Subject focus: Study the Master of Teaching in Australia

The School of Education is recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence in its teaching, research and professional services. The School is committed to social justice and inclusivity, building partnerships locally and globally, and graduating effective practitioners and lifelong learners.

The Master of Teaching (Primary) is a two-year full-time equivalent (or three-years part-time) initial teaching qualification for graduates who hold a Bachelor's degree in a non-Education field relevant to primary teaching. It offers graduates a professional preparation for teaching in primary schools, or for a wide range of other careers with an education focus and qualifies students to apply for post-study work rights.

The Master of Teaching (Primary) enables students to develop the specialist knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to be an effective educator.  Graduates will have advanced and integrated understanding of the body of knowledge appropriate for primary school practitioners, and will have acquired the expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills necessary to practice independently in the classroom. Students are supported in becoming effective educators with a strong grounding in learning, teaching and curriculum.

The extended Professional Internship is a key component of this unique course, providing cutting-edge professional experiences and enabling students to engage with contemporary schooling practices throughout the two years of the course. Research is also a key component, with students developing research skills that culminate in a school based research project. The course is designed to maximise opportunities for students to make connections between theory and practice and to build in-depth understanding of concepts in authentic school settings.

Career Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course graduates will be able to seek registration from the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia (TRBWA) and from other accrediting bodies across Australia.

Murdoch graduates are employed in government and non-government schools and other education related occupations across Australia and throughout the world.

The course consists of the following 15 core units:

All units are worth 3 credit points except for Professional Internship B: Research in Practice, which is 6

Year One Semester One

• Transition to teaching
• Learners and learning environments
• Numeracy and learning
• Literacy and learning

Year One Semester Two

• Professional experience: Strategies for effective teaching
• Strategies for effective learning and teaching
• Mathematics in the primary curriculum
• English in the primary curriculum

Year Two Semester One

• Professional internship A: Differentiation within diverse contexts
• Diversity and inclusion
• Science in the primary curriculum
• The integrated curriculum in primary schools
• Research for teaching

Year Two Semester Two

• Professional internship B: Research in practice
• Research Project

Course Details

Duration: 2 years

Annual Course Fee (2016): AU$26,330

Are you seeking a career that provides the opportunity to inspire and nurture future generations and which allows you to share your expertise with young learners? If so, the Monash Master of Teaching is designed for applicants with an undergraduate degree in any discipline who want a rewarding career as a global educator and teacher.

Through engagement with contemporary ideas and practices, you will develop the professional knowledge and skills needed to foster the learning of students of various ages and diverse needs. As a result, you will become an effective educator, able to design learning experiences that ensure your future students have the right balance of challenge and support to progress in areas including the arts and music, English, mathematics, physical education, health and wellbeing, science and humanities.

You will gain professional experience by completing a minimum of 60 days of teaching practice throughout the course in urban, rural, remote or international settings and schools. This includes the opportunity to gain teaching experience in locations such as China, Cook Islands, India, Italy, Malaysia and South Africa.

An education degree provides an excellent basis for diverse careers in the classroom, in government or in private enterprise. When you choose the Master of Teaching at Monash University, you will graduate ready to transform the lives of others through learning.

About the Master of Teaching

This graduate entry course prepares you for a career as an educator in one of five streams:

• Early years education
• Early years and primary education
• Primary education
• Primary and secondary education*
• Secondary education*

* Accelerated option available where course can be completed in 1.5 years instead of two years

Degree structure

Each programme is structured in three parts:

Orientation studies - These studies provide an orientation to the field of Education. You will consider the nature of learning and the influences upon it, and the nature of teaching and teachers' work within the broader family and community context.

Specialist education studies - These studies will provide you with advanced knowledge and skills relevant to thoughtful, innovative and evidence-based practice within your chosen specialisation as well as acquiring the broad principles of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment.

Applied professional practice (60 days) - Professional experience placements in educational settings relevant to your teaching specialisation will enable you to connect the theoretical components your course with practical aspects of teaching and learning under the valuable guidance of practitioners.

How to apply

Prospective students will need to hold an Australian undergraduate degree (or equivalent from another country) with at least a credit average (60%), or qualification/experience or satisfactory substitute that the Faculty of Education considers to be equivalent.

Students applying for the specialisation in Primary and Secondary Education must also have appropriate discipline studies to qualify for one or two specialist teaching areas. For further information and a full list of specialisations contact a Study Options student advisor.

Application process

Admission into this degree is assessed on the results of previous studies, where these studies have taken place and meeting other requirements, including English language and specialisations where applicable.

Accreditation in Australia

Graduates of Monash’s Primary and Secondary specialisations can seek registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) to teach in schools in Victoria.

Early years specialisations are accredited by ACECQA, which qualifies you to work as a teacher in licensed pre-schools and childcare centres.

Programme details

Tuition fees 2016: Approximately AU$27,000 per year.

Duration: 2 years / 1.5 years (accelerated options available)