Secondary Teaching Courses overview
Secondary teaching concerns the education of students between years seven and ten. It’s a time when students are rapidly growing into adults, requiring professional hands to guide their learning and personal development. Postgraduate study provides opportunities to learn about best teaching practices for subjects like English, commerce, geography, history, a range of languages, mathematics, science and more.
Athenian educational reforms dating back to 320 BCE show the long-held belief that strong secondary education is a necessity. Ancient Roman and Greek students would study the seven liberal arts and sciences in preparation for higher study. Christian missionaries later revived the practice after the fall of Rome, reinstating the teaching of grammar, astronomy, latin and ecclesiastic practices. The renaissance of the 16th - 17th centuries CE saw the wider adoption of secondary education, which continued into the future.
Modern secondary educators utilise advanced curriculums that prepare students for a broader range of disciplines than ever before. They provide them with opportunities and support that will allow them to make better decisions about their academic and professional future.
Is secondary teaching for me?
Secondary teaching is for those with a desire to help students reach their full potential. It’s not for the faint of heart, as secondary students can be rebellious. This make it all the more rewarding for those with the persistence to assist them during formative years. If you’re the sort of person who believes they can be a respected role model for adolescents, secondary teaching could be for you.
Study pathway
Secondary teaching can be taken up to master level, with shorter study periods being available in the form of graduate certificates and diplomas.
Graduate certificates tend to provide training in a specific discipline, such as English or mathematics. Edith Cowan University hosts a course dedicated to Design and Technology, whereas Murdoch University provides one dedicated to secondary mathematics. This makes them an ideal way to specialise, taking six months of full time study to complete or up to one year part time. A prior Bachelor of Education is required to enter, as these courses are designed more as a capstone than a primary method of learning secondary teaching.
Graduate diplomas tend to be more well-rounded by design, taking one year of full time study to complete or up to two years part time. Institutions like Edith Cowan University provide these opportunities to bachelor degree holders willing to acquire the specialised skills needed for secondary teaching, so long as they are from a discipline commonly taught in schools. Alternatively, bachelor degrees in education can sometimes be the minimum requirement. Despite any differences in prerequisites, these programs tend to include units in secondary teaching practices, indigenous education, numeracy, literacy and more, with ample opportunity for practical development.
Institutions like the University of Sydney offer the Master of Teaching (Secondary) to bachelor degree holders from cognate disciplines, similar to many graduate diplomas. These programs tend to take two years of full time study to complete, or up to four years part time. They are consequently able to cover more material; in addition to what is learned in a graduate diploma, students can expect units in:
- Geography curriculum development
- History curriculum development
- Languages
- Special education
- Internships
- Legal studies
This is far from an exhaustive list; students can expect to take multiple units in topics mentioned, in addition to many others not listed. This makes them the ideal way to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field.
Employment options
Secondary teachers are required in schools across Australia as generations of older teachers continue to retire. Teaching associations are an ideal way to find employment, new skills, networking opportunities and more, tending to favour specific disciplines. Examples include the Australian Science Teachers Association and Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, representing their namesakes. Joining these is recommended to improve employment prospects and gain entry to schools around the country.
Specialisations
Secondary teacher specialisations are as varied as the subjects they teach, including: