Masters (Coursework)
Become a secondary school teacher for the 21st century. As a secondary school teacher, you'll have a crucial role to play in the development of young Australians.
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.
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.
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.
Students will also have the unique opportunity to participate in the Swinburne Teachers and Regional Remote Schools (STARS) program as part of the Access Quality Teaching Initiative.
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.
Learn how best to teach the national and state curriculum in various classroom contexts.
Learning environmentsCreate innovative learning environments that harness the power of educational technology to facilitate dynamic learning.
Interpersonal and leadership skillsDevelop communication skills to explore educational leadership and policy, while navigating relationships with colleagues, students and their families.
Assessment strategiesUse both qualitative and quantitative assessment methods to evaluate student progress and extend student learning.
Teaching pedagogyAnalyse core teaching pedagogies - which focus on literacy and numeracy - as they are best applied across a range of subject areas.
Indigenous education perspectivesDevelop 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 inclusionStrengthen 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.
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 DesignerHelp 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 DesignerDevelop integrated online course content for secondary school students, ensuring content is accessible and pedagogically sound.