Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

The course combines advanced study of curriculum and pedagogy with practical, supervised experience in secondary school settings. You study contemporary approaches to teaching and learning, assessment for learning, behaviour and classroom management, inclusive and special needs education, and subject-specific curriculum methods for two teaching areas.

• Foundations of teaching and learning — theories of learning, child and adolescent development, and reflective professional practice.
• Curriculum and assessment — designing curriculum sequences, formative and summative assessment, reporting and use of data to inform teaching.
• Subject-specific methods — curriculum pedagogy, planning and resources for two secondary teaching areas (examples: English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Languages, Health and Physical Education, Technologies, The Arts).
• Inclusive education and wellbeing — strategies for supporting diverse learners, differentiation, literacy and numeracy across the curriculum, and promotion of student wellbeing.
• Professional experience — multiple supervised placements in secondary schools across different year levels and contexts, with guided mentoring and assessment of classroom practice.
• Professional capstone — integration of theory and practice into a sustained professional project or portfolio demonstrating readiness for classroom teaching and accreditation.

Entry requirements

• An accredited bachelor degree or recognised equivalent in a discipline relevant to the proposed teaching areas.
• Sufficient academic performance in the undergraduate degree; selection may be competitive and can include consideration of academic transcripts and prior study in the chosen teaching subjects.
• Some campuses or state authorities require applicants to meet literacy and numeracy requirements and to provide evidence for suitability to teach (for example, a working with children check, criminal history check, immunisation status and first aid qualifications) prior to placement.
• Successful applicants will usually participate in an interview or additional selection tasks that assess communication, interpersonal skills and motivation for teaching.
• Graduation from this program supports eligibility to apply for initial teacher registration; registration requirements and procedures are managed by the relevant state or territory teacher regulatory authority.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to work as secondary classroom teachers in government, Catholic and independent schools. With experience, teachers commonly move into roles such as head of department, curriculum coordinator, pastoral care leader or stage coordinator. The degree also provides pathways into specialist roles in curriculum development, education policy, teacher mentoring and professional learning, as well as further study in education leadership or research.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

• ACU has a long-standing focus on initial teacher education with a curriculum that emphasises ethical practice, student wellbeing and inclusive classrooms.
• Strong partnerships with schools provide diverse, supervised professional placements and mentoring by practising teachers.
• Teacher educators at ACU bring a combination of research-informed pedagogy and classroom experience, supporting reflective practice and professional growth.
• Flexible delivery options and campus-based support help graduate entrants balance study with other commitments while preparing for registration with state and territory authorities.