The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is for graduates with non-Education Bachelor degrees who want to qualify to teach their disciplines in secondary schools. 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).

For admission to the program, your Bachelor degree disciplines must align with the current subject offerings of Queensland schools.

This program is designed to build on your existing subject knowledge with discipline-specific courses that will get you ready for the classroom. You’ll learn how to assess students’ learning needs, design lesson plans and manage a diverse classroom.

You will undertake 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.

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.

Admission requirements

Applicants must write a 1000-word written statement that describes their non-academic capabilities. Effective teachers possess both academic and non-academic capabilities. Research has shown that the best teachers are those who have academic capability, literacy and numeracy skills and personal characteristics (non-academic capabilities). Non-academic capabilities include motivation to teach, self-efficacy, willingness to learn, conscientiousness, engagement with learning, resilience, interpersonal and communication skills, organisational and planning skills, and written communication skills. Research has also shown that a personal written statement describing self-assessment of non-academic capabilities is a suitable means for assessing non-academic capabilities for teaching.

Entry to this program requires applicants to meet academic and non-academic criteria.

Full details of entry to this program are 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 *.

* External accreditation pending approval