StudyQA — Master: Teaching (Secondary) — University of New England

Description Contents Requirements

The Master of Teaching (Secondary) is a graduate entry initial teacher education program. Candidates may complete up to three designated teaching areas based on their background studies from the following: English, Mathematics, Science, Aboriginal Studies, Agriculture, Business Studies / Commerce, Computing, Drama, Economics / Commerce, Geography, History, Languages, Legal Studies, Music, Society and Culture, Studies of Religion, and Visual Arts.

Furthermore, it should be noted that candidates should abide by the letter of offer in terms of their teaching areas. Candidates may also choose the Master of Teaching (Secondary) to take advantage of the Teaching English to Students of other Languages (TESOL) specialisation and/or the extended curriculum programs in English, Mathematics, Science, Music and Visual Arts.

Teacher Registration: Students should note that teacher registration requirements vary from state to state. UNE bases its degree structures on the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership guidelines

Career Opportunities
Secondary Teacher

Course Aims
The Master of Teaching (Secondary) and the nested Graduate Diploma in Education aim to provide candidates with:

(i) a professional qualification that meets the requirements of the NSW Institute of Teachers; and

(ii) UNE Graduate Attributes:

* - knowledge of discipline;
* - communication skills;
* - global perspective;
* - information literacy;
* - life-long learning;
* - problem solving;
* - social responsibility; and
* - team work.

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

* satisfy the seven elements prescribed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership:
* know their students and how students learn;
* know their subject/content and how to teach that content to their students;
* plan for and implement effective teaching and learning;
* create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments;
* assess, provide feedback and report on student learning;
* continually improve by engaging in professional learning; and
* continually engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community.

Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Knowledge of discipline is reflected by graduates demonstrating mastery and skills of subject content relevant to the teaching profession.

Communication Skills

This attribute is taught and assessed by means of oral, written, numerical and graphic communication. Furthermore, various media and other forms of communication appropriate to Secondary school classroom levels are used. Communication skills are developed through the presentation of well-reasoned arguments in lessons and assignments.

Global Perspectives

This attribute is demonstrated through an awareness of the multicultural nature of global perspectives in the wider community.

Information Literacy

Information literacy is specifically taught in the core ICT unit and is also an integral part of most units. Graduates learn to acquire, evaluate and use information from a wide range of media forms in teaching.

Life-Long Learning

Students acquire the necessary skills to develop, evaluate and implement personal learning strategies. Furthermore, this attribute is practised with an emphasis on graduates who are encouraged to seek out curiosity, creativity and critical thinking.

Problem Solving

Problem solving is taught and practised throughout this degree by a number of alternatives. Graduates are taught to conceptualise problems in their subject area and formulate solutions. Information is gathered and analysed to solve pertinent problems that relate to the teaching profession.

Social Responsibility

Upon graduation students will be able to appreciate and acknowledge the social and ethical implications of their actions. They are able to contribute responsibly to the wider community and appreciate the importance of broader social issues.

Team Work

Graduates develop the skills necessary to take initiative and lead peers and other people. In addition there will be opportunities for graduates to negotiate, assert their own values and respect the values and contributions of others whilst participating in team-based activities.

