Master of Teaching (Secondary)

During this course students will learn:

1. Curriculum Knowledge - Learn how best to teach the national and state curriculum in various classroom contexts.
2. Learning Environments - Create innovative learning environments that harness the power of educational technology to facilitate dynamic learning.
3. Interpersonal & Leadership Skills - Develop communication skills to explore educational leadership and policy, while navigating relationships with colleagues, students and their families.
4. Assessment Strategies - Use both qualitative and quantitative assessment methods to evaluate student progress and extend student learning.
5. Teaching Pedagogy - Analyse core teaching pedagogies which focus on literacy and numeracy – as they are best applied across a range of subject areas.
6. Indigenous Education Perspectives - Develop an understanding of contemporary and historical Indigenous education perspectives, as a means to better engage with and advocate for Indigenous children and their families.
7. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Strengthen your understanding of equity and diversity in education. Why it matters, and a teacher’s responsibility to cultivate an inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all students.

Make a difference in the lives of young people.

With an increased demand for secondary school teachers, as well as a strong focus on preparing students for enriching, technology-centric careers, Swinburne Online’s Master of Teaching is an excellent option for those who want to help meet this demand and make a difference in the lives of young people. The higher demand is also thanks to the Department of Education’s drive to increase positions and placements, which bodes well for future teachers.

Master of Teaching (Secondary) blends in-school experience with online course work, aiming to equip you with a holistic skill set that balances teaching methods with care for students’ well-being. The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is also uniquely designed to run across four teaching periods a year, to better align with Victorian school terms and dates.

As a Swinburne Online student, you will also have access to unique development opportunities as part of the Access Quality Teaching Initiative. Through this initiative, you will be placed in professional experience placements in regional, remote and/or lower socio-educational advantage schools in Victoria, giving you valuable experience with a diverse range of educational communities.

Upon graduation, you will be eligible for provisional registration by the Victorian Institute of Teaching as a secondary teacher, or (by reciprocal arrangements) with teacher education authorities in other states.

This course is not available to international students.

Recommended study pattern

To be awarded the Master of Teaching (Secondary) you must complete 16 units in total made up of thirteen core units, one credited placement and 2 not-for-credit placements. Your two not-for-credit placements are embedded into specific theory units, which will set you on a strong path to put theory into practice as you develop your teaching skills.

Core units

Understanding Behaviour for Classroom Practice (EDU60016)

Curriculum Development, Assessment and Responsive Pedagogy (EDU60043)

Transformative Technologies in Education (EDU70013)

Literacy and Numeracy Across the Curriculum (EDU70014)

Understanding Indigenous Education & Perspectives (EDU80012)

Assessment and Data (EDU80013)

Teaching for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDU80014)

Innovation for Education (EDU80018)

Educational Leadership and Policy (EDU80019)

Building and Sustaining Positive Relationships (EDU80048)

Teacher Professionalism and Ethical Conduct (EDU80050)

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 1 (EDU60050)

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy 2 (EDU80060)

Supervised Practicum units

Professional Experience 1 (EDU70017)

Professional Experience 2 (EDU80051)

Professional Experience 3 (Ready to Teach) (EDU80021)

Specialist Teaching areas

To undertake the Master of Teaching (Secondary) you are required to qualify for two specialist teaching areas, with at least one being a major teaching area.

Major Teaching area

A major will be equivalent to three-quarters of a year of prior full-time study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over three years. In most programs, this equates to six units, with no more than two at first-year level and no fewer than two at third-year level.

Minor Teaching area

A minor will be equivalent to half a year of prior full time study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over two years. In most programs, this equates to four units, with no more than two at first-year level.

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Teaching (Secondary), students must complete 16 units 200 credit points comprising:

• 13 Core units (182.5 credit points)
• 1 Supervised Practicum unit (12.5 credit points)
• 2 Supervised Practicum units (0 credit points)

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $46,690

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

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15

To gain entry to this course, applicants must have completed a recognised bachelor's degree relevant to one or more areas of the Primary curriculum and meet the English language requirements.

Applicants are required to hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification that includes at least a major study in one approved secondary teaching area (equivalent to one year full-time equivalent study), and a minor in at least one other recognised teaching area (equivalent to half a year of full-time study) is also required.

Both undergraduate and postgraduate prior study can be considered in your teaching area(s) method(s) assessment.

For approved teaching areas, please visit the Victorian VCE study design and ACARA subject areas.

If your Bachelor's degree was completed in a non-English speaking country, you may need to complete an approved English Language Proficiency test, in line with Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) requirements.

You will also need to complete the CASPer suitability tool in line with the AITSL and government Initial Teacher Education (ITE) requirements.

If you miss the last CASPer test date for our upcoming intake, we have an alternative pathway available to ensure you can commence your studies without any delays!

Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies

The Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies is a supported non-accredited pathway into the Master of Teaching (Secondary), designed specifically for students who miss the last CASPer test date, to ensure you can still commence your studies in our upcoming intake, without any delay.

The entry requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies are the same as the Master of Teaching (Secondary), except for the requirement of the CASPer suitability test.

You’ll study the same units in the Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies as you would in the Master of Teaching (Secondary), meaning the units you have completed in the Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies will be credited towards your teaching degree.

Your Graduate Certificate typically takes up to 6 months to complete if you’re studying full-time, or part-time equivalent. You will gain knowledge in a range of areas, including educational theory, systems and practice. You will also develop broad knowledge of the theoretical concepts impacting primary Education in Australian and global contexts.

Credit for Prior Learning

If you have completed recent prior studies you may be eligible to request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous studies related to your chosen subjects.

This is assessed on a case-by-case basis, where every applicant is assessed individually.

Placements are flexible

Professional experience, or placements in secondary school settings, form part of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course. Placements are a key part of your education course and are a requirement for teacher registration.

Swinburne Online offers pre-service teachers the unique opportunity to engage in a flexible placement model during each Quarter. This means pre-service teachers are able to choose dates within each Quarter to complete the required number of days specified for each Professional Experience. This flexible model supports Swinburne Online pre-service teachers to organise placements around their work or family commitments.

During this time, all Swinburne Online pre-service teachers are also enrolled in a professional experience or placement unit and are supported by eLearning Advisors (eLAs), who are also teachers themselves. They are passionate professionals with years of industry experience, specially trained for teaching online students. They will help to guide pre-service teachers through their unit content and are on-hand to help with any placement related questions.