Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Course information for - 2025 entry

Offered at 4 locations

Duration

2 years full-time or 3.5 years part-time.

Fees (first year)*

$5780 CSP

Start dates
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025
Applications open August 2024
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025
Applications open April 2025

Overview

Transform your outlook and accelerate your career opportunities with a Master of Teaching (Secondary) degree. Graduate ready to design and implement engaging, creative and flexible learning experiences to inspire and positively influence the lives of young people.

Delivered with the latest research-informed pedagogy, your professional journey to becoming a graduate teacher is guided by highly experienced mentor teachers in a range of educational contexts. You will gain theoretical understanding and deep knowledge of how students learn and participate in real-world practical experience in the classroom with professional placements.

Whether you are looking for a complete career change or are a recent graduate, your undergraduate degree will form the foundations for your specialist teaching areas in this course. This course will prepare you to teach in one or two specialist teaching areas, depending on your undergraduate degree and campus of study.

The following senior secondary level teaching areas are available (with some variations from state to state): accounting, business studies, biology, chemistry, design and technologies, drama, earth and environmental studies, economics, English, geography, health, history, ICT and digital technology, language, legal studies, mathematics, music, outdoor education, physical education, physics, religious education, society and culture, TESOL, visual arts.

Turn to Teaching Internship Program - Queensland

We are proud to partner with the Queensland Government Department of Education to offer Queensland applicants additional support to study this degree through the Turn to Teaching Program .

Successful applicants will receive a $20,000 scholarship, a paid internship and an offer of a permanent teaching position on graduation. Applications for 2025 open from Monday 26 August and close Sunday 22 September. Applications can be made from the Teach Queensland website.

To find out more register and join the Live Chat information session 10 September at 5pm. Register here .


Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Internship) – Victoria

ACU is partnering with the Victorian Government Department of Education to provide you with an innovative approach to graduate teacher education. The Teach Tomorrow program prepares you to meet the growing need for specialist teachers in secondary schools across Victoria. This course offers aspiring educators who hold a bachelor degree the opportunity to gain paid employment in a range of eligible schools while fast-tracking your studies. 

Successful applicants will receive a $15,000 scholarship in your first year of study and then a paid internship in a secondary school while you complete your studies. The program aims to attract applicants who want to train to teach in a priority subject area in outer-metro, rural and regional schools. More information


Master of Teaching (Secondary)(Leading Learning) - TFA

Working in partnership with Teach for Australia to develop the next generation of educators to give students access to the best possible quality education regardless of their background or postcode. Teach for Australia’s Leadership Development Program is a scholarship that sponsors students who commit to teaching in disadvantaged communities. Successful recipients participate in the program while undertaking studies towards becoming a secondary school teacher. Want to know more?

Professional experience

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

Work placement

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. 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. These units apply skills, techniques and processes taught in the Foundations Studies and Professional Studies units.

The practicum will be supported by other forms of in-school experiences, such as school-based tutorials and workshops.

Placements will usually be arranged for the scheduled placement period in the professional experience calendar though this may not always be possible. The Professional Experience program consists of a minimum of 60 days of teaching rounds, usually broken into three blocks.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as secondary school teachers in government, independent, Catholic, and other faith-based schools.

If you wish to teach Religious Education in a Catholic secondary 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.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • government, independent and Catholic Schools
  • government, private, and not-for-profit organisations
  • education, training, and research
  • education consultancy
  • adult learning
  • community and advocacy agencies
  • youth agencies

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Curriculum Studies UnitsCurriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Teaching Area 1 Unit 1

    Not all CPA units are offered in both semesters. Students should plan their enrolment based on availability from year to year. Students for whom a second CPA1 study is not available in Semester 1 should study EDES600; then EDES690 in Winter; and the second CPA1 in Semester 2, in place of EDES690.

    10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies UnitsCurriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Teaching Area 2 Unit 1

    Not all CPA units are offered in both semesters. Students should plan their enrolment based on availability from year to year. Students for whom a second CPA1 study is not available in Semester 1 should study EDES600; then EDES690 in Winter; and the second CPA1 in Semester 2, in place of EDES690.

    10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES591Foundations of Teaching 2: The Nature of Learning10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDET590Effective Teaching 1: Professional Practices

    Professional Experience: 15 days

    10 cp
  • ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education UnitsLNTE110Literacy and Numeracy Diagnostic0 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES590Foundations of Teaching 1: Understanding Adolescents10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES600Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories, Cultures and Education10 cp
  • EDES603 Inclusive Practice Education Studies and Effective Teaching Units 10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES690Literacy and Numeracy across the Secondary Curriculum10 cp
  • Electives Education Elective

    Elective offerings are available in Semester 2 of Year 2, Summer of Year 2 and Semester 1 of Year 2. Students are recommended to do no more than 2 units during Summer, Winter, or Professional Term 5. 

    10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDET690Effective Teaching 2: Engaging Learners

    Professional Experience: 20 days

    10 cp
  • 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

Commencing Semester 2

Commencing Semester 1 - Internship

Commencing Semester 2 - Internship

Commencing Semester 1- Turn to Teaching (TTT) program in Queensland

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 will lead to teacher registration.

  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.

Additional course information

Students can enrol in units to be studied online.

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:

a) have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification with a major study that meets the content requirements in at least one secondary teaching area offered by ACU, and

b) demonstrate suitability for teaching as evidenced by completion of the relevant state/jurisdiction assessment, which will be provided in the application process (excluding QLD).

Applicants who completed Bachelor degrees outside Australia should review 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.

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Admission Requirements for the Internship specialisation

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Internship) specialisation, an applicant is required to be from an approved sponsored cohort and meet the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course entry requirements.

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

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

Further study

Graduates may progress to masters by coursework.

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$5780 CSP

All costs are calculated using current rates  and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.

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

  • the number of units studied per semester;
  • 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, scholarships and income support. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. 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.  

Search our scholarships  

How to apply

Domestic applicants

ACU Online MT

Apply through ACU

ACU code 1220003621

Deferment

No deferment available.

Staff Profile

Dr Melissa Cain

Head of Discipline, National School of Education

Dr Melissa Cain (SHFEA) is a senior lecturer in the School of Education in Brisbane teaching units on Inclusive Education and Arts education. She is National Head of Discipline for Secondary Education and Course Coordinator for the suite of secondary teaching courses in Queensland. Melissa's doctorial research centred on the challenges teachers in Australia and Singapore face when implementing culturally diverse Arts education. Dr Cain's current research examines the voices of students with vision impairment at mainstream schools, learning the creative arts online, and the impact of teaching and learning in modern global times. Melissa has received several higher education teaching awards and is the recipient of the Callaway Doctoral Award. 

Testimonial

Marcus

“I chose ACU because it gave me the opportunity to study an area I felt passionately about. I see the need for education to develop young minds and give them options to excel in the real world. My first practical experience was at Murrumba State Secondary College. The experience was incredible, and I really felt like I was giving back to the local community.”

Marcus
Teaching (secondary) student
 

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs