Bachelor of Arts / Master of Teaching (Secondary)
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Arts / Master of Teaching (Secondary) |
| Course Credit Points | 36 |
| Deakin course code | D303 |
| Course version | 5 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2026 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 089566D Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7/9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Combine your passion for the arts with a desire to inspire the next generation, with a Bachelor of Arts/Master of Teaching (Secondary) at Deakin, Australia's #2 university for education and educational research*.
Fast-track your studies and graduate with two versatile degrees in just four years. The 14 arts majors on offer, including history, media studies, performing arts, complement your teaching expertise while diversifying your career options.
In both streams of study, you will be prepared for the challenges of professional life through practical learning. Deakin’s Professional Experience Program provides the perfect preview to your future role in teaching. Get a taste for what it is like to be a secondary educator and develop your skills in the real world. Deakin is also the only university to embed the Berry Street Education Model into all of our initial teaching degrees. You’ll graduate equipped with practical, trauma-informed strategies to support every learner.
Are you ready to launch an exciting and rewarding career?
In the arts stream of this combined course you can tailor your studies around your interests, creating unique combinations of majors and minors. While studying your undergraduate degree, you will also be building your foundation knowledge that will take you into your postgraduate studies. Choose from relevant arts disciplines that will form your teaching specialisations, including:
- English
- history
- languages other than English (LOTE)
- media studies
- performing arts
- religious studies
- studies of society and environment (Humanities)
- visual arts and photography.
Deakin is the only university in Australia to embed the Berry Street Education Model into all of our teaching degrees. You’ll know how to manage safe, healthier and more engaging learning environments and build positive classroom relationships to promote academic success – giving you and your employer confidence.
Deakin's Professional Experience Program is a key part of your postgraduate course, ensuring you have the practical skills needed from day one of your teaching career. Working with more than 1400 schools across Australia, we will arrange at least 60-days of placements for you in schools where you will learn from experienced teachers. You will also have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for teaching.
You can also add a global perspective to your degree by undertaking a study tour, internationally focused internship in Australia or overseas, language study, or longer study abroad exchange experience*.
Before beginning your Master of Teaching (Secondary), prospective education students need to successfully complete the Casper test – an online, video scenario-based test that lets you demonstrate your suitability for a teaching career.
* U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities Subject Rankings 2024
Professional recognition
This course is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as a nationally accredited course and students are eligible to apply for registration with VIT upon graduation. If you intend to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate you may be required to provide further information.
Applicants are advised to check the registration requirements in their state or territory, carefully.
Career opportunities
Deakin is the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment.^ With us you can step-into your future with confidence. Teaching courses at Deakin lead to a career that can make a profound and lasting contribution to the future by positively educating and influencing the lives of students. Teaching is one of the largest profession in Australia, with more than 200,000 teachers working across 10,000 schools, teaching more than three million students. It’s a rewarding career that offers creativity, flexibility and opportunity.
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts/Master of Teaching (Secondary), you will be qualified to teach in secondary schools within Victoria, in the private, independent, or public education sectors.
Your specialisations and advanced knowledge will also open doors to roles in community services, government agencies and not-for-profit organisations.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
^Australian Graduate Survey 2010–2015, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016–2023, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT). The #1 graduate employment is based on overall employment for domestic undergraduates of Victorian universities, 4–6 months after course completion, with an equal overall employment rate with Monash University.
Participation requirements
Students are required to complete units in Trimester 3 of the third year of study.
Please note that this combined degree course is comprised of 36 credit points (24 counted towards the Bachelor of Arts and 12 counted towards the Master of Teaching (Secondary). The structure of the course utilises the University's trimester model, allowing students to fast-track their studies to complete in a minimum of 4 calendar years (9 teaching periods), with the Master's component completed over 1 calendar year (3 teaching periods).
Trimester 3 in the third year will become compulsory for all students (3 consecutive teaching periods).
This course includes 60-days of supervised professional experience, and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment. Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
A Working with Children Check and completion of Casper selection is required before commencing any units from the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
Students will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course in Year 3, Trimester 3. Learn more about Working with Children Checks.
Interstate applicants must check the requirements and meet all conditions for undertaking professional experience in schools for their state or territory before undertaking professional experience placements as part of this course.
Inherent requirements
It is expected that all students will be able to abide by, and ensure their behaviour is in accordance with the Victorian Institute of Teaching Code of Conduct.
Immunisations
Immunisation and/or vaccination requirements will be communicated by the Professional Experience Office in line with the Department of Education and Training's directions at the time of placement.
For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience Office.
