The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is an initial postgraduate pre-service teacher education course for those who aim to pursue a career as a secondary school teacher.
Upon completion, you will be qualified to teach in two discipline teaching areas: a major teaching area (Years 7 – 12) and a minor teaching area (Years 7-10). These teaching areas are based on your already completed undergraduate degree with a set number of units completed within that qualification per major and minor teaching area.
The course will provide you with the skills, knowledge and experiences necessary to positively impact student learning in secondary school classrooms across the two teaching areas.
In addition to building the professional knowledge and skills required to teach, the course is designed to foster your disposition for engaging in, and contributing to, the teaching profession through a commitment to ongoing professional learning.
The course is structured to include work-integrated learning in each term of study.
The design of this course utilises CQUniversity’s three term structure, enabling a 2 year volume of learning Master course to be completed in 1.5 years. A part-time pathway is also available and is to be completed as a minimum of two units per term as per the part-time course structure provided.
To be eligible for teacher registration, you are required to undertake and pass the National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Educators (LANTITE) prior to graduation.
This course can only be studied within Australia.
A list of teaching areas that can be studied in this course is available in the "More Details" section of this handbook.
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is an initial postgraduate pre-service teacher education course for those who aim to pursue a career as a secondary school teacher. Graduates are qualified to teach in two discipline teaching areas.
Graduates of the course can apply for provisional registration as a teacher.
Graduates are qualified to teach in State, Catholic and Independent schools throughout Australia.
The course is also recognised as a teaching qualification for employment in educational settings internationally, however additional requirements may apply in some locations.
Graduates of this course have developed significant skills that enhance employment opportunities in other sectors. In combination with work experience and personal qualities, graduates may pursue employment in a variety of career paths including:
Duration | 1.5 years full-time or 2.5 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 96 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | MTeach(Sec) |
AQF Level | Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework) |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
There are three key components to gain successful entry to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) as outlined below:
Academic Requirements (Pre-requisite Qualification)
*Degrees must have been completed/conferred within the last 10 years from the date of term commencement for the relevant intake term. Applicants who completed their Bachelor degree ten or more years ago will need to supply a letter of employment which demonstrates professional experience in the same area as their undergraduate degree. Letters of employment must be presented on a company letterhead as well as signed and dated by a delegated authority. The letter must contain position title, duties performed and length of service.
Non-Academic Requirements (Key Capabilities)
All applicants must provide a mandatory written statement in support of your non-academic capabilities, demonstrating how you hold the key attributes and motivations to become an effective teacher, as outlined by AITSL (Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership). You may consider the prompts mentioned below in each question to frame your response. For your application to be considered, you must write 200-500 words for each of the questions below:
English Language Proficiency
Applicants are required to provide evidence of their completed 3 year non-education Bachelor level qualification with an overall Grade Point Average of at least 4.0, which has been completed within Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland or United States of America.
If you do not satisfy the above requirement, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
Each student will be assessed individually.
N/A
Interim Awards | Not applicable |
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Exit Awards | CC34 - Graduate Diploma of Teaching |
Accreditation |
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No Residential School for this course.
EDFE20037 - Supervised placement as per EDFE20037 Unit Profile |
EDFE20036 - Supervised placement as per EDFE20036 Unit Profile |
EDFE20035 - Supervised placement as per EDFE20035 Unit Profile |
EDFE20034 - Wider Field Experience as per EDFE20034 Unit Profile |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 160 |
2023 | 188 |
2022 | 240 |
2021 | 274 |
2020 | 211 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Students must meet the inherent requirements for teaching and must ensure they adhere to any requirements within the scope of teaching across the curriculum learning areas.
Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students, including disciplines other than healthcare that undertake professional experience placements.
This course requires you to possess a Working with Children Check (WWCC) to enable you to participate in work integrated learning in schools and other learning sites.
Course Learning Outcomes | |||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice | |||||||
2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning | |||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship | |||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice | |||||||
5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level | |||||||
6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences | |||||||
7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship | |||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning | |||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability | |||||||
10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship. | |||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 15 | Total credit points: 96 |
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A part-time pathway is available - please contact the Course Advice Team for further information and a planner.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
EDSE20017 | Learning and Teaching in Junior Secondary | |
EDSE20018 | Junior Secondary Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment | |
EDFE20034 | Professional Praxis 1: Understanding learning contexts |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
EDED20493 | Diversity and Inclusion | |
EDSE20021 | Senior Secondary Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment | |
EDSE20019 | Literacy and Numeracy Learning and Teaching | |
EDFE20035 | Professional Praxis 2: Supportive Learning Environments |
Year 1 - Term 3 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
EDED20495 | Special Needs | |
EDED20494 | Indigenous Learners and Learning | |
EDSE20015 | Neuroeducation and Assessment | |
EDFE20036 | Professional Praxis 3: Enacting Learning and Teaching |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
EDSE20016 | Digital Learning and Teaching | |
EDED20496 | Teacher as Researcher: Using Student Data to Improve Educational Outcomes | |
EDED20505 | Demonstrating Impact: Curriculum and Pedagogy in Practice | |
EDFE20037 | Professional Praxis 4: Transition to Teaching |
Location
This course can only be studied within Australia.
Term 2 Mid-Year Entry Course Structure and Duration
Please note that if you are commencing your studies in Term 2 (July), the units that you are required to complete will be scheduled over two years of full-time study (or part-time equivalent).
Course Planners
Please see Course Planners for planners that outline a recommended enrolment pattern for timely completion.
Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE)
Students undertaking an Initial Teacher Education (ITE) course must complete both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) with a result of “Standard Achieved” to be eligible for graduation. As per the national guidelines, you must attempt both the Literacy and Numeracy in your first year of study.
You will need to have met the requirement of "Standard Achieved" to be eligible to register for the two linked final year placements of Professional Praxis 3 and Professional Praxis 4. Registration for these placements occurs in August of the year prior to their scheduled completion. You will not be able to enrol in EDFE20037 Professional Praxis 4 or complete a placement for this unit if you have not submitted a registration form confirming successful completion of LANTITE.
Placement Units
The four Professional Praxis (placement) units must be completed in sequence and must be completed as per the approved Professional Praxis calendar. Each Praxis unit has a pre-requisite which must be adhered to. To be eligible to enrol in EDFE20037 Professional Praxis 4, students must have successfully completed all other units in the course with the exception of a co-requisite unit scheduled for the capstone term. All assessment for a co-requisite unit must be submitted and successfully passed prior to commencement of the Professional Praxis 4 placement.
Working with Children Check
Pre-service teachers must be enrolled in a CQUniversity Professional Practice unit and be in possession of a current Positive Notice Blue Card (or equivalent "Working with Children" check issued in other Australian states or territories) to be eligible for placement in a school/early learning centre/educational site. Please log onto the placement system Sonia to access the online form to apply for a Working with Children Check.
Credit for Prior Learning
Credit transfer will not be granted towards curriculum and pedagogy units within the Master of Teaching courses on the basis of work experience/or informal and non-formal learning.
Credit transfer will only be granted from formal learning where a student is able to demonstrate that tertiary studies, equivalent in content and depth to the CQU unit, have been successfully completed as part of an accredited Initial Teacher Education Course.
It is an expectation that all pre-service teachers must be able to demonstrate the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at Graduate Career Stage to gain teacher registration. Demonstration of the standards necessarily includes relevant knowledge planning, teaching, assessing and reporting in accordance with the mandated curriculum. Core curriculum and pedagogy units are an essential component of the course to ensure that students have all the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Career Stage).
In addition, graduation from an Initial Teacher Education Course and eligibility for teacher registration requires the completion of a minimum number of assemble placement days in schools or other approved learning sites. For this reason, credit will not be granted for any professional experience other than days completed as part of a formal, supervised assessable placement within an Initial Teacher Education Course.
Credit is normally granted only for units satisfactorily completed in the last 5 years for practical placement units and in the last 7 years for curriculum units at a recognised educational institution.
Refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website at http://www.cqu.edu.au/credittransfer for further details on the guidelines and application process or contact the Academic Pathways Team at credit@cqu.edu.au.
Career Opportunities
Like other professions, the teaching profession is impacted by issues of supply and demand. It is therefore wise to investigate your employment prospects prior to deciding on a course specialisation. This is especially important if you are unable to relocate.
Master of Teaching (Secondary) Teaching Areas
Students in this course have two teaching areas:
Major Teaching Area - Year 11-12 PLUS the corresponding Year 7-10 curriculum area
Minor Teaching Area - Year 7-10 only
Therefore, students will have ONE Senior Teaching Area (Year 11-12) plus TWO Junior Teaching Areas (Year 7-10).
Available teaching areas in this course:
Major (Year 11-12) Teaching Areas
Major Teaching Area |
Corresponding Year 7-10 teaching area* |
Biology (Year 11-12) |
Science (Year 7-10) |
Business (Year 11-12) |
Business (Year 7-10) |
Chemistry (Year 11-12) |
Science (Year 7-10) |
Design (Year 11-12) |
Digital Technologies (Year 7-10) or Industrial Technology and Design (Year 7-10) |
Drama (Year 11-12) |
Drama (Year 7-10) |
English (Year 11-12) |
English (Year 7-10) |
Film, Television and New Media (Year 11-12) |
Media Arts (Year 7-10) |
Food and Nutrition (Year 11-12) |
Home Economics (Year 7-10) |
Geography (Year 11-12) |
Geography (Year 7-10) |
History (Year 11-12) |
History (Year 7-10) |
Mathematics (Year 11-12) |
Mathematics (Year 7-10) |
Music (Classroom) (Year 11-12) |
Music (Classroom) (Year 7-10) |
Physical Education (Year 11-12) |
Health and Physical Education (Year 7-10) |
Psychology (Year 11 - 12) |
Science (Year 7-10) |
*A Major Teaching Area is taught in Year 7-12 which includes a Year 11-12 subject plus the Year 7-10 corresponding teaching area.
Minor (Year 7-10) Teaching Areas
Business (Year 7-10) |
Digital Technologies (Year 7-10) |
Drama (Year 7-10) |
English (Year 7-10) |
Geography (Year 7-10) |
Health and Physical Education (Year 7-10) |
History (Year 7-10) |
Home Economics (Year 7-10) |
Industrial Technology and Design (Year 7-10) |
Mathematics (Year 7-10) |
Media Arts (Year 7-10) |
Music (Classroom) (Year 7-10) |
Music (Instrumental) (can only be chosen as a minor teaching area) |
Science (Year 7-10) |
Teaching Area combinations:
Students cannot choose the following Major and Minors as their only two teaching areas as they must have one other junior area from the list above:
Curriculum and Pedagogy Units:
Curriculum and pedagogy for the Minor Teaching Area (Year 7-10) AND the Year 7-10 component of the Major Teaching Area is covered in the unit EDSE20018 Junior Secondary Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment which is why this unit is 12 credit points (i.e. equivalent to two units).
Curriculum and pedagogy for the Major Teaching Area for Years 11-12 is covered in the unit EDSE20021 Senior Secondary Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment.