Master of Teaching (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education

Course information for - 2024 entry

Offered at 4 locations

Duration

2 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Fees (first year)*

$7965 CSP

Start dates
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2024
Applications open August 2023
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not available

Overview

This is a graduate entry, preservice teacher education course for those who want to become secondary school teachers.

Whether you are looking for a complete career change or are a recent graduate, you can use your undergraduate degree to inform your specialist teaching areas in this course. Depending on your undergraduate degree and campus of study, this course will prepare you to teach in two specialist areas.

By combining the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education, you will gain the certification and knowledge to teach Religious Education in Catholic Schools in addition to their other teaching areas.

Professional experience

Students must complete a minimum of 60 days professional experience during which time they are required to be available full-time.

Work placement

The Professional Experience program consists of a minimum of 10 weeks of teaching rounds, usually broken into three blocks.

Professional experience covers all school and community-based experience designed to help students develop professional competence and personal commitment, in accordance with the expressed Catholic philosophy of the University. The professional experience units apply skills, techniques and processes taught in the Foundations Studies and Professional Studies units.

Professional experience units are planned as a specific sequence allowing for progressive development of both classroom-based proficiency and an understanding of the relevance of theory to practice and practice to theory. The practicum will be supported by other forms of in-school experiences, such as school-based tutorials and workshops.

Certain prerequisite units are required before students are placed in schools.

Supervised professional experience is at the heart of all our pre-service teacher education courses and the Faculty will find appropriate placements to suit the needs of your course. Placements will usually be arranged for the scheduled placement period in the professional experience calendar though this may not always be possible.

Accreditation

Graduates are eligible for registration as secondary school teachers in government, independent, Catholic, and other faith-based schools.

The Graduate Certificate in Religious Education is the basic certification required to teach religious education in schools.

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Curriculum Studies units Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Teaching Area 1 Unit 1

    Not all CPA units are offered in both semesters. Students should plan their enrolment based on availability from year to year. 

    10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching unitsEDES591Foundations of Teaching 2: The Nature of Learning10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching unitsEDET590Effective Teaching 1: Professional Practices

    Professional Experience: 15 days

    10 cp
  • Religious Education and Theology unitsTHBS562Introducing the Scriptures

    Students who commenced prior to 2023 may have completed THBS501.

    10 cp
  • ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education unitsLNTE110Literacy and Numeracy Diagnostic0 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching unitsEDES590Foundations of Teaching 1: Understanding Adolescents10 cp
  • Religious Education and Theology units Religious Education and Theology unitsTHCT563 Introducing Theology ORReligious Education and Theology unitsTHCT565 Reflecting on Faith, Recontextualising Tradition

    Students who commenced prior to 2023 may have completed THCT500.  

    10 cp
  • Curriculum Studies units Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Teaching Area 2 Unit 1

    Not all CPA units are offered in both semesters. Students should plan their enrolment based on availability from year to year. 

    10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching unitsEDES601Special Education and Inclusive Practice10 cp
  • Elective units Elective

    Elective offerings are available in Semester 2 of Year 2, Summer of Year 2 and Semester 1 of Year 2. Students are recommended to do no more than 2 units during Summer, Winter, or Professional Term 5. 

    10 cp
  • Education Studies and Effective Teaching unitsEDET690Effective Teaching 2: Engaging Learners

    Professional Experience: 20 days

    10 cp
  • ACER Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education unitsAND

    Students must register with ACER to undertake the two LANTITE tests. 

    0 cp

Commencing Semester 2

Commencing Semester 1- Internship specialisation

Commencing Semester 2 - Internship specialisation

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Masters/Graduate Certificate – AQF Level 9/8

Exit Points

A student who has successfully completed the following requirements may exit from the course with that qualification:

  1. *Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies: 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings of the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
  2. *Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies: 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings from the Master of Teaching (Secondary).
  3. *Graduate Certificate in Religious Education: 40 cp from the Religious Education and Theology units is required.
  4. Master of Teaching (Secondary): 160 cp from the Schedule of Unit offerings of the Master of Teaching Secondary).


*Note that none of these qualifications qualifies a student to teach in Australia.

A student who does not meet the LANTITE requirements may exit with the Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies or Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies if they meet the requirements of those awards.

Additional course information

Non-academic assessment - suitability for teaching

Applicants who apply for entry into this initial teacher education course will be required to complete a non-academic assessment. The assessment is to demonstrate suitability for teaching and will be part of your application when applying for admission into this course. Please visit our Suitability for teaching page for more information.

Literacy and Numeracy Test in Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) 

Students will be required to demonstrate they have achieved approved benchmarks in literacy and numeracy as demonstrated through the Literacy and Numeracy Test in Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE). Successful completion of LANTITE is a requirement for course completion.

If you have started your ITE course at another institution and wish to transfer to ACU to complete your studies, please be sure that you have read and understand the requirements for receiving credit for previous studies and those on completing LANTITE.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must:

 a) have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification with a major study that meets the content requirements in at least one secondary teaching area offered by ACU, and

b) demonstrate suitability for teaching as evidenced by completion of the relevant state/jurisdiction assessment, which will be provided in the application process.


Applicants who completed Bachelor degrees outside Australia should review Admission to Coursework Programs Policy to determine if they are required to meet additional English Language Proficiency requirements for entry into the course.

Applicants seeking teacher registration in Australia should check with state registration bodies to confirm English Language Proficiency requirements for teacher registration.

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2024 Admission.

English language requirements

No score less than 7 in reading and writing. No score less than 8 in listening and speaking.

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$7965 CSP

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.  

Search our scholarships  

 

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