Teacher Education Graduation requirements
Students undertaking an initial teacher education course must pass an approved literacy and numeracy test in order to be eligible to graduate and apply for teacher registration. Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Arts (A310) | Course Learning Outcomes Master of Teaching (Secondary) (E779) |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Demonstrate a broad and coherent body of knowledge in the Arts disciplines, with depth in the underlying principles and concepts in one or more disciplines or areas of practice. | Contribute to critical, professional debates about education theory; local, national and global trends; curriculum; Indigenous and intercultural perspectives; and legal, professional and ethical codes and standards, and critique and apply these understandings to inform their own practice. |
| Communication | Demonstrate highly developed skills in oral, written and electronic communication and the ability to communicate research outcomes, and produce scholarly papers. | Apply critical thinking, pedagogical knowledge and effective interpersonal, oral, written and multimodal communication skills to demonstrate empathy, foster learner agency, establish positive and inclusive learning-friendly environments, and build effective professional partnerships and trust with families/caregivers, teaching colleagues and other stakeholders. |
| Digital literacy | Research, analyse, synthesise and disseminate information using a range of appropriate technologies and resources in a rapidly-changing global environment. | Act in accordance with the ethical and legal frameworks and policy that inform responsible and ethical practice in digital environments, and critically discuss, evaluate and employ a range of appropriate digital literacies, resources and technologies for professional/community/learner engagement and agency. |
| Critical thinking | Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement in selecting and applying appropriate theories and methodologies to evaluate information and knowledge about society, culture and the arts. | Contribute to critical and professional debates about education trends, theory, policy and research and use these understandings to critically reflect on and evaluate own teaching practices and diverse learning data sets to make informed evidence-based judgements for enhancements and innovations to improve learner agency and outcomes. |
| Problem solving | Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate solutions to unpredictable and sometimes complex problems in the Humanities, Social Sciences and the Creative Arts, including cross-disciplinary approaches. | Collaboratively and independently use evidence and research to identify, prioritise and creatively respond to problems that arise in professional learning and practice. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility and accountability for personal actions and a continued commitment to learning in personal, professional, and scholarly contexts. | Engage autonomously and responsibly with critical self-reflection, self-assessment and feedback from others, to inform their own learning, plan for professional development and to balance academic demands with self-care /self-management. |
| Teamwork | Work and learn collaboratively with colleagues, other professionals and members of the wider community. | Actively and collaboratively participate in, and/or lead learning communities, involving learners, families, community members, colleagues and the broader profession to deepen understandings of education and to optimise learning and learner well-being. |
| Global citizenship | Demonstrate an awareness of ethical issues, cultural diversity, and social responsibility when engaging in scholarship and professional roles in the local, national or international community. | Apply culturally responsive, critically reflective and embodied self-knowledge of decolonial praxis in the design, delivery and evaluation of teaching and learning that honours and respects the educational expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and diverse learners, families and communities. |
Approved at Faculty Board
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Arts/ Master of Teaching (Secondary) you must pass 36 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 24 credit points from the Bachelor of Arts (A310)
- 2 Arts majors (8 credit points each)
- 4 credit points selected from:
- EDU204 Literacy, Numeracy and Multi-Tier Systems of supports (MTSS) across the curriculum
- EDU210 The Brain and Learning
Plus 2 credit points selected from: - EDU303 Education, Communication and Technology
- EDU301 Culture, Diversity and Participation in Education
- EDU302 Education and Humanitarian Development
- 4 credit points of course electives
- a maximum of 10 credit points of at level 1
- a minimum of 6 credit points of at level 3
- 12 credit points from the Master of Teaching (Secondary) (minimum WAM of 60 required*)
- ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- ETI010 Trauma Informed Practice (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 8 credit points of core units
- 4 credit points of approved curriculum study units from two teaching specialist areas
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Arts (A310) and Master of Teaching (Secondary) (E779) must be satisfied.
Eligibility*
Following successful completion of the first three undergraduate levels of the course, students with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) above 60 and meet the entry requirements for the Master of Teaching (Secondary) will progress to the postgraduate level of the course. Students cannot progress to the postgraduate level of study without completing all 24 credit points at undergraduate level. An alternative exit from D303 with an A310 Bachelor of Arts award is available to students with a WAM of less than 60.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Bachelor of Arts
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Units
Students to select:
- 2 approved Arts major sequences of at least 8 credit points each selected from the following listing:
Humanities: One of below majors, plus select 2 credit points of units from one other of these disciplines (or History)
| Area of Study | Availability |
| Anthropology | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Indigenous Studies | Online~ |
| International Relations | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Middle East Studies | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Philosophy | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Politics and Policy Studies | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Sociology | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
~ The Indigenous Studies major sequence is offered in the online mode only. International on-campus students must first seek approval from Student Central with a course map plan to ensure they do not exceed one-third (or equivalent) of their course completed online and meet all other course and enrolment rules.
