Master of Secondary Teaching

Graduates of the Master of Secondary Teaching will have:

• research-informed knowledge of international best practice in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment relevant to Secondary 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.

You can choose to accelerate your studies over 1.5 years or study full-time over two years. If you choose the accelerated option you will be able to apply for registration six months earlier than graduates from other universities.

If you are a graduate from a non-education background, perhaps seeking a career change, and wish to teach in secondary school settings, this new degree will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge you need to register with the QCT.

You will learn the theory and practice of teaching, as well as about the characteristics of learners and teachers and the social contexts of education. The degree includes education studies, curriculum studies in two nominated teaching areas, and professional experience in secondary school settings. A maximum of four (4) curriculum studies courses will be taken from the curriculum study courses in the undergraduate degree.

You will need to be able to identify two of the following Teaching Areas (and students may choose to take teaching areas from another campus and travel to the campus at which those teaching areas are offered):

• Biology (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)#
• Business (Gold Coast and Online)
• Chemistry (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)#
• Design Technologies (Gold Coast and Online)
• Digital Technologies (Gold Coast and Online)
• Drama (Mt Gravatt and Online)
• English (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
• Food and Nutrition (Gold Coast and Online)
• Geography (Mt Gravatt and Online)
• Health and Physical Education (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
• History (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
• Instrumental Music (Mt Gravatt and Online)#
• Languages other than English (LOTE) (Mt Gravatt and Online)
• Mathematics (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)
• Music (Mt Gravatt and Online)
• Physics (Gold Coast, Online and Mt Gravatt)#
• Psychology (Mt Gravatt and Online)#
• Visual Arts (Mt Gravatt and Online)

# These teaching areas must be taken at a senior level and, therefore, require a minimum of six subjects in each area in the undergraduate degree.

Alternatively, if you have completed at least six subjects in psychology in your Bachelor degree, you may nominate one of the above teaching areas to a senior level (for which you meet the study requirements with a minimum of six subjects) and complete the Learning Enhancement specialist area. In this specialist area, you will gain the skills needed to provide learning support to students with additional needs. You will be able to work in secondary settings where you advise teachers in their planning and/or teach in secondary special education settings. A maximum of four (4) curriculum studies courses will be taken from the curriculum study courses in the undergraduate degree.

Recommended study pattern

The Master of Secondary Teaching program is offered full-time and part-time.

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

• Understanding Diverse Learners 10 - 18
• Contemporary Influences on Secondary Schooling
• Pedagogies for Engaged Learners
• Supporting Literacy and Numeracy within and across the Curriculum 

Plus there’s a selection of teaching areas to choose from. 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 Secondary Teaching (MSecTeach), a student must acquire 160 credit points as prescribed below:

• gain 70 credit points for Education studies (ES);
• gain 40 credit points for Curriculum Studies (CS) within approved teaching areas as identified in the letter of offer (requests for changes of teaching areas must be made via the Program Director);
• gain 20 credit points for Professional Project (PP);
• gain 30 credit points for Professional Experience and Practice (PEPS);
• AND
• meet the Literacy and Numeracy Benchmark in the test administered by ACER on behalf of AITSL.*

* 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.

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 amount shown here is 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 GPA of 4.0 on a 7-point scale) with disciplinary strengths in two distinctive teaching areas.

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

You can explore the key learning areas further on the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority website. Applicants must have completed a quarter of their degree (a minimum of six subjects) in their first nominated teaching area. The second teaching area must include a minimum of another six courses for senior secondary or four courses for junior secondary.

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 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.

Professional experience is a mandated component of this program. The placements in secondary 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.

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.