Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary)
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) |
| Deakin course code | E765 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 2 years full-time - 16 credit points Deakin courses can also be studied part-time over a longer period. |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 088436M Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Research information
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
If you’re unsure whether to study primary or secondary teaching, there’s no need to decide – you can do both. Deakin’s Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) gives you the ultimate flexibility to work at any level in any school.
Looking to boost your career with an adaptable teaching qualification that enables you to move up, down, across and between classrooms?
The Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) is the perfect choice for those who like to be agile. As a graduate, you will have the ability to work in a K-12 school or pivot between primary and secondary. You’ll develop a suite of transferable skills and an invaluable mindset that can be applied to almost any sector, including education, youth work, corporate learning and development, NGOs, media and community-based organisations.
Learn from highly experienced, passionate teachers who understand first-hand the importance of recognising all students as people first. You’ll discover how to foster well-balanced relationships in the classroom to ensure students build positive connections with their peers, in turn promoting an environment to thrive.
To ensure you gain a holistic understanding of how students learn, you will also have the opportunity to study and collaborate with early childhood educators, as well as primary and secondary teachers.
You can choose to participate in Deakin’s Global Education Program and gain a broader perspective on teaching. Experience teaching in a remote community interstate or overseas and develop your skills in intercultural education while improving your resume.
This, combined with an extensive 80-days of professional placement and your completion of a Teaching Performance Assessment (TPA), benchmarked against national standards of teaching performance, means you will be set for success in the classroom and beyond.
Professional recognition
The Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) 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.
Career opportunities
As one of the largest growing employment industries in Australia, education and training is projected to grow by 11.2% by May 2023* – that’s 11,300 new jobs or 11,300 career opportunities to explore.
The knowledge and skills you will develop through the Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) prepares you well for a diverse range of roles, including:
- primary or secondary teacher in a public, independent, or private school
- academic adviser
- youth worker
- museum educator
- policy manager in a not-for-profit organisation
- education consultant in local or federal government.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
*Australian Government Department of Jobs and Small Business, 2018 Employment Projections (for five years until May 2023).
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.
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 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.
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. 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.
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 80-days of professional practice in education based contexts e.g. primary and secondary 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.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Collaboratively and independently use evidence and research to identify, prioritise and creatively respond to problems that arise in professional learning and practice. |
| Self-management | 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 | 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 | Engage in research, and with the legal and ethical obligations of the teaching profession, to develop informed positions on and approaches to educational transformation as applied to learner agency and citizenship; Indigenous and intercultural issues; global education trends and issues; and, social justice and sustainability. |
Approved at Faculty Board 2019
Course rules
To complete the Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary) students must pass 16 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- ELN010 Australian Literacy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- ELN011 Australian Numeracy Test (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
- 12 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of curriculum study units in a first teaching method area
- 2 credit points of curriculum study units in a second teaching method area
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Note:
- All Secondary will have 2 methods (disciplines) as reflected in their undergraduate major and minor sequences related to the Australian Curriculum. At point of selection, students are advised which methods they will need to complete based on their undergraduate major and minor sequences.
- This course includes 80-days of supervised professional experience, 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 2 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. Students are expected to attempt the tests within the first year of their course. Students who do not attempt the tests within their first year may be unable to progress with their studies until an attempt has been made.
- ^EPR units have early enrolment dates so that Professional Experience Placements can be arranged. Please check the PEO website.
Course structure
Core units
| EEE754 | Language, Literacies and Learning |
| EEE755 | Numeracy, Social Justice and New Pedagogies |
| EEE756 | Health, Wellbeing and Inclusive Education |
| EPL746 | Primary Literacy |
| EPM742 | Primary Mathematical Development |
| EPS735 | Primary Science and Technology Education |
| EPO702 | Arts, Humanities and Sustainability in Primary Education |
Professional Experience Placement Units*
(*please note unit rules for order in which these must be completed)
| EPR781 | Orientation to the Teaching Profession (replaces EPR751) |
| EPR782 | Building Capacity in Professional Experience (replaces EPR752) |
| EPR784 | Curriculum Inquiry in Professional Experience (replaces EPR754) |
| EPR785 | Reflecting On Practice in Professional Experience (2 credit points, replaces EPR755) |
Plus
2 Secondary Curriculum Studies units in a first teaching method area
And
2 Secondary Curriculum Studies units in a second teaching method area
Secondary Curriculum Study Units
All Secondary candidates will have two methods (disciplines) as reflected in their undergraduate major and minor sequences related to the Australian Curriculum.
Candidates undertake two curriculum studies units (as prescribed at selection) per method (four units for dual/double), across one or two learning areas.
