Master of Teaching (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education

Course information for - 2024 entry

Offered at 2 locations

Duration

2 years full-time or equivalent part-time

CRICOS Code
096831M
IELTS
7.0 minimum score in reading and writing. No score less than 8 in listening and speaking
Fees (first year)*
$33560

Overview

Transform your work and life experience into a teaching career. Graduate ready to design and implement engaging and flexible learning experiences to inspire and positively influence young people. This is a graduate entry, initial teacher education course for those who want to teach in secondary schools. 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. Learn the craft of teaching from highly experienced mentor teachers in a range of educational contexts.

The following senior secondary level teaching areas are available (with some variations from state to state), with students also able to teach in the corresponding subjects in the junior levels: 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, media, music, outdoor education, physical education, physics, religious education, society and culture, TESOL, visual arts, vocational studies.  


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

Get paid to learn with a Victorian Government ITE scholarship. Victorian students enrolling in a secondary school initial teacher education (ITE) program in 2024 or 2025 can apply to help cover the cost of studying. Learn more about eligibility and how to apply here.

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.

The Graduate Certificate in Religious Education is the basic certification required to teach religious education in schools.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • government, independent and Catholic Schools
  • government, private, and NFP 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 Units Curriculum, 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. 

    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
  • Religious Education and Theology unitsTHBS562Introducing the Scriptures

    Students who commenced prior to 2023 may have completed THBS501.

    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
  • Religious Education and Theology units Religious Education and Theology unitsTHCT563 Introducing Theology ORReligious Education and Theology unitsTHCT565 Reflecting on Faith, Recontextualising Tradition

    Students who commenced prior to 2023 may have completed THCT500.  

    10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies Units Curriculum, 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. 

    10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching UnitsEDES601Special Education and Inclusive Practice10 cp
  • Electives 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

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/Graduate Certificate – AQF Level 9/8

Exit Points

A student who has successfully completed the following requirements may exit from the course with that qualification:

  1. *Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies: 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings of the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
  2. *Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies: 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings from the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
  3. *Graduate Certificate in Religious Education: 40 cp from the Religious Education and Theology units is required.
  4. Master of Teaching (Secondary): 160 cp from the Schedule of Unit offerings of the Master of Teaching Secondary).

*Note that none of these qualifications qualifies a student to teach in Australia.

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

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: $3356
  • Average first year fee: $33560
  • Estimate total cost: $67120

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. 

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 

 

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