Master of Teaching (Secondary)

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is designed for graduates who, through their first degree, have the skills and understandings required for teaching in one or two subject areas in secondary schools. Applicants must have a first degree with appropriate qualifications for secondary teaching. The appropriateness of the studies taken in the first degree is determined by UWS but is consistent with the qualifications standards set by the NSW Institute of Teachers Subject Content Requirements for Teaching in a NSW Secondary School. You will focus on the practical issues in schools, and teaching and learning, through a balance of on-campus classes and theory and a variety of professional experiences.

In secondary school settings, teachers who can provide inspiration and direction to their pupils are highly valued. The UWS secondary teaching program gives you the best possible chance of becoming such a teacher and playing a leadership role for others.

This qualification turns your specialist undergraduate degree into a clearly signposted career path in teaching. And, as a Masters level qualification, it can help you progress more quickly to leadership positions in schools. But, if you want to detour off into other non-teaching professions, the two degrees also stand you in good stead for different career directions.

UWS can prepare you for teaching in specialist areas. These areas of study include:

• Dance
• Drama
• English
• ESL
• Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) – for example, History, Aboriginal Studies, Commerce, Geography, Legal Studies, Society and Culture, Studies of Religion, Business Studies, Economics
• Languages
• Mathematics
• Music
• Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE)
• Science
• Technology and Applied Studies (TAS) – for example, Agricultural Technology, Computing, Design and Technology, Engineering Studies, Food Technology, Graphics Technology, Industrial Technology, Information Processes and Technology, Information and Software Technology, Software Design and Development, Technology, Textiles Technology
• Visual Arts

Because you may well have work and other life commitments, you can choose the study mode that suits you best – accelerated over one year, standard mode over one and a half years or spread over a longer period.

Government Policies: Education employers have special staff requirements and policies that apply to intending students of education courses. At entry, this involves signing a Prohibited Employment Declaration prior to 1 June 2010 or a Working with Children Check Student Declaration after 1 June 2010.

The UWS Advantage

All UWS graduates from certain designated degrees are guaranteed entry into our Master of Teaching (Secondary) course. To receive guaranteed entry you must:

• undertake selected discipline units that meet requirements for your chosen area of teaching;
• achieve a pass average during your studies at UWS; and
• apply through UAC within one calendar year from the end of the year in which you complete your initial degree.

The designated degrees for guaranteed entry are the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Design and Technology, Bachelor of Information Technology, Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Computing, Bachelor of Technology (IT Support), Bachelor of Industrial Design and the Bachelor of Engineering.

Career Opportunities

The dual qualification of an undergraduate degree and post-graduate teaching qualification provides great flexibility. You will be qualified as a secondary school teacher, so you can teach in government and non-government schools in Australia and in most other countries. And with the practical nature of our courses, you will be ready to teach as soon as that first bell rings.

But you could also pursue other career interests in the field of your undergraduate degree, or even generalist positions, since many of the generic skills of your teaching degree – teamwork, leadership, communication and organisation – are highly valued by employers. And later on, of course, you could bring that valuable practical experience back into a teaching career.

How to Apply

All domestic applications for entry to UWS postgraduate courses must be made through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens in a new window). Step by step instructions are available on the How to Apply pages.

All international applications for entry to UWS postgraduate courses must be made via the International Student Admission Application form. Step by step instructions are available on the International Admissions pages.