The Master of Teaching (Primary) (MTch (Prim)) is for eligible graduates who already have a bachelor’s degree and desire to transition into a new career teaching primary school students. The course provides the opportunity to:
Graduates of the MTch (Prim) are qualified to teach in Christian, independent and state school systems both in Australia and overseas.
This course is offered in a regular program (semester-only) or a fast-tracked program (1.3 years). The fast-tracked program includes intensive study periods allowing students to complete course requirements in a significantly shorter timeframe. Students are able to opt-in as professional or personal circumstances allow. Intensive study periods are offered entirely online.
To qualify for admission, an applicant must have achieved:
An applicant’s Bachelor's degree must meet the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) content requirements, which will be assessed the Course Convenor.
In exceptional circumstances an applicant may be admitted based on qualifications deemed equivalent as assessed by the Course Convenor in consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).
In addition, applicants must submit the Personal Statement for Initial Teaching Training (PSITE). The PSITE assesses the applicant’s suitability for becoming a teacher and consists of four questions with a maximum of 250 words per response.
This course is available to international students who meet the Australian government requirements for a student visa to reside in Australia for the duration of the course. For information regarding visas refer to https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder/study.
Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency by one of the following:
^Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, or the United States of America.
Applicants who have completed prior study may be eligible for advanced standing (credit recognition). Applicants should discuss their eligibility for advanced standing with the Admissions Team or the Course Convenor.
The Master of Teaching (Primary) consists of 16 units and requires 96 credit points for completion. Every unit has a 6 credit-point value. Students complete 4 units in each of 4 semesters in a full-time load or a part-time equivalent.
The course is comprised of:
These units cover a range of current educational topics designed to prepare pre-service teachers to successfully teach young people.
EDUC50102 | Understanding Students with Special Education Needs |
EDUC50113 | Exploring Indigenous Education |
EDUC50114 | Exploring Educational Research & Diversity |
EDUC52102 | Introduction to Learning & Teaching |
EDUC52103 | Managing the Primary Classroom |
EDUC52104 | Preparation for the Christian Teaching Workplace |
EDUC52106 | Planning and Assessment for Teaching English |
EDUC14102 | Curriculum Studies - Teaching English I |
EDUC14104 | Curriculum Studies - Teaching Initial English |
EDUC14105 | Curriculum Studies - Teaching Mathematics I |
EDUC24106 | Curriculum Studies - Teaching Mathematics II |
EDUC24107 | Curriculum Studies - Teaching Science & Technology |
EDUC34109 | Curriculum Studies - Teaching Health & Physical Education |
EDUC54102 | Curriculum Studies - Primary Creative Arts |
EDUC54106 | Curriculum Studies - Historical Inquiry, Religion & Geographical Investigation in the Primary School |
There are two professional experience blocks in this course. The second block is completed as part of the unit EDPX30001 Professional Experience.
This course can be achieved using a regular or fast-tracked program.
Year 1 Semester 1
EDUC14105 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Mathematics I |
EDUC50113 | Exploring Indigenous Education |
EDUC52102 | Introduction to Learning & Teaching |
EDUC52103 | Managing the Primary Classroom |
Professional Experience 1 (July-August, 20 consecutive days)
Year 1 Semester 2
EDUC14104 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Initial English |
EDUC24106 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Mathematics II |
EDUC14102 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching English I |
EDUC52106 | Planning and Assessment for Teaching English |
Year 2 Semester 1
EDUC54102 | Curriculum Studies-Primary Creative Arts |
EDUC54106 | Curriculum Studies-Historical Inquiry, Religion & Geographical Investigation in the Primary School |
EDUC34109 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Health & Physical Education |
EDUC52104 | Preparation for the Christian Teaching Workplace |
Professional Experience - June-August, 40 consecutive days (Aligned to unit EDPX30001 Professional Experience)
Year 2 Semester 2
EDUC24107 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Science & Technology |
EDUC50102 | Understanding Students with Special Education Needs |
EDPX30001 | Professional Experiences (June/July - 8 weeks) |
EDUC50114 | Exploring Educational Research & Diversity |
Fast-Tracked Study Program
Intensive-1
EDUC50102 | Understanding Students with Special Education Needs |
EDUC50113 | Exploring Indigenous Education |
Semester 1
EDUC14105 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Mathematics I |
EDUC34109 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Health & Physical Education |
EDUC52102 | Introduction to Learning & Teaching |
EDUC52103 | Managing the Primary Classroom |
Intensive-2
EDUC52104 | Preparation for the Christian Teaching Workplace |
EDUC54102 | Curriculum Studies-Primary Creative Arts |
Professional Experience 1 - July-August, 20 consecutive days
Semester 2
EDUC14104 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Initial English |
EDUC24106 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Mathematics II |
