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Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Become an inspiring secondary school teacher ready to help students tackle rapidly changing technologies with a Master of Teaching (Secondary).
Postgraduate
Qualification
2 years full-time
Duration
Feb, Apr, Jul, Oct
Start Date
14
Units
100% Online
Learning Mode
$23,760*
Fees
‘The benefit of studying online with Swinburne Online has allowed me to schedule my time efficiently and effectively around [my life]. I have been provided with a world-class education led by industry leaders and professionals.’
Kate, Swinburne Online Education student
6.2% ▴
As a Secondary School Teacher, you’ll have a strong future ahead of you, with a 6.2% increase expected in the next five years.
Our education courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, skills development, student support and teaching quality.
Our education courses have been awarded a five-star rating for overall experience, skills development, student support and teaching quality.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased recognition that education will be fundamental to rebuilding the economy. Due to the shortage of secondary school teachers, the Department of Education and Training (DET) is seeking to increase the supply of quality teachers, and support future economic recovery.
Swinburne Online’s Master of Teaching (Secondary) can be studied in an accelerated mode that allows you to join the workforce quickly, or at your own pace. The course blends in-school experience with online coursework, and aims to equip you with a holistic skill set that balances teaching methods with care for students’ wellbeing.
Are you ready for more placement opportunities? The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is also uniquely designed to run across four teaching periods a year to better align with Victorian school terms and dates. This new course structure will help you find more teaching placements that suit your personal teaching goals.
As a Swinburne Online student, you will also have access to unique development opportunities. These include the Swinburne Teachers and Regional Remote Schools (STARS) program, which is part of the Access Quality Teaching Initiative. The program will place you in professional experience placements in regional, remote and/or lower socio-educational advantage schools in Victoria, giving you valuable experience with a diverse range of educational communities.
Increasing innovation within school settings is the new priority within classrooms, as well as preparing secondary school students for the enriching, technology-centric careers that will define the future workforce.
Upon graduation, you will be eligible for provisional registration by the Victorian Institute of Teaching as a secondary teacher, or – by reciprocal arrangements – with teacher education authorities in other states.
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). To check reciprocal arrangements, please contact VIT or the registering authority in the state/territory you wish to register to teach.
This course is not available to international or NSW students at this present time.
What will you learn?
- Curriculum knowledge: Learn how best to teach the national and state curriculum in various classroom contexts.
- Learning environments: Create innovative learning environments that harness the power of educational technology to facilitate dynamic learning.
- Interpersonal and leadership skills: Develop communication skills to explore educational leadership and policy, while navigating relationships with colleagues, students and their families.
- Assessment strategies: Use both qualitative and quantitative assessment methods to evaluate student progress and extend student learning.
- Teaching pedagogy: Analyse core teaching pedagogies – which focus on literacy and numeracy – as they are best applied across a range of subject areas.
- Indigenous education perspectives: Develop an understanding of contemporary and historical Indigenous education perspectives, as a means to better engage with and advocate for Indigenous children and their families.
- Equity, diversity and inclusion: Strengthen your understanding of equity and diversity in education. Why it matters, and a teacher’s responsibility to cultivate an inclusive learning environment that meets the needs of all students.
Flexible study
Flexible study
What does flexible study mean for me?
Studying at Swinburne Online gives you the freedom to study how it suits you. Decide when and where it fits in with your life and tailor your study journey to your own needs. Get a world-class degree without giving up what’s important.
Flexible study at Swinburne Online
Personalised study journey
Set a study pace that work with what’s going on in your life. If you’re unsure about how much you can commit to, we can offer part-time options and the option of increasing your unit load as your progress. Interested in fast-tracking your studies? You also have the opportunity to complete up to 12 units per year.
Fit study around your life
You don’t have to put your life on hold to study. Prioritise what matters to you and fit study around family, work and personal commitments through a course that is flexibly designed for online learners.
Multiple intakes
Start when it suits. Swinburne Online offers multiple intake dates and flexible unit availability, so you can choose when you begin your studies or if you need to take a break.
7-day support
Flexible study requires flexible support. As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, seven days a week, with Student Advisors available to help with anything from tech support to research advice and dedicated online tutors in each of your units.
Structure
Structure
Your course structure
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) consists of 200 credit points of study. Your coursework will comprise of 13 theory units, one credited placement and two not-for-credit placements.
