Prerequisites for the MTeach (Secondary)
Applicants for the MTeach (Secondary) need to be able to demonstrate a record of studies in their undergraduate degree/s that satisfies the specific prerequisites of the subjects they wish to teach. These prerequisites are determined by the NSW Institute of Teachers' and set out in the table below. In general, applicants must have completed three years' full-time undergraduate study to qualify to enrol in the subject they plan to have as their Major Teaching Area (sometimes referred to as their "1st Teaching Area"), and two years' full-time undergraduate study of the subject that will become their Minor Teaching Area ("2nd Teaching Area").
Students who are enrolled in a Major Teaching Area as well as a Minor Teaching Area are said to be engaged in "single method" study of both areas. At the University of Sydney, Master of Teaching (Secondary) students have the option of "double method" study in three areas: science, mathematics and languages. Candidates who enrol in "double method" study undertake all their teaching methods courses from their specialist subject area and are not required to qualify in a Minor Teaching Area.
Applicants for double-method programs (science, mathematics or languages) must satisfy the prerequisites listed in the column "Major Teaching Area". Applicants for single-method programs must – as a minimum – be able to satisfy the prerequisites to study one subject as a Major Teaching Area as well as the prerequisites to study a second subject as a Minor Teaching Area.
The curriculum areas offered by the faculty are reviewed annually and insufficient enrolments will lead to cancellation.
To jump directly to the prerequisites for particular curriculum areas, choose from:
Conditional offers and concurrent studies
Applicants who are one unit (equivalent to one quarter of a semester of full-time study) short of meeting the prerequisites for admission may be given special permission to study the deficient units concurrently at another faculty or institution while studying for their teaching qualification. The conditions of enrolment by special permission for concurrent studies are listed on the general prerequisites page.
Subject-specific prerequisites for graduate-entry secondary teaching
The curriculum areas offered by the faculty are reviewed annually and insufficient enrolments will lead to cancellation.
| Subject | Major Teaching Area | Minor Teaching Area |
|---|---|---|
Aboriginal Studiesavailable as a single method only |
3-year sequence (6 units) in Aboriginal Studies, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above in areas such as contact and Aboriginal history, anthropology, Aboriginal literature, Aboriginal language and linguistics. |
2-year sequence (4 units) in Aboriginal Studies with 2 units at level 2 or above in areas such as contact and Aboriginal history, anthropology, Aboriginal literature, Aboriginal language and linguistics. |
Classical Hebrew & Judaismavailable as a single method only |
Not available |
2-year sequence (4 units) in Classical Hebrew, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. (In University of Sydney Faculty of Arts, this is equivalent to 24 credit points, with at least 12 credit points of Senior Classical Hebrew). Note: Yeshiva study is not automatically, nor necessarily, recognised as equivalent to tertiary study. |
Dramaavailable as a single method only |
3-year sequence (6 units) in drama, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include all of the following:
and, preferably, Australian drama. Drama studies must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent. |
2-year sequence (4 units) in drama, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include all of the following:
and, preferably, Australian Drama studies must be developed as a discrete discipline. Vocationally oriented courses are not recognised as equivalent. |
Economics/Business Studiesavailable as a single method only |
Business studies – 3-year sequence (6 units) in business-related studies, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include at least 1 unit of finance or accounting and 1 unit of business management (but may include more than one unit of any of these three), with any remaining unit/s drawn from:
or Economics – 3-year sequence (6 units) in economics, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. |
Business studies – 2-year sequence (4 units) in business-related studies, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include at least 1 unit of finance or accounting and 1 unit of business management (but may include more than one unit of any of these three), with any remaining unit/s drawn from:
or Economics – 2-year sequence (4 units) in economics, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. |
Englishavailable as a single method only |
3-year sequence (6 units) in English, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above that have a strong core of literary studies. |
2-year sequence (4 units) in English, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above that have a strong core of literary studies. |
Geographyavailable as a single method only |
3-year sequence (6 units) in geography, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. |
2-year sequence (4 units) in geography, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. |
