Bachelor of Science / Master of Teaching (Secondary)
2026 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Science / Master of Teaching (Secondary) |
| Course Credit Points | 36 |
| Deakin course code | D304 |
| Course version | 4 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2026 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | No |
| 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 | 089567C 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
Translate your passion for the study of sciences into a career that inspires others with a Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching (Secondary) at Deakin, Australia’s #3 university for education and educational research.*. Create unique course combinations with science specialisations and graduate as a qualified secondary school educator.
This industry-led combined course allows you to fast-track your studies and graduate with two degrees in just four years. You will explore a broad range of science disciplines before focusing on a specialisation.
Deakin is 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. You’ll learn by doing and build practical experience through hands-on lab work, professional placements, work-integrated learning and international study experiences.
Are you ready to join one of Australia’s largest growing professions?
Start with Deakin’s Bachelor of Science and choose two science teaching areas that will lead to your postgraduate specialisations. Create unique course combinations that when paired with teaching core units, customise your degree and boost your employability. Study disciplines including:
- biology or general science
- chemistry or general science
- environmental science or general science
- food science
- mathematics.
During your postgraduate studies, Deakin’s Professional Experience Program is a key part of your course, ensuring you have the practical skills needed from day one of your teaching career. Working with more than 1,400 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 have access to specialised teaching spaces on campus to prepare for teaching.
Take part in our study abroad and work-integrated learning programs and gain invaluable experience you won’t find in the classroom. You’ll have the opportunity to be a part of our Global Science and Technology Program* or develop industry-relevant skills through our professional learning placements.
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.
Before beginning your Master of Teaching, 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 2025-2026
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
As a graduate of the Bachelor of Science/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
- not-for-profit organisations.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Professional Experience Placements are a compulsory component of the course and a requirement for registration as a graduate teacher. Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
This course includes 60 days of supervised professional experience and requires students to successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA) in their final year. If a student does not pass the DTPA, they must seek guidance from the Course Director.
Graduation from the course confirms that students have met the Graduate Teacher Standards and achieved all Core Content learning outcomes outlined in Schedule 2.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Students are required to check the placement calendars published on the Professional Experience Office website each year. Placement takes priority over employment and placement periods are generally block placements of 5 full-time days per week over 2-5 weeks.
Course delivery is blended and students are required to dedicate time to weekly engagement with located or online teaching and learning activities and resources. This is recommended at combined total 8-10 hours per week per unit including active learning/engagement either face to face or online, and independent study.
Some units will require students to attend schools or institutions for site-based learning and teaching experiences. Some units will require students to attend schools or institutions for site-based learning and teaching experiences. Some units can only be completed face to face at Burwood or as online study. Students are advised to check the unit delivery options for each required unit.
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).
Mandatory student checks
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 Science (S320) | Course Learning Outcomes Master of Teaching (Secondary) (E779) |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply a broad and coherent knowledge of the scientific disciplines of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and the environment within the chosen major area(s) of study to demonstrate a deep understanding of scientific facts, scientific practices and the edifice of science. Apply technical knowledge and skills and use them in a range of activities, in a professional and/or academic setting within the major area(s) of study; this application of technical knowledge and skills being characterised by demonstrable in-depth knowledge of scientific methods and tools, and demonstrable proficiency in the utilisation of chosen major area(s) knowledge. Use hypotheses, laws, facts and theories to investigate, test, analyse, and evaluate scientific data and demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement and responsibility to argue about characteristics and aspects of scientific theory in the advancement of science. | 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 listening skills and the ability to use a range of communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer audience questions. Articulate the boundaries or limits of scientific information, experimental or field data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments. Judge how well to present essential details of scientific procedures, key observations, results and conclusions in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts. | 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 | Use well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate scientific literature, information, data and results. | 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 | Locate and evaluate scientific information from multiple sources and use scientific methods and frameworks to structure and plan observations, experimentation or fieldwork investigations. Use critical and analytical thinking and judgement to analyse, synthesise and generate an integrated knowledge, formulate hypotheses and test them against evidence-based scientific concepts and principles. | 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 | Use initiative and creativity in planning, identifying and using multiple approaches to recognise, clarify, construct and solve problems taking into account relevant contextual factors. Advocate scientific methodologies, hypotheses, laws, facts and principles to create solutions to authentic real world problems. | Collaboratively and independently use evidence and research to identify, prioritise and creatively respond to problems that arise in professional learning and practice. |
| Self-management | Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing professional science contexts to develop autonomy as learners and evaluate own performance. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of regulatory frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices. | 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 independently and collaboratively as a team to contribute towards achieving team goals and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts. | 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 | Apply scientific knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with others to articulate the place and importance of science in the local and global 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. |
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Science/Master of Teaching 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 Science
- SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 9 credit points of core units (excluding SLE209), including;
- 1 credit point of mathematics units
- 2 credit points of chemistry units (choice dependent upon completion of Year 12 Chemistry)
- 1 Science major (6 credit points)
- 4 credit points of course elective education units
- 5 credit points of course electives from a second Science major
- a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
- a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3 (including a minimum of 4 Science units)
- 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 Bachelor of Science (S320) and Master of Teaching (Secondary) (E779) must be satisfied.
