Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Course Code2058
CRICOS Code083268G
International students must be at least 18 years of age before they arrive at Avondale ahead of the relevant teaching period commencing to be eligible for enrolment at Avondale University.
Course duration /
Study mode

Course duration: 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent 
Study mode: On-campus or Distance Education
 

LocationAvondale Campus - Lake Macquarie
Fee Support

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)*

*for eligible students, see www.studyassist.gov.au

About


The Master of Teaching (Secondary) course is for eligible graduates of a bachelor degree who desire to transition into a teaching career. 
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) (MTch (Sec)) is a graduate entry teaching course, offered on-campus or via distance education. It is designed to produce graduate teachers who are reflective, creative and confident in the classroom, and to equip students with the necessary skills to teach in Christian, independent and state high school systems both in Australia and overseas. The course provides the opportunity to explore and critically analyse a wide range of educational literature and research to examine the application of these findings to professional practice. Throughout the course, you will engage in practical experience opportunities in a variety of relevant high school environments.


Learning Outcomes


Upon successful completion of the Master of Teaching (Secondary), graduates will be able to:
  • synthesise their personal and professional beliefs into a worldview that enables them to be effective and ethical teachers;
  • create quality learning experiences for all students;
  • demonstrate the acquisition of a body of knowledge and skills specific to the creative and professional practice of chosen discipline areas;
  • use personal competencies to enhance knowledge acquisition, communication, problem solving, creativity and sustainability;
  • design, implement and evaluate curriculum and assessment for diverse learners;
  • create sustainable, safe, respectful, socially just, and supportive learning environments;
  • promote holistic wellbeing practices in personal and professional settings;
  • address educational issues through research to improve teaching knowledge and practice;
  • demonstrate and employ a philosophy of service and servant leadership in professional and personal spheres;
  • reflect critically on professional practice, professional commitment, and ethical and moral responsibilities of the teaching profession.
  • investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories within the field of Education.

Career Opportunities


  • Secondary School Teacher
  • Secondary Mathematics Teacher
  • Secondary Science Teacher
  • School Chaplain 
  • Tutor

Admission Criteria


GENERAL ADMISSION CRITERIA

To qualify for admission, you must have completed:

  • An Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 Bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited university or higher education provider; or
  • An overseas qualification comparable to an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 7 or higher

Your qualifications must meet the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) secondary subject content requirements for the subject you intend to teach. The course convenor will assess your transcript to ensure you meet this requirement.

If you do not meet the requirements, you may have the opportunity to complete up to two units of content study as directed electives within the Master of Teaching (Secondary).

Before graduation, you must meet the minimum subject content knowledge requirements in at least a first teaching area.

SPECIFIC ADMISSION CRITERIA

The following are the specific criteria for admission:


POST ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The post-admission requirement for this degree is:
  • Working with Children Check
  • Child protection awareness training
  • ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training
  • National Literacy and Numeracy Test (LANTITE)
  • Fitness for teaching

For more information, refer to the post-admission requirements for Education.

ADVANCED STANDING

Applicants with an Australian Qualifications Framework AQF Level 9 qualification (or higher) in a cognate area may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Refer to the Advanced Standing Policy for more information.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

International applicants must meet the Australian Government's visa requirements to reside in Australia while studying at Avondale University.

For more information, visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder/study

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Applicant's who completed their bachelor's degree (or overseas equivalent) in a language other than English must demonstrate English language proficiency by achieving a minimum IELTS score of 7.5 across all four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, writing, (with no score below 7.0 in any of the four skill areas and a score of no less than 8.0 in speaking and listening).

Course Structure


Course duration: Two years full-time (or part-time equivalent)
Study mode: On-campus or distance education
Maximum time for completion: Six years

The MTch (Secondary) course is a graduate entry professional qualification designed to successfully prepare secondary teachers. It consists of sixteen 6-credit point units (96 credits points) normally studied over four semesters full-time or the equivalent part-time. The course composition is set out below.

