Is secondary teaching for you?

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program aims to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for a highly successful career in teaching. Read more ...

What you will study

To begin a Master of Teaching (Secondary) program, you must have successfully completed a relevant Bachelor degree from a recognised University or equivalent tertiary education institution. Read more ...

What you will learn

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program prepares you for the classroom, and includes two periods of hands-on teaching practice in schools. Read more ...

Teachers are in demand

Now is a great time for you to get into teaching. Teachers are in demand both nationally and internationally, and this demand is only expected to increase as the current teaching workforce reaches retirement age. Read more ...

Is secondary teaching for you?

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program aims to develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for a highly successful career in teaching. Graduates of this program will be accredited as teachers in New South Wales, and will be able to seek employment as Year 7-12 (Secondary) teachers in and beyond the NSW Government, Catholic, and Independent school sectors.

The program aims to develop graduates who are inspirational teachers with the capability to act professionally, ethically and effectively in their Secondary school destinations; insightful scholars with the capability to engage in rational enquiry into curriculum, policy and practice; and innovative leaders with the capability to play a constructive role in public discourse on and beyond education.

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program is offered as a two year full-time program or part-time equivalent. Students will complete the equivalent of 60 days professional experience in relevant school settings.

What you will study

To begin a Master of Teaching (Secondary) program, you must have successfully completed a relevant Bachelor degree from a recognised University or equivalent tertiary education institution.

In doing your relevant Bachelor degree or equivalent tertiary education qualification, you will need to have studied for a first teaching area, the equivalent of six courses in one discipline area (of which four courses must have been taken at second year level or above), and for a second or third teaching area, you will need to have studied four courses in an additional discipline area (of which two courses must have been taken at second year level or above).

Recognised teaching areas are:

• Aboriginal Studies*
• Ancient History
• Biology
• Business Studies*
• Chemistry
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Earth and Environmental Science
• Economics
• English
• Geography
• Legal studies*
• LOTE (Languages Other Than English-e.g. French, Chinese, Japanese, etc)
• Mathematics
• Modern history
• Music
• Physics
• Society and Culture*
• Studies of Religion*
• Visual Arts.

NB: * Available as second teaching area only.

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program involves a combination of:

• four courses of foundation education studies
• three courses of secondary specialist studies
• four courses of professional studies
• one elective course from the Master of Educational Studies program
• four specialist curriculum studies courses.

These requirements include 45 days of formal in-school practicum, five days of observation and microteaching plus ten single days in a Secondary school setting.

What you will learn

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) program prepares you for the classroom, and includes two periods of hands-on teaching practice in schools.

In-school professional experiences are supervised by school or university staff and may involve placement in schools in geographic regions outside the Newcastle area.

By the completion of the program, students are expected to satisfy a range of professional teaching competencies and meet the Graduate Level Professional Teaching Standards of the NSW Institute of Teachers.

Teachers are in demand

Now is a great time for you to get into teaching. Teachers are in demand both nationally and internationally, and this demand is only expected to increase as the current teaching workforce reaches retirement age.

According to the NSW Department of Education, demand for teachers is particularly strong in the secondary teaching areas of mathematics, science, technology, English, special education, legal studies, business studies and commerce.

However, teachers of all secondary subjects as well as primary teachers can find work, often fulltime, and certainly as casual and temporary teachers throughout NSW. Similar opportunities for graduates exist across State and Territory systems of education as well as in Catholic and Independent schools.

A rewarding career path

Teaching is an immensely rewarding career, where you can have a profound impact on young people’s education, career aspirations and their lives.

Your work in schools can impact positively on local communities and even contribute to the creation of a better world. At its core, teaching is ethical and political work that is critical to how society functions.

There are also opportunities for promotion within teaching as well as many opportunities to use a teaching degree as a basis for other employment in other occupations.

A passport to travel

There are fantastic opportunities for teachers to take their professional knowledge and work across the globe. The recruitment of Australian teaching graduates is particularly strong in countries across Asia, the United Kingdom and the Americas, but similar opportunities can be found throughout the world.