Your two not-for-credit placements are embedded into specific theory units, which will set you on a strong path to put theory into practice as you develop your teaching skills.
Your units are led by experienced education professionals with recent or current teaching experience and focus on arming you with the practical skills you can take straight into the classroom. You will also undertake supervised practicum units that give you the opportunity to work and learn in an Australian school.
Why study a degree in education with Swinburne Online? Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to success come graduation. View all units in this bachelor’s degree.
View All UnitsSpecialist teaching areas
Specialist teaching areas
To undertake the Master of Teaching (Secondary) you are required to qualify for two specialist teaching areas, with at least one being a major teaching area.
Major teaching area
A major will be equivalent to three-quarters of a year of prior full-time study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over three years. In most programs, this equates to six units, with no more than two at first-year level and no fewer than two at third-year level.
Minor teaching area
A minor will be equivalent to half a year of prior full-time study, usually comprising sequential discipline study taken over two years. In most programs, this equates to four units, with no more than two at first-year level.
Select each tab below to see the full list of specialist teaching areas offered at Swinburne Online.
Humanities and social sciences
- Geography
- History
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Religion and Society
- Sociology
Mathematics, science and movement
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Food Studies
- Health and Human Development
- Mathematics
- Physical Education (must be a major)
- Physics
- Psychology
- Science
Technologies and the world of work
- Accounting
- Applied Computing
- Business Management
- Economics
- Industry and Enterprise
- Legal Studies
- Design and Technologies
- Digital Technologies
- Product Design and Technology
- Systems Engineering
Performing and visual arts
- Dance
- Drama
- Media
- Music (must be a major)
- Theatre Studies
- Visual Art (must be a major)
- Visual Communication Design
English and languages
- English
- Languages (must be a major)
- Literature
Flexible placements
Flexible placements
Placements are flexible
Professional experience, or placements in secondary school settings, form part of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) course. Placements are a key part of your education course and are a requirement for teacher registration.
Swinburne Online offers pre-service teachers the unique opportunity to engage in a flexible placement model during each Quarter. This means pre-service teachers are able to choose dates within each Quarter to complete the required number of days specified for each Professional Experience. This flexible model supports Swinburne Online pre-service teachers to organise placements around their work or family commitments.
During this time, all Swinburne Online pre-service teachers are also enrolled in a professional experience or placement unit and are supported by eLearning Advisors (eLAs), who are also teachers themselves. They are passionate professionals with years of industry experience, specially trained for teaching online students. They will help to guide pre-service teachers through their unit content and are on-hand to help with any placement related questions.
How you'll learn
How you'll learn
Learning designed for online
Your study journey with Swinburne Online is tailored to the digital space. You’ll study in a dynamic virtual classroom environment, interact with your peers in the custom-built social platform, and receive support at the times you need it from advisors who understand studying online.
Online classroom
You’ll complete each of your units in Canvas, your online classroom, and guided through coursework by an online tutor with real-world experience in your field of study. Canvas is where you’ll access classes, assignments and discussion boards with your peers.
Online campus
The Student Hub is your online campus, where you’ll access the support and resources to assist you throughout your study journey. From managing your course to technical support and library resources, you’ll find it all in one easy location.
Tailored support
Swinburne Online will be there for you each step of the way. From enrolment through to graduation, we offer extended, flexible support in each of your units and advisors to assist with anything from technical support to referencing and assignment tips.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
Applicants require a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification that includes at least a major study in one approved secondary teaching area (equivalent to one-year full time equivalent study) and a minor in at least one other recognised teaching area (equivalent to half a year of full-time study). Both undergraduate and postgraduate prior study can be considered in your teaching area(s) method(s) assessment. For approved teaching areas, please visit the Victorian VCE study design and ACARA subject areas.
Students will also require a valid Working with Children Check from the appropriate state authority. A Police Check may also be required by a school prior to a placement. For a list of each state’s requirements, see the careforkids website.
CASPer suitability tool
From 2018, under the new AITSL and government Initial Teacher Education (ITE) requirements, all students applying to ITE courses across Australia will need meet suitability for teaching (non-academic selection) criteria as a part of course entry criteria.
If you’re looking to apply for our Master of Teaching (Secondary) course, you will need to complete the CASPer suitability tool.