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course structure is based on four semesters (each of 13 weeks in duration), with four units normally completed in each semester.  The course is comprised of:

  • 15 Education Units (11 Core Education Units + 4 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies Units)
  • 1 Directed Electives (Normally completed to strengthen teaching area or educational understandings)

Course Grid - Unit Sequence

Year

Semester

Suggested Units

1

1

EDUC53103 

Introduction to Quality Teaching

EDUC53101

Managing the Secondary Classroom

EDUC53102

Quality Learning, Assessment & ICT in the Australian Curriculum

EDUC50113

Exploring Indigenous Education

Professional Teaching Experience (July - 20 days associated with EDUC53103)

2

EDUC351xx

Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - _________

(Stage 4/5 units offered every even year)

EDUC351xx

Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - _________

(Stage 4/5 units offered every even year)

EDUC50112

Exploring Child Development & Learning

EDUC50102

Understanding Students with Special Education Needs

 

1

EDUC33101

Promoting Health & Wellbeing in Schools

Directed Elective

EDPX50001

Professional Experience

EDUC50104

Preparation for the Teaching Workplace

EDPX50001 Professional Experience (Mid Year - 40 days)

2

EDUC351xx

Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - _________

(Stage 6 units offered every odd year)

EDUC351xx

Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies - _________

(Stage 6 units offered every odd year)

EDUC50114

Exploring Educational Research & Diversity

EDUC50108

Exploring a Personal Philosophy of Christian Education 

 

Components and Descriptions

Core Education Units

These units cover a range of current educational topics designed to prepare pre-service teachers to successfully teach young people. These units involve a variety of topics including: Classroom Management; Child Development and Learning; and Students with Special Education Needs.

Curriculum and Pedagogical Studies Units

These units provide pre-service teachers with the opportunity to apply quality-teaching principles to specific teaching areas. Literacy education, classroom safety, curriculum development, ICT and teaching strategies are each dealt with specifically for normally two chosen teaching areas.

Content of the Course of Study - All units are worth 6 Credit Points 

Core Education Units

  • EDUC33101 Promoting Health & Wellbeing in Schools
  • EDUC50102 Understanding Students with Special Education Needs
  • EDUC50104 Preparation for the Teaching Workplace
  • EDUC50108 Exploring a Personal Philosophy of Christian Education
  • EDUC50112 Exploring Child Development & Learning
  • EDUC50113 Exploring Indigenous Education
  • EDUC50114 Exploring Educational Research Research & Diversity
  • EDUC53101 Managing the Secondary Classroom
  • EDUC53102 Quality Learning, Assessment & ICT in the Australian Curriculum
  • EDUC53103 Introduction to Quality Teaching
  • EDPX50001 Professional Experiences

 

Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogical Studies Units

Within this course, students normally complete two content specific curriculum and pedagogical studies units per teaching area. These units will be offered on a two year rotation. The underlined units shown below will be offered every even year (For example 2022 & 2024) and the non-underlined units will be offered every odd year (For example 2023 & 2025).

  • EDUC35103 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Ancient History
  • EDUC35104 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Biology
  • EDUC35105 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Chemistry
  • EDUC35111 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Legal Studies
  • EDUC35113 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Modern History
  • EDUC35121 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Science
  • EDUC35122 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – History
  • EDUC35123 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Commerce
  • EDUC35124 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Business Studies
  • EDUC35126 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – English I 
  • EDUC35127 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – English II 
  • EDUC35128 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Geography I 
  • EDUC35129 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Geography II 
  • EDUC35130 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Health and Physical Education I 
  • EDUC35131 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Health and Physical Education II 
  • EDUC35132 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Mathematics I 
  • EDUC35133 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Mathematics II 
  • EDUC35134 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Music I 
  • EDUC35135 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Music II 
  • EDUC35136 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Religion I 
  • EDUC35137 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Religion II 
  • EDUC35138 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Visual Arts I 
  • EDUC35139 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Visual Arts II 
  • EDUC35140 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Information Technology I 
  • EDUC35141 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies – Information Technology II 
  • EDUC35142 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies: Design &Technologies I
  • EDUC35143 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies: Design & Technologies II
  • EDUC35144 Curriculum & Pedagogical Studies: Technologies

Directed Electives 

The MTch (Secondary) course includes one directed elective when students are pursuing two teaching areas and two directed electives when students are pursuing only one teaching area. In consultation with the Course Convenor students who do not fully meet prerequisite discipline study requirements choose to complete two relevant discipline studies as elective units. Alternatively, students that have fully met prerequisite discipline study requirements are directed to complete either additional relevant discipline studies to strengthen their teaching field and/or additional education units to strengthen their educational understandings.

