Master of Teaching (Secondary)

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) at the University of Notre Dame Australia is a two-year qualification for people who want to teach in Australian secondary schools. You come in with a bachelor's degree in a subject area, maths, English, science, history, languages, the arts, health and physical education, and so on, and leave with a teaching qualification. The degree sits at master's level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it builds on prior study rather than starting from scratch. Notre Dame runs its programs across semesters, and you will complete units of study worth credit points in curriculum and instruction, educational psychology, assessment and reporting, classroom management, and teaching students with diverse learning needs. The secondary specialisation means you choose two teaching areas that match your undergraduate background, and you study how to plan and teach those subjects across the years of schooling.

How the degree is structured

Expect a mix of coursework units and professional experience. The coursework covers the theory and practice of teaching: how people learn, how to design lessons and units of work, how to assess student progress, and how to work with the Australian Curriculum in your subject areas. You will also study the social and cultural context of schooling in Australia, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and the needs of students from diverse backgrounds. Alongside this, you complete supervised professional experience placements in schools, this is the work-integrated learning component, and it is a substantial part of the degree. Placements are arranged by the university and typically take place in Catholic, independent and government schools, with a gradual increase in responsibility across the two years. By the final placement you are expected to teach classes with limited supervision, plan sequences of lessons, and assess student work. Some students complete a capstone or research project in their final year, depending on the pathway.

What you actually learn

You graduate able to plan and teach in two subject areas, manage a classroom, assess student learning against curriculum standards, and communicate with parents and colleagues. You learn to differentiate instruction for students with different needs and backgrounds, and to use evidence to improve your teaching. The degree also covers the legal and ethical responsibilities of teachers, including child protection and mandatory reporting. Because Notre Dame is a Catholic university, there is a focus on values and ethics in education, but you do not need to be Catholic to enrol. The professional experience placements are where most students say the real learning happens, you are in a school, working with a supervising teacher, teaching actual classes.

Who this suits

This degree suits people who already have a bachelor's degree and want to move into teaching, or who are changing careers. It also suits those who want to teach in Catholic schools, given Notre Dame's ethos and school partnerships. You need to be eligible for teacher registration in Australia, which means meeting the English language requirements set by the state or territory teaching authority, for teaching courses, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, but teaching typically requires 7.0–7.5. The university accepts TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and its own English programmes as equivalents. International students should note that the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Check the official CRICOS register and the university's page for current tuition, entry requirements and placement details.

• Secondary school teacher in government, Catholic or independent schools
• Subject specialist teacher in areas such as mathematics, English, science, history, languages or health and physical education
• Year level coordinator or pastoral care role (often after further experience)
• Curriculum developer or education officer in museums, galleries or community organisations
• Education consultant or trainer in corporate or government settings
• Private tutor or online educator
• Further study towards a research degree or leadership role in education

Graduates typically find work in Australian secondary schools, but the qualification is also recognised in some overseas jurisdictions, check with the relevant teaching authority. To teach in Australia you need registration with the state or territory teaching authority, which includes meeting English language and other requirements. The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is a professional teaching qualification, so it leads to registration as a teacher.