

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

    2.Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies: 40 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.

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