 


To find out more about any of the units listed here, copy the unit code and then search for that unit here.

Practical Experience


Students need 60 days of professional experience in schools, usually completed over three sessions.

Professional Experience is a critical component of initial teacher education and offers pre-service teachers enrolled in teaching degrees work-integrated learning opportunities as part of their professional development. Avondale's Professional Experience program is based on a framework of high-quality Professional Experience in Australian schools to provide high-quality experiences that will equip pre-service teachers to face the challenges and diversity of classrooms. All mentor teachers for domestic Professional Experience placements are registered teachers at the Proficient level or higher of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) standards.

Professional Experience placements occur regularly throughout all teaching degree programs at times listed in the course structure.  It is the student's responsibility to be available at those times. Pre-service teachers may experience a range of school settings, including public and independent schools. Each school placement offers pre-service teachers the opportunity to apply their theoretical learning to real-life situations.

Transport to and from placement schools and accommodation and related costs are the student's responsibility.

In addition to the listed admission criteria, students will need the relevant Working With Children Check applicable to any Australian state where they choose to complete a placement. A supervised overseas placement may be allowable for one placement other than the final placement.

Students also need to be able to demonstrate their fitness for teaching. This means they can:

  • maintain satisfactory academic progression before professional experience placement;
  • act in a way that demonstrates sound cognitive, mental, emotional and physical health, and be able to cope with the varying demands of classroom situations;
  • demonstrate the ability to cope effectively with stressful situations;
  • demonstrate the ability to maintain a duty of care while on placement;
  • relate to students in an age-appropriate and professional manner;
  • be able to model appropriate literacy and numeracy skills in the classroom and beyond.

Students who cannot demonstrate their fitness for teaching will not be allowed to do school placements.


Accreditation


This course has dual accreditation (one academic, the other professional). Avondale is a self-accrediting Higher Education Provider, and the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course is offered within the terms of the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF). The course is nationally registered with the Tertiary Education and Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA). This course is also accredited by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). Graduates are qualified to teach in the government and private school sectors in Australia and overseas and are eligible for teacher accreditation using the standards of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) as regulated by the state teacher accreditation authority.


Registration and Self-Disclosure


All students must successfully pass the National Literacy and Numeracy test to be allowed to participate in their scheduled placement. While this is not an admission requirement, it is a requirement that students pass the test before they can graduate from this course.

 

  • NSW Department of Education and Training Prohibited employment declaration and Consent to employment screening forms need to be completed before visiting any NSW school. All pre-service teachers are required to satisfy NSW requirements by completing the Working with Children check at http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/Working-with-children/New-Working-With-Children-Check/Volunteers-and-students
  • If pre-service teachers plan on doing a placement outside of NSW, it is their responsibility to make sure they have met the Working with Children/Police Check requirements for the state in which they complete their placement. The Professional Placement Officer will help with this process which may take up to six weeks to complete.
  • Pre-service teachers must complete anaphylaxis training before entering a school or centre.

Note: If students become ineligible to visit schools for professional placement or are barred from attending at a school for any reason, they will not be able to complete this degree.


Where to get further information


Course Enquiries

Student Administration Services

Phone: +61 2 4980 2377
Email: [email protected]
Monday-Thursday, 9.00am-5pm
Friday, 9.00am-12.00noon

Fees

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for eligible students, see www.studyassist.gov.au


View current information on tuition fees

Scholarships

There are scholarships available for those enrolled in teaching courses. Visit http://www.avondale.edu.au/scholarships/

Testimonials

"As a distance student, the element of the course I most enjoyed was communicating with my tutors and fellow students. This reminded me I was truly part of the Avondale student community."
- Jayne Vivien Kaiser