Learning Area 1: English
Single method: English
| ECL761 | English Curriculum Inquiry |
| ECL762 | English Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Duel Method: English/EAL
| ECL761 | English Curriculum Inquiry |
| ECL762 | English Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ETL700 | Pedagogy for TESOL and EAL Learners |
| ETL705 | Pedagogic Grammar |
Learning Area 2: Mathematics
Single Method: Mathematics
| ESM724 | Mathematics Curriculum Inquiry |
| ESM725 | Mathematics Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Double Method: Mathematics only
| ESM724 | Mathematics Curriculum Inquiry |
| ESM725 | Mathematics Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Plus two from any of the following:
| ETM709 | Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics 7-10: Number * |
| ETM710 | Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics 7-10: Geometry and Measurement * |
| ETM711 | Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics 7-10: Statistics and Probability * |
| ETM712 | Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics 7-10: Algebraic Thinking and Function * |
ETM710 replaces ESM704 Problem Solving and Modelling [no longer available for enrolment]
ETM712 replaces ESM733 Exploring Space and Number [no longer available for enrolment]
* ETM7xx has a compulsory face to face intensive requirement that may be taught outside the normal trimester schedule. Please contact the Unit Chair prior to enrolling to ensure you are able to meet the unit requirements
Learning Area 3: Science
Single method: One of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Env. Science, Physics
| ESS744 | Science Curriculum Inquiry |
| ESS767 | Biology Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS768 | Chemistry Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS742 | Environmental Science Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS745 | Physics Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS755 | General Science Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Dual method: Two of Science, Biology, Chemistry, Env. Science, Physics
| ESS744 | Science Curriculum Inquiry |
| ESS741 | Sustainability and Environmental Education |
Plus two of
| ESS767 | Biology Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS768 | Chemistry Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS742 | Environmental Science Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS745 | Physics Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ESS755 | General Science Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Learning Area 4: Humanities
Single method: Humanities - Geography, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Business, Legal Studies, Global Politics, Indigenous Studies, Middle East Studies or International Relations
| EHU701 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry |
| EHU702 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Single method: Humanities - History
| EHU701 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry |
| EHI702 | History Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Dual method: Humanities with History - one of Geography, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Business, Legal Studies, Global Politics, Indigenous Studies, Middle East Studies or International Relations - plus History
| EHU701 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry |
| EHU702 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| EHI701 | History Curriculum Inquiry |
| EHI702 | History Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Dual method: Humanities - two of Geography, Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Business, Legal Studies, Global Politics, Indigenous Studies, Middle East Studies or International Relations - without History
| EHU701 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry |
| EHU702 | Humanities Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| EHU703 | Humanities Critical Inquiry 7 - 10 |
| EHU704 | Humanities Research Inquiry Senior Years |
Learning Area 5: Languages
Single method: Languages - Language Other Than English (LOTE)
| ETL710 | Teaching and Learning in Languages Classrooms |
| ETL716 | CLIL Pedagogy |
Single method: Languages - TESOL
| ETL700 | Pedagogy for TESOL and EAL Learners |
| ETL705 | Pedagogic Grammar |
Dual method: Languages - LOTE and TESOL
| ETL710 | Teaching and Learning in Languages Classrooms |
| ETL716 | CLIL Pedagogy |
| ETL700 | Pedagogy for TESOL and EAL Learners |
| ETL705 | Pedagogic Grammar |
Learning Area 6: Health and PE
Single method: Health
| ESH702 | Health Curriculum Inquiry |
| ESH703 | Health Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Single Method: Home Economics
| EEH706 | Home Economics Curriculum Inquiry |
| EEH707 | Home Economics Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Single Method: Physical Education
| EEH701 | Physical Education Curriculum Inquiry |
| EEH702 | Physical Education Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Learning Area 7: The Arts
Single method: Arts - One of Dance, Drama, Music or Visual Arts
| ECA731 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry |
| ECA732 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
Single method: Arts - Media
| ECA735 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry 2 |
| ECA736 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years 2 |
Dual method: Arts - Two of Dance, Drama, Media, Music or Visual Arts
| ECA731 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry |
| ECA732 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ECA735 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry 2 |
| ECA736 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years 2 |
Double method: Arts - Music, Drama, Visual Arts or Dance only
| ECA731 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry |
| ECA732 | Arts Education Curriculum Inquiry Senior Years |
| ECA733 | Arts Education Critical Inquiry |
| ECA734 | Arts Education Research Inquiry Senior Years * |
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing 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.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
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 mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
In 2023, the Victorian Government announced a range of government-administered scholarships for eligible domestic students commencing a secondary school teaching degree in 2024 and 2025. These scholarships are not automatic, and you will need to apply.
Deakin does not administer these scholarships. For more information about the eligibility, application process and opening and closing dates, please visit the Victorian Government website.