Add another string to your employment bow and teach your Bachelor Degree majors in secondary schools, in Queensland and nationally.
If you’re keen to complete your secondary teaching qualification in only one year, don’t delay. Due to federal changes, this USC program has only two more intakes – Semester 2, 2016 and Semester 1, 2017. After this, USC will still offer students with a non-Education Bachelor's degree a teaching qualification in the form of a two-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) Master of Teaching program.
Final intake for this program is Semester 1, 2017. All students must have completed the program by December 2018
- 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.
- ** For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.
- ** For PDF documents you must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from the Adobe Download page.
If you’re keen to complete your secondary teaching qualification in only one year, don’t delay. Due to federal changes, this USC program has only two more intakes – Semester 2, 2016 and Semester 1, 2017. After this, USC will still offer students with a non-Education Bachelor's degree a teaching qualification in the form of a two-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) Master of Teaching program.
The Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) program is for graduates with non-Education Bachelor degrees who want to qualify to teach their disciplines in secondary schools. Your disciplines need to align with the current offerings of Queensland schools. The self-assessment tool will help you assess your potential teaching areas.
Complement your in-depth area of knowledge with education, teaching and curriculum studies. USC offers strong practical experience as part of this program. Over one year, you will undertake Supervised Professional Experience in two blocks, totalling 62 days of practice teaching.
Additionally, you will complete another 13 days of Wider Field Experience in professional development activities and in schools. It is also possible to do supervised practicum in rural areas.
You can attend professional development seminars to enhance your knowledge and skills in areas such as classroom management and setting yourself up for success during your first year of teaching.
You also have the opportunity to undertake your final teaching placement in a rural or remote location experiencing different school settings and learners, allowing you to make more informed decisions about your career.
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 full-time employed – one of the highest rankings of all Australian public universities.
Note: Final intake for this program is Semester 1, 2017. All students must have completed the program by December 2018.
Post-admission requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 75 days of Professional Experience comprised of 62 days of Supervised Professional Experience and 13 days of Wider Field Experience. Students must undergo a Working with Children Check and obtain a Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA) prior to commencing supervised professional experience.
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 (10)
EDU602 Numerical Techniques in Ecology
EDU603 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
EDU604 Coastal Conservation and Management Project
EDU614 Biodiversity and Ecology
EDU615 Engaging Diverse Learners
EDU616 Quality Learning and Teaching
EDU622 Classroom Management
EDU625 Teaching Practice 1
EDU628 Professional Engagement
EDU630 Teaching Practice 2
Please note:
- EDU603 is the core introductory course for the Graduate Diploma in Education program, students are strongly recommended to enrol in EDU603 during the first teaching session of entry.
- Full time students should enrol into EDU604 and EDU614 consecutively (within the first teaching session) or EDU615 and EDU616 consecutively (within the second teaching session). Full time students in their first teaching session are recommended to enrol into a total of five courses (two of which are 6 units, EDU604 and EDU614 ) and one course must be a curriculum course EDU622 , EDU625 , EDU628 or EDU630 .
- All students should ensure that they are adequately prepared for their teaching practice with sufficient curriculum courses EDU622 , EDU625 , EDU628 or EDU630 . Curriculum courses include development of lesson and unit planning skills that are essential for a successful teaching practice.
- Part time students are required to complete the Graduate Diploma in Education within two years.
- Curriculum courses EDU628 and EDU630 relate to your first teaching area. Each tutorial for this course is specific to your approved first teaching area. To find out which tutorial matches your first teaching area, please search for a class using USCCentral.
- Curriculum courses EDU625 and EDU622 relate to your second teaching area. Each tutorial for this course is specific to your approved second teaching area. To find out which tutorial matches your second teaching area, please search for a class using USCCentral.
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements and notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per teaching session.
- There are two study periods in the year; January–July and July–December. For more information, refer to the Education Programs Calendar.
- Students must complete a minimum of 62 days of supervised teaching practice in schools.
- Students must also complete a total of 13 days of wider field experience
- 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 Study Plan
To commence teaching practice placement:
- A Blue Card linked to USC is required, refer to Requirements for placements. You should allow 12 weeks for PSBA to issue the card.
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority).
- Make provision for transport to attend teaching practice placements.
Requirements for placements
As required by the Queensland Family and Child Commission Act (2014), preservice teachers must undergo a Working with Children Check and be issued with a Blue Card by the Public Safety Business Agency to allow them to undertake supervised professional experience in a school or centre where children under 18 years of age are present. It is now a requirement of all Queensland sites and most Australian sites that preservice teachers have obtained the Blue Card prior to starting supervised professional experience.
To avoid processing delays, you are encouraged to apply for a Blue Card as soon as you have accepted your offer. Blue Cards are free-of-charge for Education students when you apply through USC’s Professional Learning office(Level 1, H Building).
Note: If you do not possess a current Blue Card, you will be unable to complete the professional experience component of your program and you will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
Visit Education - Supervised Professional Experience (SPE) for more information regarding placements.
Visit the Public Safety Business Agency website for information on Blue Cards.