English: one of the below
| Area of Study | Availability |
| English - Children's Literature | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| English - Literature | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
Languages Other than English (LOTE): one of the below
| Area of Study | Availability |
| Arabic | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Chinese | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Indonesian | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Spanish | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
History
| Area of Study | Availability |
| History | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
Religious Studies
| Area of Study | Availability |
| Religious Studies | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
Media Studies
| Area of Study | Availability |
| Media Studies | Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
Performing Arts
| Area of Study | Availability |
| Performing Arts | Burwood (Melbourne) |
Visual Arts and Photography
| Area of Study | Availability |
| Visual Arts and Photography | Burwood (Melbourne) |
- Plus 4 electives selected from another Arts major discipline listed above
- Plus 4 four credit points as specified below:
| EDU204 | Literacy, Numeracy and Multi-Tier Systems of Supports (MTSS) Across the Curriculum |
| EDU210 | The Brain and Learning |
Plus 2 credit points selected from:
| EDU301 | Culture, Diversity and Participation in Education |
| EDU302 | Education and Humanitarian Development |
| EDU303 | Education, Communication and Technology |
Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Compulsory 0-credit point units
To be completed in the first year of study:
| ELN010 | Australian Literacy Test (zero (0) credit points) |
| ELN011 | Australian Numeracy Test (zero (0) credit points) |
| ETI010 | Trauma Informed Practice (zero (0) credit points) |
Units
| EMS711 | Pedagogy in Action: Research and Design Foundations |
| EMS713 | Relational Pedagogies for Collaborative Engagement: Independent Research Project |
| EMS714 | Youth Identities - Diversity and Inclusion |
| IND730 | Decolonising Teaching and Learning: Recognition, Relationships, and Reconciliation on Unceded Land |
Professional experience placement units*
(*please note unit rules for order in which these must be completed)
| EPR781 | Orientation to the Teaching Profession |
| EPR782 | Building Capacity in Professional Experience |
| EPR786 | Transition to the Profession 1 |
| EPR787 | Transition to the Profession 2 |
- Plus
2 Secondary Curriculum Studies units in a first teaching method area
And
2 Secondary Curriculum Studies units in a second teaching method area
Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Secondary curriculum study units
All Secondary candidates will have 2 methods (disciplines) as reflected in their undergraduate major and minor sequences related to the Australian Curriculum.
Candidates undertake 2 curriculum studies units (as prescribed) per method (four units in total), across one of two learning areas.
Note: D303 permits a choice between the following learning areas: English, Humanities, History, LOTE, The Arts, Religious Education.
English
| ECL761 | Teaching English: Middle Years |
| ECL762 | Teaching English: Senior Years |
Humanities
| EHU701 | Teaching Humanities: Middle Years |
| EHU702 | Teaching Humanities: Senior Years |
History
| EHU701 | Teaching Humanities: Middle Years |
| EHI702 | Teaching History: Senior Years |
*A student who is completing Humanities and History would replace the second offering of EHU701 with EMM743 Teaching Strategies for the Middle Years
Language Other Than English (LOTE)
| ETL710 | Theory and Practice of Languages Teaching |
| ETL716 | CLIL Pedagogy |
The Arts
Single method: One of Dance, Drama, Media, Music or Visual Arts
| ECA731 | Teaching Arts Education: Middle Years |
| ECA732 | Teaching Arts Education: Senior Years |
Second Arts method: One of Dance, Drama, Media, Music or Visual Arts
| ECA735 | Teaching Arts Education 2: Middle Years |
| ECA736 | Teaching Arts Education 2: Senior Years |
Religious Education
| EMM741 | Introduction to Teaching in the Middle Years |
| EMM742 | Introduction to Teaching in the Senior Years |
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Other learning experiences
Experiences in community and school settings are embedded in some curriculum units beyond the professional experience placements. Students are also encouraged to volunteer in these settings. Wherever possible, academic staff work alongside education professionals and preservice teachers in these authentic learning experiences.
Research and research-related study
Independent research and practitioner research and training components are embedded across a number of units. Preservice teachers are expected to apply an integrated, critical and advanced understanding of complex bodies of knowledge and research skills in education in their practice.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Commonwealth Prac Payment - Domestic students only
The Australian Government has introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to help eligible domestic students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place studying teaching, nursing, midwifery, and social work cover the costs associated with mandatory placements. For more information on the eligibility criteria and application process please visit our Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.