Master of Primary Teaching

Graduates of the Master of Primary Teaching will have:

• research-informed knowledge of international best practice in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment relevant to Primary Education
• research-informed knowledge of learners, learning theories and the social contexts that influence them
• knowledge of educational policies and how these inform practice in 21st century education contexts
• knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to educational contexts.

The program provides professional preparation for teaching in primary school (Prep to Year 6) settings. It is designed for graduates from a non-education background wishing to teach in this context.

This postgraduate pre-service teacher education program is offered in intensive mode to enable completion in one and a half years or over two years full-time. The program provides professional preparation for teaching in primary school (Prep to Year 6) settings. It is designed for graduates from a non-education background wishing to teach in this context.

The program covers the theory and practice of teaching concentrating on the characteristics of learners; the social and educational contexts of education; curriculum studies and professional experience in relevant settings.

Note: The Australian Federal Government has mandated that all students of initial teacher education programs demonstrate they have been assessed as being in the top 30% of the adult population for personal literacy and numeracy. The Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is administered and managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). While this is not a requirement for admission, all students will need to organise and demonstrate a pass result in all components of the LANTITE prior to graduation.

Recommended study pattern

This postgraduate pre-service teacher education program is offered in intensive mode to enable completion in one and a half years or over two years full-time.

The Master of Primary Teaching program is offered full-time and part-time. For domestic students, it may be completed via in-person, on-campus mode or a combination of online, on-campus or fully online.

International students must complete 75% of the program via face-to-face on-campus. The program designates which courses may be completed online.

Professional experience is a mandated component of this program. The placements in primary schools are organised by the School of Education and Professional Studies. Upon enrolment into the program, students will be asked to provide information to facilitate their placements.

Compulsory Tutorial Attendance for All Professional Experience Courses

Students must reach an 80% threshold for tutorial attendance and active participation in the lead up to placement for all Professional Experience courses. Students who cannot attend the full tutorial and thus cannot actively participate during the tutorial will not be able to proceed with the placement and complete the course.

Please be aware that courses in this program may not follow the standard academic calendar. After you have completed your enrolment each trimester, please check your timetable on myGriffith for details of when classes commence and the duration of professional experience placements.

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include: 

• Understanding Diverse Learners
• Working mathematically for Prep to Year 3
• Language, literacy and literature for Prep to Grade 3
• Understanding the child learner

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

To be eligible for the award of Master of Primary Teaching (MPrimaryTeach), a student must acquire 160 credit points as prescribed below:

• gain 40 credit points for Education Discipline Studies (EDS) courses;
• gain 90 credit points for Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy (CAP) courses;
• gain 30 credit points for Professional Experience and Learning (PEL) courses;

AND

• meet the requirements of the Literacy and Numeracy Benchmark in the test administered by ACER on behalf of AITSL*.

The Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) requires a minimum of 60 days of supervised school experience**. These days will be organised as follows:

• Year 1/Trimester 1 - Understanding Diverse Learners
• campus-based studies + 15 days block practice in schools.
• Year 1/Trimester 2 - Pedagogies for Engaged Learning: Primary
• campus-based studies + 20 days block practice in schools.
• Year 2/Trimester 1 or Trimester 2 - Teaching for Impact
• campus-based studies + 25 days block practice in schools.

* You will need to successfully complete the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) to graduate from the program. You are permitted three test attempts in total for each component. If you fail three test attempts for each component, you will not be able to graduate.

** Students requiring 80 days of professional experience for registration in Ontario should contact the Program Director for permission to undertake a 35-day block placement in schools in Year 1/Trimester 1.

This degree may be awarded with Distinction where a student achieves a minimum program GPA of 6.5 with no failed courses. The words 'This award was achieved with Distinction' will be recorded on the testamur.

Exit points

To be eligible to exit the Masters program with a Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching award, a student must acquire 40 credit points for any courses in the Master of Primary Teaching program.

To be eligible to exit the Masters program with a Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching award, a student must acquire 80 credit points for any courses in the Master of Primary Teaching program.

To exit, a student should apply for a program transfer.

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

Indicative total fee $9,000

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.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

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Applicants will need a completed Bachelor degree (or equivalent) that does not lead to teacher registration (with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale) with significant breadth of study to address the range of teaching areas expected by employers.

Applicants must also complete non-academic entry requirements to be eligible for this program.

The key learning areas include: The Arts; English; Health and Physical Education; Mathematics; Science; Humanities and Social Sciences and Technology. You can explore these key learning areas further on the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority website.

Note: Successful completion of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is not an entry requirement for this program. However, if you have achieved a 'satisfactory' result for one or more component of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) at another institution, the 'satisfactory' result can be carried across with your program application. You are not eligible to apply for a place in the program if one or more component of LANTITE remains at 'unsatisfactory' after two test attempts for that component. Griffith University does not support reset of LANTITE test attempts.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous Bachelor-level study was completed in a country other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America or undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 7.5 in IELTS (Academic) with a score of at least 8.0 for Listening and Speaking and a score of at least 7.0 for Reading and Writing.
• OR a score of at least 4 in each of the areas of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing in the ISLPR.
• OR successful completion of at least three years full-time Bachelor-level study (within the last five years) where the language of instruction is English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America.

* The ISLPR test will only be accepted if it has been administered by ISLPR Language Services, 9 Gowrie Street, Mt Gravatt, Queensland.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) pathway is not accepted for this program.

This program is accredited and language requirements have been set to ensure applicants meet both Griffith University language requirements and requirements for registration within Queensland. The Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of English Language Proficiency (ELP) with their application for registration unless they have completed the full four years of higher education study required for registration in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including: 

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE. 
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training. 
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies. 

Students must reach an 80% threshold for tutorial attendance and active participation in the lead up to placement for all Professional Experience courses. Students who cannot attend the full tutorial and thus cannot actively participate during the tutorial will not be able to proceed with the placement and complete the course.