Historyavailable as a single method only |
Satisfy either of the following: Ancient history – 3-year sequence (6 units) in history – with at least 4 units at level 2 or above – in areas such as ancient history and archaeology. or Modern history – 3-year (6 units) in history – with at least 4 units at level 2 or above – in areas such as Australian history, contact and Aboriginal history, early modern history, historiography and modern history. |
Satisfy either of the following: Ancient history – 2-year sequence (4 units) in history – with at least 2 units at level 2 or above – in areas such as ancient history and archaeology. or Modern history – 2-year (4 units) in history – with at least 2 units at level 2 or above – in areas such as Australian history, contact and Aboriginal history, early modern history, historiography and modern history. |
Languagesavailable as a single method or double method |
3-year sequence (6 units), in a language other than English, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Not all languages are catered for in the program. The specific languages that are offered in any one year will be subject to enrolment numbers and the availability of practicum placements for the professional-experiences component. |
2-year sequence (4 units) ) in a language other than English, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. Not all languages are catered for in the program. The specific languages that are offered in any one year will be subject to enrolment numbers and the availability of practicum placements for the professional-experiences component. |
Mathematicsavailable as a single method or double method |
3-year sequence (6 units) in mathematics, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include algebra and calculus. 1 unit only of statistics may be counted, provided it was studied as a stand-alone unit. No more than 2 units of study taught outside a department or school of mathematics (for example, in engineering, science or business subjects) can be counted. |
2-year sequence (4 units) in mathematics, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include algebra and calculus. 1 unit only of statistics may be counted provided it was studied as a stand-alone unit. No more than 1 unit of study taught outside a department or school of mathematics (for example, in engineering, science or business subjects) can be counted. |
Scienceavailable as a single method or double method Double-method applicants must meet the prerequisites for two subjects, at least one of which must be from the 1st Teaching Method column |
Biology – 3-year sequence (6 units) in science, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include 4 units in biology and 2 units in either chemistry or physics. Chemistry – 3-year sequence (6 units) in science, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include 4 units in chemistry and 2 units in one of physics, biology, or earth and environmental science. Earth and environmental science – 3-year sequence (6 units) in science, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include all of the following:
Physics – 3-year sequence (6 units) in science, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above). Studies must include 4 units in physics and 2 units in one of biology, chemistry, or earth and environmental science. |
Biology – 2-year sequence (4 units) in science, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include 2 units in biology and 2 units in either chemistry or physics.
|
Society and Culture, and Legal Studiesavailable as a single method only |
Satisfy either of the following: Legal studies/ or Geography/society and culture – 3-year sequence (6 units) in the social sciences, with at least 4 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include at least 1 unit in a geography-related discipline area (applicants may ask the faculty for special permission to undertake concurrent studies to meet this requirement) and, preferably, at least 1 unit in sociology. Examples of other possible study areas are Aboriginal studies, anthropology, archaeology, Asia or Pacific studies, civics, cultural studies, government, history, media studies, philosophy, politics, psychology (only 1 unit may be counted), religion studies and social communication. |
Satisfy either of the following: Legal studies/ or Geography/society and culture – 2-year sequence (4 units) in the social sciences, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above. Studies must include at least 1 unit in a geography-related discipline area (candidates may apply to the faculty for special permission to undertake concurrent studies to meet this requirement) and, preferably, at least 1 unit in sociology. Examples of other possible study areas are Aboriginal studies, anthropology, archaeology, Asia or Pacific studies, civics, cultural studies, government, history, media studies, philosophy, politics, psychology (only 1 unit may be counted), religion studies and social communication. |
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)available as a single method only |
Not available |
2-year sequence (4 units) in English, linguistics or a language. Applicants who do not have English as their first language are required to meet the NSWIT English-language requirements in order to undertake the professional experiences components of the course (in-school teaching practice). |