EDUC14102 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching English I |
EDUC52106 | Planning and Assessment for Teaching English |
Intensive-3
EDUC50114 | Exploring Educational Research & Diversity |
EDUC24107 | Curriculum Studies-Teaching Science & Technology |
Intensive-1 (4)
EDUC54106 | Curriculum Studies - Historical Inquiry, Religion & Geographical Investigation in the Primary School |
EDPX30001 | Professional Experience |
Professional Experience - Feb-March, 40 consecutive days (Aligned to unit EDPX30001 Professional Experience)
Timing of Study Periods
INT-1 | SEM 1 | INT-2 | SEM 2 | INT-3 |
Early January – Mid February | Late February – Mid June | Early June – Mid July | Early August – Mid November | Mid November – Mid December |
Approx 6 weeks | Approx 13 weeks | Approx 6 weeks | Approx 13 weeks | Approx 6 weeks |
Students have regular opportunities to practice their developing teaching skills in the classroom through two Professional Experience Placements; one of 20 days and one of 40 days. These provide opportunities to develop essential mastery of the Graduate Teaching Standards, required by the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) prior to graduation.
It is important that teacher education students:
Students must provide evidence of compliance on arrival at each school for their Professional Experience Placements. Evidence includes:
If a student becomes ineligible to visit schools for Professional Experience Placements or is barred from attending a school for any reason, the student will not be able to complete this degree.
Students need to demonstrate their fitness for teaching to complete a Professional Experience Placement. This means being able to:
Teacher education students should seek Professional Experience Placements in schools where no relatives or friends are working or attending. This is to avoid a conflict of interest in mentoring and assessing teacher education students. Otherwise, any relationship must be disclosed, with Avondale reserving the right to make a decision regarding the Professional Experience Placement. Failure to disclose this information may mean that the grade for the Professional Experience Placement is subject to revision or annulment. Students cannot complete a placement at a school where they are a present or past employee.
Students will need to obtain a New South Wales Working with Children Check, as well as the equivalent Working with Children Check in any state or territory in which they intend to complete a Professional Experience Placement. Students enrolled in a Master of Teaching degree will need to obtain a New South Wales WWCC before starting their first semester of study.
Students need to apply for a Working with Children Check online through the Office of the Children's Guardian. After the application is complete, the application number and the expiry date must be emailed to the Professional Experience Placement Officer.
E: [email protected]
Students are required to complete the Child Protection Awareness Training within the first two weeks of the semester, before the first Professional Experience Placement. The training is a self-paced online e-learning course available through the NSW Department of Education. Students should save their evidence of completion as a PDF file and email it to the Professional Experience Placement Officer.
E: [email protected]
When a student has completed the Child Protection Awareness training, they must register for MyPL, and then complete Child Protection Updates annually.
The specific focus of the annual Child Protection Update varies each year, depending on current needs as identified by the NSW Department of Education. The aim of the course is to provide a general refresher on recognising and responding to suspected risk of harm across a range of categories. It reminds those working in an education context of the actions to take when identifying and responding to students at risk of harm.
The NSW Department of Education mandates that students receive anaphylaxis management training before commencing their first Professional Experience Placement. Students are required to complete ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for Australian schools.
Once completed, please print, scan, and email the certificate(s) to the Professional Experience Placement Officer.
E: [email protected].
Government requirements stipulate that students must pass the Government Literacy and Numeracy Test (LANTITE) in order to commence their final Professional Experience Placement. It is advised that students sit this test in the first year of their course. The booking of and the payment for these tests is the responsibility of each student, being separate to tuition fees.
The Placement Officer is available to assist students with all post admission requirements and can be contacted at:
E: [email protected]
T: 02 4980 2180
The MTch (Prim) course is accredited by the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA).
At the completion of the course, students must register with the state professional teaching body before they are eligible to teach in a school. In New South Wales this accrediting body is the New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA).
The Master of Teaching (Primary) is designed to successfully prepare the student with critical thinking skills for the classroom, and adaptability for the evolving education system. Graduates are qualified to teach from Kindergarten to Year 6 and the potential to gain employment as a:
Graduates are qualified to teach in independent and state school systems in both Australia and overseas. In addition to education-related careers, teachers find careers in corporate and government roles where organisational and relationship skills are valued by employers.