A candidate shall:(a) hold a relevant degree of a university; or(b) hold a relevant degree of a university and a Graduate Diploma in Education of one year duration from this or another institution (equivalent to 48 credit points).English Language Requirements:A1. English is the applicant's first language; orA2. Satisfactory completion, within five years of the date of application for admission to UNE, of at least four years of full time or equivalent full-time study at senior secondary, post-secondary or teriary level in a country in which English is the primary official language or co-official language and in which English was the sole medium of instruction and assessment of the particular period of study claimed, resulting in an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) award or an award recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR); orA3. Satisfactory completion, with five years of the date of application for admission to UNE, of at least four years of full time or equivalent full-time study at senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary level in an institution in which English is the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the particular period of study claimed, resulting in an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) award or an award recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR); orA4. (a) An IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least a minimum overall score of 7.5 including a minimum result of 8.0 in both the speaking and listening modules and 7.0 in reading and writing; or(b) A Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT) result of Band A in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing; or(c) An International Second Language Proficiency Rating (ISLPR) score of at least 4+ in each of the four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing.Applicants' undergraduate (and appropriate postgraduate) studies must include study in a designated area related to a school subject (first designated area), as follows:A minimum of six sequential trimester-long units of discipline knowledge in a designated area (equivalent to a minimum of three academic years of study in the designated area). This equates to six units, with no more than two at first-year level and no fewer than two units at third-year level. A second designated area, if studied, equates to four units, with no more than two at first-year level.For overseas applicants, in cases where Australian studies are specified for admission to a graduate entry program (eg Australian music), determination may be based on equivalent qualifications.Applicants' undergraduate (and appropriate postgraduate) studies must permit study of at least 24 credit points in curriculum methods units, with the exception of students who undertake 12 credit points of study in curriculum methods units in Computer or Agriculture only.Applicants' who are 12 credit points short of meeting the prerequisite for a specific curriculum unit may be permitted to enrol in that specific curriculum unit provided they enrol concurrently in the appropriate prerequisite unit or units. All prerequisites for specific curriculum courses must be passed prior to or concurrently with Master of Teaching (Secondary) candidature. If undertaking the upgrade pathway, students can undertake 12 credit points as discipline units within this degree if the units can be undertaken at postgraduate level.Curriculum Specific Guidelines for First Designated Teaching AreaEnglish: Major in English with at least three units of a strong core of textual studies including literature. Other units may include studies in: communications, creative writing linguistics and media studies.Mathematics: Major in pure or applied mathematics (must include algebra and calculus). One unit only of statistics may be counted provided it is studied as a stand-alone unit.Science: Biology: Major in science of four units in biology and two units in one of chemistry or physics. Chemistry: Major in science of four units in chemistry and two units in one of physics or biology or earth and environmental science. Earth and Environmental Science: Major in science of one unit in biology and one unit in geology or environmental science and two units in chemistry or physics and two other science units. Physics: Major in science of four units in physics and two units in one of biology, chemistry, or earth and environmental science.Aboriginal Studies: Major in Aboriginal studies in areas such as contact and Aboriginal history, anthropology, Aboriginal literature and Aboriginal language and linguistics.Computing: Computing Technology Information Systems: A major in computing or computing technology including at least two units that develop skills in information and communications technologies and information systems eg database design including relational databases and communication systems/networking. Computing Technology Software Design: A major in computing or computing technology including at least two units that develop skills in the design and development of software eg programming in a computer-based language and system analysis, design, development and testing.History: Ancient History: Major in history in areas such as ancient history and archaeology. Modern History: Major in History in areas such as Australian history, contact and Aboriginal history, early modern history, historiography and modern history.Business Studies/Commerce: Major in business related studies, including at least one unit of finance or accounting, and one unit of business management and remaining units drawn from business law (Australian/English), economics, human resource management, industrial relations or marketing.Economics/Commerce: Major in economicsGeography: Major in geographyLegal Studies: Major in social sciences including legal studiesStudies of Religion: Major in social sciences in areas such as studies in religion (preferably comparative religions) and culture.Agriculture: A major in agriculture in an area such as agricultural science, agricultural technology or horticulture, and including studies of plants and animals, animal care, agricultural enterprises and chemical safety.Languages: A major in a language. Where the language is an Aboriginal language there may be specific cultural requirements.Drama: A major in drama including all of the following: performance, production and theory, and preferably Australian drama. Drama studies must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent.Music: Major in music, including all of the following: musicological study (music history and analysis) in a range of musical styles, periods and genres with a strong component of contemporary and western art music, compositional techniques and music performance studies (a minimum of two years of music performance studies, and preferably Australian music. The study of music and music practice must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent.Visual Art: A major in visual arts, including all of the following: practical studies in two- and three- and/or four-dimensional art forms, art theory/history (a minimum of one year) and studio art-making practice (a minimum of one year). The study of visual arts must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent.Society and Culture: Qualifications in another discipline as per above and at least four units of degree level study in social sciences with two units at level 2 or above in areas such as Aboriginal studies, anthroplogy, archaeology, Asian or Pacific Studies, civics, cultural studies, government, history, media studies, philosophy, politics, psychology (one unit may be counted), religion studies, social communication, sociology (at least one unit preferred).TESOL: Qualifications in another discipline as per above and four units in linguistics. Two of the units may be English or a language.