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The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is for graduates with non-Education bachelor degrees who want to qualify to teach their disciplines in secondary schools. For admission to the program, your bachelor degree disciplines must align with the current subject offerings of Queensland schools.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- * Duration note: The two year full-time offering is only available with a Semester 1 commencement. The 18 month option is available for Semester 1 and Semester 2 commencement.
- ** For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.
- * Duration note: The two year full-time offering is only available with a Semester 1 commencement. The 18 month option is available for Semester 1 and Semester 2 commencement.
- ** For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is for graduates with non-Education bachelor degrees who want to qualify to teach their disciplines in secondary schools. For admission to the program, your bachelor degree disciplines must align with the current subject offerings of Queensland schools.
- Build on your existing subject knowledge with discipline-specific courses that will get you ready for the classroom
- Learn how to assess students’ learning needs, design lesson plans and manage a diverse classroom
- Complete Supervised Professional Experience in three blocks, totalling 60 days of practice teaching, with the opportunity to gain experience in rural and remote areas throughout Queensland
- Enhance your knowledge and skills through ongoing professional development seminars and employment forums, meeting with representatives from major employers, The Queensland College of Teachers, teacher unions and international recruiters
This program replaces the Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) from Semester 2, 2017. The Master of Teaching is a two-year equivalent program delivered intensively over 18 months (or equivalent part-time).
USC Secondary Education graduates are in demand and experience a high level of employment. According to QILT (Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching), 85.7% of USC teacher education graduates are employed full time – one of the highest rankings of all Australian public universities.
Admission requirements
Research has shown that the most effective teachers are those who have academic capability, literacy and numeracy skills, and personal characteristics (non-academic capabilities). Entry to this program requires that applicants meet academic and non-academic criteria.
Academic qualifications
Applicants must have completed a non-Education Bachelor's degree (AQF Level 7), or equivalent, with a minimum GPA of 4.0 from a recognised tertiary institution. In addition, applicants must satisfy the discipline study requirements of at least one-quarter of a degree in a nominated first teaching area and one-sixth of a degree in a nominated second teaching area. Teaching Area One and Teaching Area Two must be from contrasting subject areas or different discipline areas and contain no more than 2 introductory courses in each area.
Personal statement requirement
As part of your application, you will need to write a 1000-word personal statement on why you think you would make a great teacher, and why influencing the future appeals to you.
After you have submitted a QTAC application for this program, QTAC will contact you with further information about the written statement and how to complete your application.
More information is on the QTAC website.
Post-admission requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 60 days of Supervised Professional Experience in a school setting under the supervision of a Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) registered teacher. Students must obtain a Blue Card (or link their existing Blue Card to USC) prior to commencing supervised professional experience. Applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the SPE start date. View the Blue Card Fact Sheet for further information. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when applying through the School of Education at USC.
Students will also need to successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students. For more information on this Government initiative please visit the Students First website. Further information on the test, including sample test questions and registration information, please visit the Australian Council of Educational Research website.
Career opportunities
Teacher in secondary schools (Years 7-12), education consultant, corporate trainer.
Registration
Graduates are eligible for registration with the Queensland College of Teachers *.
Program structure
Required courses (12)
EDU712 Diversity and Inclusion
EDU713 Individual Learner Needs
EDU714
EDU715 Literacy and Numeracy across the Curriculum
EDU716 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Teaching and Learning
EDU717 Using Data for Learning
EDU718 Teacher as Researcher
EDU719 Teacher as Global Practitioner
EDU720 Professional Experience: The Professional Teacher
EDU764 Quality Teaching and Learning
EDU765 Professional Experience: Orientation to the Profession
EDU766 Assessing Learning
Required Senior curriculum courses (2)
Select 2 Senior curriculum courses associated with your teaching areas from:
EDU727 Teaching Senior Secondary Arts 1
EDU728 Teaching Senior Secondary Arts 2
EDU736 Teaching Senior Secondary Business
EDU738 Teaching Senior Secondary English
EDU740 Teaching Senior Secondary Geography
EDU742 Teaching Senior Secondary History
EDU744 Teaching Senior Secondary Health and Physical Education
EDU746 Teaching Senior Secondary Languages
EDU748 Teaching Senior Secondary Mathematics
EDU760 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 1
EDU761 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 2
EDU763 Teaching Senior Secondary Technology
Required Junior curriculum courses (2)
Select 2 Junior curriculum courses associated with your teaching areas from:
EDU725 Teaching Junior Secondary Arts 1
EDU726 Teaching Junior Secondary Arts 2
EDU729 Teaching Junior Secondary Business
EDU737 Teaching Junior Secondary English
EDU739 Teaching Junior Secondary Geography
EDU741 Teaching Junior Secondary History
EDU743 Teaching Junior Secondary HPE
EDU745 Teaching Junior Secondary Languages
EDU747 Teaching Junior Secondary Mathematics
EDU749 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 1
EDU759 Teaching Junior Secondary Science 2
EDU762 Teaching Junior Secondary Technology
Total units: 192
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 192 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete a minimum of 60 days of supervised teaching practice in schools.
- Successfully complete the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education students. For more information on this Government initiative please visit the Students First website. Further information on the test, including sample test questions and registration information, please visit the Australian Council of Educational Research website
To commence supervised professional experience (SPE) you must:
- Obtain a Blue Card (or link your existing Blue Card to USC) prior to commencing supervised professional experience. Applications should be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to the SPE start date. View the Blue Card Fact Sheet for further information
- Complete PrePlace and a Student Placement Agreement (further information will be provided by the placement office upon enrolment)
- Make provision for transport to attend teaching practice placements
- Visit Education - Supervised Professional Experience (SPE) for more information regarding requirements for placements
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified two year (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per teaching session
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports and in-class tests. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- When enrolling, please refer to the Recommended Study Sequence
- There are two study periods in the year; January–July and July–December. For more information, refer to the Education Programs Calendar.