Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Course information for - 2024 entry
Offered at 2 locations
- Duration
-
2 years full-time or 3.5 years part-time.
- CRICOS Code
- 051777F
- IELTS
- 7.0 minimum score in reading and writing. No score less than 8 in listening and speaking
- Fees (first year)*
- $25568
- Start dates
- February 2024, July 2024, February 2025, July 2025, February 2026, July 2026
Entry to this course is governed by the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy. The selection of course entrants is based on academic merit and satisfaction of non-academic capabilities for entry to initial teacher education. In accordance with the mission of ACU, the Faculty of Education and Arts is committed to providing access to education for a diversity of students. ACU provides a range of access and equity schemes which consider additional or alternative factors in assessing applicants, including applicants of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
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, vocational studies.
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 the internship program open 1 August and close 24 September 2023 for a 2024 semester 1 start. Find out more and how to apply.
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
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
To complete the Master of Teaching (Secondary), a student must complete 160 credit points (cp).
Available Specialisation(s)
-
Professional Practice
Internship
Course map
AQF framework
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.
- Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies: 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings.
- 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
International applicants
International students must have an IELTS of no score less than 7.0 in reading and writing and no score less than 8.0 in listening and speaking, plus an Australian three-year Bachelor's Degree or equivalent with a Grade Point Average (GPA) equivalent to an Australian Catholic University GPA of 4.0.
Students must also nominate two subject areas for which, based on their Bachelor studies, they believe they are qualified to teach. The Faculty of Education and Arts will assess students' suitability for these methods during the admissions process.
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)
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 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
- Unit fee: $3196
- Average first year fee: $25568
- Estimate total cost: $51136
The Tuition fees quoted above are for commencing students in the current year who undertake a normal full-time load. The Unit Fee is based on a 10cp unit. Fees are reviewed annually.
Tuition fees for continuing students may increase by up to 3 percent each year for the minimum duration of the course as provided on your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCOE). Students who continue to study beyond the minimum duration will have the relevant annual commencing rate applied to their fees for subsequent study periods.
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.
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.
How to apply
International applicants
Direct application
Apply nowDeferment
No deferment available.
Students with a Student Visa will need to complete the program in minimum duration, study at least one subject on-campus each semester and must not undertake more than 33% of the program online.
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
“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.”
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