Master of Secondary Teaching

Prepare for a fulfilling career in secondary education and help shape the minds of the next generation

With a growing demand for qualified teachers across Australia, Griffith's Master of Secondary Teaching focuses on educating children from Years 7 to 12. This program is designed for those who hold a bachelor's degree in another field and wish to transition into teaching.

It combines in-depth theoretical coursework with hands-on practical experience, preparing you to teach specific subject areas and manage secondary classrooms effectively.

The curriculum covers key areas such as adolescent development, curriculum design, assessment strategies, and classroom management. The program emphasises the importance of differentiated instruction to meet the diverse needs of secondary students and promotes critical thinking and engagement with contemporary issues in education.

You will need to identify two of the following Teaching Areas to form your study:

• Biology#
• Business
• Chemistry#
• Design Technologies
• Digital Technologies
• Drama
• English
• Food and Nutrition
• Geography
• Health and Physical Education
• History
• Instrumental Music#
• Languages other than English (LOTE)
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physics#
• Psychology#
• Visual Arts

# These teaching areas must be taken at a senior level and, therefore, require a minimum of six subjects in each area in the undergraduate degree.

If you've completed at least six psychology subjects in your bachelor's degree, you can choose one of the teaching areas mentioned above at a senior level (provided you meet the subject requirements) and complete a specialist area in Learning Enhancement. This will give you the skills to support students with additional needs. You'll be qualified to work in secondary schools, either advising teachers on planning or teaching in special education settings.

Practical Experience

Practical experience is a key component, and you will undertake 60 days of supervised teaching placements in schools to gain real-world experience in a classroom setting. These placements are supported by mentorship from experienced teachers, allowing you to refine your teaching skills and strategies.

Teaching scholarships and grants

Access significant Government scholarships and bursaries to support your study, including up to $20,000 for the Master of Primary Teaching or Master of Secondary Teaching. Find out more through the Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program and Queensland Government Scholarships and Grants .

Applicants will need a completed Bachelor degree (or equivalent) that does not lead to teacher registration (with a minimum GPA of 4.0 on a 7-point scale) with disciplinary strengths in two distinctive teaching areas.

Applicants must also complete non-academic entry requirements to be eligible for this program.

You can explore the key learning areas further on the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority website. Applicants must have completed a quarter of their degree (a minimum of six subjects) in their first nominated teaching area. The second teaching area must include a minimum of another six courses for senior secondary or four courses for junior secondary.

Teaching area requirements for Secondary Education

Please refer to the Teaching Area Guide for more information.

Note: Successful completion of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is not an entry requirement for this program. However, if you have achieved a 'satisfactory' result for one or more component of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) at another institution, the 'satisfactory' result can be carried across with your program application. You are not eligible to apply for a place in the program if one or more component of LANTITE remains at 'unsatisfactory' after two test attempts for that component. Griffith University does not support reset of LANTITE test attempts.

From 2025 all students will need to complete the LANTITE to be eligible to enrol into 7999EDN. There are four opportunities each year to sit LANTITE and students will need to plan ahead using the PEx calendar (Calendars and Handbooks (griffith.edu.au) to avoid clashes with first year professional experience times.

Griffith University pays for the initial attempt for each component by preservice teachers who are currently enrolled in an initial education program at Griffith University. Preservice teachers should consult the ACER website for information about LANTITE testing, restrictions, and booking information at https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/ Preservice teachers can find preparation materials for LANTITE on their program sites and on the ACER website.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous Bachelor-level study was completed in a country other than Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America or undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 7.5 in IELTS (Academic) with a score of at least 8.0 for Listening and Speaking and a score of at least 7.0 for Reading and Writing;
• OR a score of at least 4 in each of the areas of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing in the ISLPR*;
• OR successful completion of at least three years full-time Bachelor-level study where the language of instruction is English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America.

* The ISLPR test will only be accepted if it has been administered by ISLPR Language Services, 9 Gowrie Street, Mt Gravatt, Queensland.

This program is accredited and language requirements have been set to ensure applicants meet both Griffith University language requirements and requirements for registration within Queensland. The Queensland College of Teachers requires graduating teachers to provide evidence of English Language Proficiency (ELP) with their application for registration unless they have completed the full four years of higher education study required for registration in English in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom or the United States of America. Further information is available on the Queensland College of Teachers website.

Graduates of the Master of Secondary Teaching will be eligible to apply for registration with the Queensland College of Teachers and be prepared for teaching positions in the public or private sector which can lead to senior positions such as a head of department or principal.

Students wishing to seek teacher registration in another state or internationally should seek advice from the appropriate professional body.