Eligibility*
Following successful completion of the first three undergraduate levels of the course (24 credit points), students with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) above 60 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. A WAM of less than 60 results in an alternative exit from D304 with award S320 Bachelor of Science.
Note:
- A Working with Children Check and completion of Casper selection is required before commencing any units from the Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Students wishing to pursue studies in Geography should discuss unit selections with their enrolment officer
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 Science
Compulsory 0-credit point units
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
| STP010 | Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points) |
To be completed in the first year of study:
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
Core Units
| SLE103 | Ecology and the Environment |
| SLE111 | Cells and Genes |
| SLE115 | Essential Skills in Science |
| SLE123 | Physics for the Life Sciences |
| SLE200 | Communicating Science Ideas |
Choose one from:
| SLE352 | Community Science Project |
or
| SLE301 | Professional Practice |
~Mathematics choose one from:
| SIT190 | Introduction to Functions, Relations and Graphs |
or
| SIT191 | Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis |
Plus 2 credit points of Chemistry as follows:
For students who have not completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent:
| SLE155 | Chemistry for the Professional Sciences (^) |
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
or
For students who completed Year 12 Chemistry or equivalent:
| SLE155 | Chemistry for the Professional Sciences (^) |
1 elective unit (science course grouped)
(^) Assumed knowledge: SLE133 Chemistry in our World or high achievement in VCE Chemistry 3 and 4 (or equivalent).
Please note: SLE155 Chemistry for the Professional Sciences is a required prerequisite when undertaking the Cell Biology and Genomics and Chemistry majors.
Major sequences - Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability
Students must complete 6 credit points from one of the following:
One of Animal Biology , Cell Biology and Genomics, Human Biology, or Plant Biology
Plus 5 credit points of Science course grouped elective units chosen from a second Bachelor of Science major listed above*
*Note: Students who commenced prior to 2021 and are undertaking studies in Geography should discuss unit selections with their enrolment officer.
Plus 4 credit points selected from:
| EDU210 | The Brain and Learning |
| EDU204 | Literacy, Numeracy and Multi-Tier Systems of Supports (MTSS) Across the Curriculum |
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) |
Core 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.
Note: D304 permits a choice between the following learning areas Mathematics, Science, Food Studies.
Food Studies
| EEH706 | Teaching Food Studies: Middle Years |
| EEH707 | Teaching Food Studies: Senior Years |
Mathematics
| ESM724 | Teaching Mathematics: Middle Years |
| ESM725 | Teaching Mathematics: Senior Years |
Science
Single method one of:
Biology
| ESS744 | Teaching Science: Middle Years |
| ESS767 | Teaching Biology: Senior Years |
Chemistry
| ESS744 | Teaching Science: Middle Years |
| ESS768 | Teaching Chemistry: Senior Years |
Environmental Science
| ESS744 | Teaching Science: Middle Years |
| ESS742 | Teaching Environmental Science: Senior Years |
Second science method:
Biology
| EMM743 | Teaching Strategies for the Middle Years |
| ESS767 | Teaching Biology: Senior Years |
Chemistry
| EMM743 | Teaching Strategies for the Middle Years |
| ESS768 | Teaching Chemistry: Senior Years |
Environmental Science
| EMM743 | Teaching Strategies for the Middle Years |
| ESS742 | Teaching Environmental Science: 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.