Get in touch with a Course Consultant to find out more information.
Additional requirements
Admission to this course will consider both academic and non-academic results. All applicants must sit a selection assessment for non-academic personal and professional attributes.
Applicants applying to transfer from an initial teacher education course from another Provider must disclose all LANTITE (National Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students) attempts.
Applicants who have unsuccessfully attempted the LANTITE three or more times will not be eligible to receive an offer.
English Language Literacy
Evidence of English language proficiency is not required if the applicant has completed a bachelor degree in English in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland.
For bachelor degrees completed in other countries, the following criteria applies:
IELTS (Academic Module): Overall 7.0 with no individual band below 7.0 and a score of no less than 7.5 in speaking and listening; or
Swinburne English Language Centre: EAP 5 Advanced level with overall 75% and all skills 70% or above
TOEFL iBT: minimum score 95 (Reading no less than 20, Writing no less than 22)
Or equivalent measures available at the Swinburne English Language Requirements page.
The date of the assessment must be no more than two years prior to the time of application for registration.
Fees
Fees
The estimated annual fee for this course is $23,760*. This is based on completing eight 12.5 credit point units in one calendar year.
Commonwealth provided loans are available to assist eligible students to pay their course fees and there are a range of university, government and privately funded scholarships and prizes.
Discover more information about HELP loans.
Course fees will be affected by a student’s unit selection and any credit awarded in recognition of previous academic experience.
This course not available to international students.
Domestic students also contribute to student services and amenities via an annual fee.
Scholarships
Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. You may be eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.
Additionally, the Victorian Government Scholarship is now accessible to eligible students. This scholarship, provided by the Victorian Government, offers financial support to students pursuing secondary teaching degrees. To find out more, call 1300 069 765.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Prepare students for a technological future
Our education graduates work in a range of rewarding roles and industries. The Master of Teaching (Secondary) prioritises practical theory and experience inside a real classroom so that you can graduate with your foot already in the door. You will:
- Undertake practicum units that place you inside an Australian classroom
- Learn about new technologies influencing future classrooms and teaching practices
- Learn from real educational professionals.
Secondary School Teacher
Teach young learners in a high school classroom as they explore discipline areas within their education, and begin to form an understanding of their future direction in life.
Curriculum Designer
Help guide curriculum development, taking into account the changing needs of the Australian workforce, and the changing skills young Australians will need to succeed in the job market and navigate the modern world.
Learning Designer
Develop integrated online course content for secondary school students, ensuring content is accessible and pedagogically sound.
Accreditations
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT). To check reciprocal arrangements, please contact VIT or the registering authority in the state/territory you wish to register to teach.
Testimonial
‘Swinburne Online gave me more flexibility, more support and more work experience so I could live my dream of being a teacher. My Mentor Teachers often commented on how knowledgeable I was and that I was already displaying working knowledge and skills at the Graduate Teacher level.’
Kate
Swinburne Online graduate
More Courses
Other courses you may be interested in
Graduate Certificate of Educational Studies
Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Master of Teaching (Primary)
FAQs
What are other students asking?
Q.
Do I have to purchase learning materials?
A.
For students undertaking a degree, most of your learning materials are included with a free license provided to you by Swinburne Online. However, in some cases, you will be notified via your student email that you will need to buy specific software or eTexts. For TAFE Business students, all of your learning materials will be available online and are covered by your course fees. You won’t need to purchase any further materials.
Q.
Do I need to be logged on to study at specific times?
A.
You won’t normally have to be online at a specific time. Your course material is available for you from the beginning of each teaching period and you can work through it in the hours that suit you.
There are some live webinar sessions that run approximately once a month. These are a special opportunity for students to sign in at the same time as their tutors, normally before an assessment deadline. It gives you the chance to ask any questions relating to the assignment in real time and hear other student’s questions and thoughts. We understand that students won’t always be able to make these sessions, so they can be replayed the next day.
Q.
Which units should I start with?
A.
When you enrol to study a degree with us, you will nominate how many units you would like to select per teaching period, based on a recommendation from one of our Course Consultants. From here, our enrolments team will allocate you automatically to the units they feel will be best suited to your needs, so you don’t need to worry about choosing units. If you want to choose something different than what you are allocated to, that is no problem, just get in touch with our Student Advisors and they will take care of it for you.