Master of Teaching (Secondary)

A candidate shall:

(a) hold a relevant AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree of a recognised Australian University or tertiary institution (or overseas equivalent as assessed by Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR)), with a minimum GPA of 3.50; and

(b) satisfy the School of their suitability for teaching through the satisfactory completion of the Personal Statement for Initial Teacher Education Course Entry..

Applicants' undergraduate (and appropriate postgraduate) studies must include units meeting the NESA subject content requirements for their intended teaching area/s in the secondary school curriculum areas, as detailed below.

First teaching area

Candidates in their undergraduate (and appropriate postgraduate) studies will have successfully undertaken the equivalent of three-quarters of a year 0.75 Equivalent Full Time Study Load - EFTSL) of discipline study, usually comprising sequential units taken over three years. In most programs, this requirement equates to six units, with no more than two units at first-year level and no fewer than two units at third-year level.

Additional teaching area/s

Candidates wishing to be qualified to teach an additional or second secondary teaching area (for flexibility of employment) are generally required to have successfully undertaken the equivalent of half a year (0.5 EFTSL) of discipline study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over two years. In most programs, this requirement equates to four units, with no more than two units at first-year level. The University assesses applicants' eligibility for teaching areas based on the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Subject Content Knowledge Requirements.

Candidates need to pass 24 credit points (cp) in curriculum methods units. To teach English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, Investigating Science, Physics or Music only, you study 4 units (24 cp) of curriculum methods in the teaching area. To qualify to teach in two different areas, you study 12 cp in each area. Students qualifying to teach Computing or Agriculture are an exception and only need to undertake 18 cp in total of curriculum methods units.

Applicants who are 12 credit points short of meeting the discipline prerequisite for a specific teaching area may be permitted to enrol in the relevant curriculum unit provided they enrol concurrently in the appropriate prerequisite discipline unit or units. All discipline prerequisites for curriculum units must be passed prior to or concurrently with Master of Teaching (Secondary) candidature. Such discipline prerequisite units are in addition to the program of study in the Master of Teaching and incur an additional cost.

Curriculum Specific Guidelines for First Designated Teaching Area

Agriculture:

A major in agriculture in an area such as agricultural science; agricultural technology; horticulture; agronomy; primary industries; rural science; including studies of plants and animals, animal care, agricultural enterprises and chemical safety.

Business Studies/Commerce:

Major in business studies, including at least one unit of finance or accounting, and one unit of business management and remaining units drawn from: business law (Australian/English); economics; human resource management; industrial relations; marketing; business management; finance or accounting.

Computing:

Information Processes and Technology - A major in computing or computing technology including at least two units that develop skills in information and communications technologies and information systems eg database design including relational databases and communication systems/networking, coding and systems management, and skills in designing and producing digital products including non-visual programming languages.

Software Design and Development - A major in computing or computing technology or equivalent discipline including at least two units that develop skills in the design and development of software eg programming in a computer-based language and system analysis, design, development and testing.

Drama:

A major in drama including all of the following: performance; production; theory and preferably Australian drama. Drama studies must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally-oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent.

Economics/Commerce:

Major in economics.

English:

Major in English with at least three units of a strong core of textual studies including literature. Other units may include studies in: communications, creative writing, linguistics, media studies, film studies, and drama or performance arts studies.

Geography:

Major in geography including units in physical and human geography. Units in Earth and Environmental Science may be considered upon review of units for appropriate discipline knowledge.

History:

Ancient History - Major in history in areas such as ancient history; archaeology; and historiography (including one unit in medieval or modern history).

Modern History - Major in history in areas such as Australian history; contact and Aboriginal history; early modern history; historiography; and modern history (including one unit in ancient history or medieval history).

Languages:

A major in a language including study of the spoken and written language. Units counted towards the major must be above an introductory level of study. Where the language is an Aboriginal language there will be specific cultural requirements. Native Speakers of a language must hold an undergraduate degree and may obtain verification from an Australian university indicating that their level of competency in reading, writing, speaking, listening and culture is equivalent to the completion of a major in that language.

Legal Studies:

Major in law or legal studies including the Australian legal system.

Mathematics:

Major in pure or applied mathematics that must include at least one unit of algebra and calculus. The major may include other studies of mathematics that are relevant to the central concepts, modes of enquiry and structure of the content/discipline(s) (only one unit of statistics may be counted). Engineering units may be considered upon review of unit statements for appropriate mathematical content.

Mathematics/Physics: (First Teaching Area Only)

A minor in mathematics, including at least one unit of algebra and one unit of calculus, and a minor in physics (only one unit of statistics may be counted). Engineering units may be considered upon review of unit statements for appropriate mathematical or physics content.

Music: (First Teaching Area Only)

Major in music, including all of the following: musicological study (music history and analysis) in a range of musical styles; periods and genres with a strong component of contemporary and western art music: compositional techniques; music performance studies (a minimum of two years of music performance studies; and preferably Australian music. The study of Music and music practice must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally-oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent.

Sciences: (First Teaching Areas only)

Biology - A major in science including four units in biology.

Chemistry - A major in science including four units in chemistry. Engineering units may be considered upon review of unit statements for appropriate chemistry content.

Earth and Environmental Science - A major in science including three units in Earth or environmental science and one unit in biology.

Investigating Science - A major in science including two units in general, interdisciplinary or applied science and one unit in each of chemistry, physics, earth or environmental science, and biology. Engineering units may be considered upon review of unit statements for appropriate physics and/or chemistry content.

Physics - A major in science including four units in physics. Engineering units may be considered as physics upon review of unit upon review of unit statements for appropriate physics content.

Society and Culture:

A major including at least one unit of sociology and the remaining units drawn from: Aboriginal studies, anthropology, Asian or Pacific Studies, civics, cultural studies, government, history, philosophy, politics, studies of religion, social communication, sociology.

Studies of Religion:

A major in studies of religion including comparative religions and culture.

English as an Additional Language/ Dialect (EAL/D):

A major in discipline knowledge relevant to EAL/D such as linguistics and/or language studies that provide a grounding in the English language, how it works and a very high level of competency in spoken and written English, and intercultural communication.

English Language Requirements

A candidate shall comply with the University's English Language Requirements for Courses in Education Accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority.