Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)

Course information for - 2023 entry

Study mode
Online
Duration
2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fees (first year)*

$4120 CSP

Start dates
ACU Online Term 1 - January, ACU Online Term 3 - July

Overview

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) is a graduate-entry, pre-service teacher education course for those who want to qualify as both an early childhood and primary school teacher. This course cultivates graduates who are passionate about, and committed to, the generation and dissemination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that facilitate high-quality learning in a child’s early years. Delivered fully online, this course is made up of a series of online units and block day placements in early childhood and primary school settings.

An exceptional benefit to this course is you will be able to build on your undergraduate studies and graduate with a teaching specialisation area within the primary curriculum.

Professional experience

Pre-service teachers must complete professional experience placements in a relevant prior-to-school and formal primary school settings in line with the requirements of state/territory teacher accreditation authorities. During this time you'll be required to be available on a full-time basis.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as an early childhood or primary school teacher in government, independent, Catholic schools or other faith-based schools.

Accreditation

This program has been accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching and listed on the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) accredited programs list.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • early childhood education
  • primary school education
  • religious education
  • education research
  • play education
  • curriculum development
  • education consulting 
  • policymaking

Course details

Course structure

To complete the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary), a student must complete 160 credit points (cp).

View course rules

Sample program map

Year - Study periodUnit 1Unit 2Unit 3Unit 4Unit 5

YEAR 1

ACU Online Term 3

EDMA500 Foundations of Mathematics and Numeracy Curriculum and Pedagogy for Children

EDEN500 Foundations of Literacy and Childrens Literature for Early Reading

LNTE110 Literacy and Numeracy Diagnostic

AND

LNTE100 LANTITE - Literacy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students

AND

LNTE101 LANTITE - Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students

ACU Online Term 4

EDES560 Foundations of Development and Learning in Australian Early Childhood Contexts

(10 days: B- 35 mths)

EDEN501 English Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 1

ACU Online Term 1

EDSS661 Humanities and Social Sciences Education for Children (B-12)

EDES600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories, Cultures and Education

ACU Online Term 2

EDET561 Effective Teaching 1: Early Years Learning and Pedagogies: Play-Based Curriculum and Assessment

(20 days: 3-5 yrs)

EDTE560 Technologies Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (B-12)

YEAR 2

ACU Online Term 3

EDHP560 Health, Wellbeing and Physical Education (B-12 Years)

EDAR560 The Arts Curriculum and Pedagogy (B-12)

ACU Online Term 4

EDET660 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: English and Literacy (B-12)

OR

EDET661 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: Mathematics and Numeracy (B-12)

OR

EDET662 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: Science and Inquiry (B-12)

OR

EDET663 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: Humanities and Social Sciences (B-12)

OR

EDET664 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: The Arts (B-12)

OR

EDET665 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: Technologies (B-12) OR

EDET666 Effective Teaching 2: Leadership, Management, Advocacy and Teaching: Health, Wellbeing and Physical Education (B-12)

(15 days: lower primary years)

EDMA602 Mathematics Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 2

ACU Online Term 1

EDEN602 English Language and Literacy Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment 2

EDES601 Special Education and Inclusive Practice

ACU Online Term 2

EDET669 Effective Teaching 3: Teacher Inquiry and Evidence-Based Practice (B-12)

(25 days: middle primary years)

EDSI660 Science, Inquiry and Sustainability Education (B-12)

This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.

Full-time map: ACU Online Term 3 Intake

AQF framework

Masters (Coursework) - AQF Level 9

Exit Points

A student who has successfully completed the following requirements may exit from the course with that qualification. Note that none of these qualifications qualifies a student to teach in Australia.

Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies: 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings

Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies: 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings

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:

  1. have successfully completed a Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification, with:
  2. subject content studies equivalent to one year of full-time study in one or more learning areas of the primary school curriculum; including
  3. subject content studies equivalent to one quarter of a year in a selected subject specialisation.
  4. demonstrate suitability for teaching as evidenced by completion of the relevant State assessment which will be provided in the application process.

Applicants who completed Bachelor degrees outside Australia should review the 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.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission.

Applicants with higher education study

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements for your chosen course.

If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner. Speak to your course consultant for more information or to discuss your eligibility.

Applicants with work and life experience

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements for your chosen course.

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

Pathways

Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary) has specific requirements of entry which are related to accreditation and teacher registration requirements. Credit and recognition of prior learning (RPL) are available.

Further study

The completion of this course provides a pathway for further study in higher degree masters programs at the postgraduate level. You may also be eligible to progress to a doctoral program.

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$4120 CSP

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 20 credit points (normally 2 units) per term.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

  • the number of units studied per term;
  • the choice of major or specialisation; and
  • elective units.

The university reviews fees annually.

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, a scholarship and income support. Talk to your course consultant about your options.

Scholarships

You could be eligible for the Scholarship for ACU Online, ACU's Online Campus created to help ACU online students with the costs associated with studying. We also have university wide scholarships you may be eligible for. 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.  

Check your eligibility

Apply for this course

ACU Online Applicants

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Begin your application and one of our friendly course consultants will guide you through the process.

 

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