Master of Teaching (Primary)

2022 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Professional recognition
• Career opportunities
• Participation requirements
• Research information
• Fees and charges
• Course Learning Outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure
• Other learning experiences
• Research and research-related study

Course overview

If you’re passionate about nurturing young, inquisitive children from prep to grade 6 and are motivated to make a genuine impact on future generations, Deakin's Master of Teaching (Primary) is for you.

Ready to become a highly sought-after primary school teacher with a holistic understanding of how young people learn and make sense of the world?

The Master of Teaching (Primary) is infused with practical learning. With a focus on dynamic skills and communication, you’ll graduate classroom-ready; a finely tuned educator and leader with a set of adaptable techniques.

A career in education provides flexibility, variety and security. Learn first-hand from highly experienced and passionate teachers who understand the importance of recognising all students as people first.

Discover how to shape teacher/student relationships to ensure students build positive connections with their peers, their school and themselves. Gain the critical knowledge required for modern-day digital classrooms, engaging with topics such as diversity and inclusion, teacher inquiry, context and leading-edge research, coupled with culturally relevant approaches to teaching.

At Deakin you’ll also collaborate with early childhood educators, primary and secondary teachers. Our multidisciplinary approach will enable you to gain a well-rounded view of how young people learn.

This, combined with at least 60-days of professional placement and your completion of a Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment (DTPA), benchmarked against national standards, means you’ll be set for success in the classroom anywhere in Australia and beyond.

Professional recognition

The Master of Teaching (Primary) is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) as an initial teacher education program that meets the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) program standards and the Australian professional standards for graduate teachers. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to register with the VIT as a registered educator. If you intend to apply for registration in Victoria or interstate you may be required to provide further information.

Career opportunities

As one of the largest growing employment sectors in Australia, there are many career opportunities to explore.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop through the Master of Teaching (Primary) prepare you well for a diverse range of industries and settings, including:

• teaching in public, independent or private schools
• arts, museums and learning centres
• corporate learning and development
• counselling
• human resources
• policy
• universities
• youth work.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Participation requirements

Placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks listed here: https://www.deakin.edu.au/courses/key-dates.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.

Research information

This is a graduate entry teaching course that introduces research based practice throughout the core professional studies units (a total of six credit points), which includes demonstrating their application of knowledge and skills through their 70 days of professional practice in education based contexts e.g. primary schools. As part of the series of core professional studies units, students are also required to complete a capstone assessment in the final year (2 credit point unit) to demonstrate their evidence based professional practice informed by data analysis and scholarship of teaching and learning.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load. To find out about the fees and charges that apply to you, visit the Current students fees website or our handy Fee estimator to help estimate your tuition fees.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as photocopying or travel.

Course Learning Outcomes

Course rules

The Master of Teaching (Primary) is typically 16 credit points.

The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money

To qualify for the award of Master of Teaching (Primary), students must complete the following:

• 11 core units (12 credit points)
• A further 4 credit points in one of the following specialisations: 

1. Primary Extended Curriculum 
2. Internship 

• AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

Completion of at least 60-days of supervised professional experience (70-days for Primary Extended Curriculum), and students must successfully complete the Deakin Teaching Performance Assessment. This must be complete in the final year of study.  Successful completion of this course indicates that a student has met the expected standard of performance for each of the Graduate Teacher Standards.

Students are also required to complete below two zero (0) credit point units ELN010 and ELN011 as part of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) in order to graduate from their course.

Course structure

Core units

Professional Experience Placement Units*

*please note unit rules for order in which these must be completed. Noting additional placement units are listed in the specialisation options

Specialisations

Students complete the remaining four credit points from one of following specialisations

Internship

Primary Extended Curriculum 

4 credit points including;

Plus one unit from Primary Specialisations (aligned with undergrad minor) List A

Primary Specialisations List A

For Primary Extended Curriculum, choose one unit from below (aligned with undergrad minor) 

Professional Experience Placement

Students are required to apply for a Working with Children Check. Apply online as a volunteer at https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/.  

All professional experience placements must be undertaken in an Australian school setting. Overseas placements are not permitted.

For further information contact the School of Education, Professional Experience office.

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

• Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

Experiences in community and school or early childhood 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.