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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.
- * 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.
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.
Discipline studies suitable for secondary include:
Teaching Area One: accounting; agricultural science; biology; business, chemistry; Chinese; dance; drama; earth and environmental science; English; film, television and new media; French; geography; German; health and physical education; history; Indonesian; information and communications technology; Italian; Japanese; marine science; mathematics; music; physics; psychology; Spanish; study of religion; technology studies; visual arts.
Teaching Area Two: Chinese; dance; design and technologies; digital technologies; drama; economics and business; English; French; geography; German; health and physical education; history; Indonesian; Italian; Japanese; mathematics; media arts; music; science; Spanish; visual arts.
Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attain an IELTS score of at least 7.5 with a minimum of 8.0 in speaking and listening and 7.0 in all other subtests. Refer to English language requirements
Personal statement requirement
As part of your application, you are required to complete an online questionnaire to demonstrate your motivation for, and understanding of, the program and profession. In the questionnaire, you will be asked to rank a series of statements in order of what you think is most to least important. You will also need to write a 600-1000 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) 144 units
EDU712 Feature Writing
EDU713 Video production and television journalism
EDU714 Investigative and Data Journalism
EDU715 Newsroom
EDU716 News and Reporting
EDU717 Digital Journalism
EDU718 Feature Writing
EDU719 Investigative and Data Journalism
EDU720 Cyber Laws and the Rules of Evidence
EDU764 Digital Forensics 1
EDU765 Network Forensics
EDU766 Digital Forensics 2: Advanced concepts in Digital Forensics
Required Senior curriculum courses (2) 24 units
Select 2 Senior curriculum courses associated with your teaching areas from:
EDU727 Planning and Environmental Law
EDU728 Environmental Impact Assessment
EDU736 Environmental Economics
EDU738 Environmental Health Risk Management
EDU740 Diversity and Inclusion
EDU742 Individual Learner Needs
EDU744 Professional Experience: Managing Learning Environments
EDU746 Literacy and Numeracy across the Curriculum
EDU748 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Teaching and Learning
EDU760 Using Data for Learning
EDU761 Teacher as Researcher
EDU763 Teacher as Global Practitioner
EDU793 Professional Experience: The Professional Teacher
EDU794 Quality Teaching and Learning ^
Required Junior curriculum courses (2) 24 units
Select 2 Junior curriculum courses associated with your teaching areas from:
EDU725 Professional Experience: Orientation to the Profession
EDU726 Assessing Learning
EDU729 Teaching Senior Secondary Arts 1
EDU737 Teaching Senior Secondary Arts 2
EDU739 Teaching Senior Secondary Business
EDU741 Teaching Senior Secondary English
EDU743 Teaching Senior Secondary Geography
EDU745 Teaching Senior Secondary History
EDU747 Teaching Senior Secondary HPE
EDU749 Teaching Senior Secondary Languages
EDU759 Teaching Senior Secondary Mathematics
EDU762 Teaching Senior Secondary Science 1
^available 2019
Total units: 192
Program requirements and notes
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 semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- 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
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.