Master of Teaching (Primary) (MC-TEACHPR) // Course structure

Course structure

Teacher Candidates complete 200 points of study over two years full time.

Teacher Candidates complete 5 core subjects focussing on the theory and practice of education, 10-12 discipline area subjects, 3 Clinical Teaching Practice subjects which incorporate the primary school placements, and subjects specific to either the Coursework or Research options.

The options commence in the second year of the program, alongside the core program and comprise:

• Coursework: a capstone experience and an elective; or
• Research*: 50 points of research preparation for entry to higher degree research programs.

* In order to be eligible to apply for the Research Option, Teacher Candidates must achieve a minimum average of H2A (75%) in the first 100 credit points of the program. 

Specialised Pathways

Teacher Candidates must complete the requirements of one Specialised Pathway, to gain a depth of knowledge in a specific discipline area. The suite includes:

• The Arts
• Health & Physical Education
• Humanities
• Languages
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Science
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Teacher Candidates provisionally enrol into their preferred Specialised Pathway at the commencement of the course. Selection into pathways is confirmed at the end of Year 1, and is determined by Teacher Candidates’ previous experience, performance in relevant Year 1 subjects and the overall demand for each pathway.

Selection into the Languages Specialised Pathway also requires prior completion of a major study of an approved language. Teacher Candidates with other qualifications will need to arrange to be assessed by a language department of an Australian university as being of equivalent proficiency.

To meet the requirements of a Specialised Pathway, Teacher Candidates:

• Must follow the overall course structure, and complete all subjects that are compulsory to the Master of Teaching (Primary) (note that identified compulsory subjects are substituted with extension subjects in the Literacy, Mathematics, Science and STEM pathways);
• Must satisfy a minimum specified credit points of study in the Specialised Pathway focus area;
• In the Coursework Option must take a Specialised Pathway focus in the two capstone subjects, and may be required to take a Specialised Pathway focus in the elective / place based elective (depending on the pathway);
• In the Research Option, must take a Specialised Pathway focus in the two research-focussed subjects.

The Arts, Health & Physical Education, Humanities and Science Specialised Pathways each require a minimum of 50 credit points of study in the focus area. A Specialised Pathway focus must be taken in the capstone and elective/place based elective subjects (Coursework Option); or in the research‐focussed subjects (Research Option).  

The Languages Specialised Pathway requires a minimum of 62.5 credit points of study in the Languages focus area, and can only be completed in the Coursework Option (i.e. the Research Option is not available). The Languages Specialised Pathway satisfies the Victorian Institute of Teaching specialist requirements for Languages Teachers. A Languages focus must be taken in the capstone subjects, and EDUC90543 Languages for Young Learners completed as the elective (which includes a supervised Languages teaching practicum).  

The Literacy and Mathematics Specialised Pathways require a minimum of 50 credit points of study in the focus area. All extension subjects (which substitute identified compulsory subjects) must be completed. In the Coursework Option, a pathway focus must be taken in the two capstone subjects. Teacher Candidates may choose between taking the pathway-focussed elective, a Place Based Elective (with or without a pathway focus), or one of the Alternative electives. In the Research Option, a pathway focus must be taken in the research-focussed subjects.

The STEM Specialised Pathway requires a minimum of 62.5 credit points of study in STEM. All extension subjects (which substitute identified compulsory subjects) must be completed. In the Coursework Option, Teacher Candidates must take a STEM focus in the capstone subjects. Teacher Candidates may choose between taking the STEM-focussed elective, a Place Based Elective (with or without a STEM focus), or one of the Alternative electives. In the Research Option, a STEM focus must be taken in the research-focussed subjects. 

Specialised Pathway-specific details and contributing subjects are provided in the Subject Options section.

All Teacher Candidates must meet the following course progression requirement:

The satisfactory completion of the Australian Commonwealth Government’s National Literacy & Numeracy Test administered by the Australian Council for Educational Research (independently of The University of Melbourne) is necessary in order for each Teacher Candidate to progress beyond 100 credit points and continue to the final phase of their course.

Failure to satisfactorily complete the test by this progression point will result in referral to the Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s Student Progress Sub-Committee and may result in exclusion from the course. Excluded Teacher Candidates may be granted an early exit award of a Graduate Diploma in Pedagogy (Primary) (subject to satisfactory completion of relevant subjects). Alternatively they may be withdrawn from the course.

Subject options

FIRST YEAR SUBJECTS

All Teacher Candidates follow this overall course structure, to complete the Master of Teaching (Primary).

Subjects undertaken in first semester of program

Subjects undertaken in second semester of program

Teacher Candidates undertaking the Mathematics or STEM specialised pathway take EDUC90834 in place of EDUC90773.

SECOND YEAR SUBJECTS

Subjects undertaken in third semester of program

Teacher Candidates undertaking the Research Option take EDUC90419 in place of EDUC90833.

Teacher Candidates undertaking the Science or STEM specialised pathway take EDUC90860 in place of EDUC90376. This applies for both the Coursework and Research Options.

Subjects undertaken in fourth semester of program

Coursework Option

Teacher Candidates following the Coursework Option take the five subjects below, and choose one Elective subject (according to elective options available for their Specialised Pathway).

Research Option

Teacher Candidates following the Research Option take the three subjects below.

Teacher Candidates undertaking the Mathematics or STEM specialised pathways take EDUC90835 instead of EDUC90776.

Teacher Candidates undertaking the Literacy specialised pathway take EDUC90886 instead of EDUC90777 Literacy Assessment and Learning.

This applies for both the Coursework and Research Options.

Electives

Refer to the individual Specialised Pathway sections for elective options available to each pathway.

Place Based Electives

Places in the Place Based Electives are conditional on successful selection into the subject and availability of placements suitable to Teacher Candidates’ Specialised Pathway focus).

Alternative Electives

Last updated: 10 February 2024