Program Overview

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Master of Teaching (Birth - 5 Years/Birth - 12 Years)

The Master of Teaching (Birth – 5 Years / Birth – 12 Years) is a postgraduate initial teaching qualification. It provides students with the flexibility of a teaching qualification for early childhood or a combined early childhood and primary teaching qualification. Students can choose to focus on teaching in the prior to school areas with an early exit point of a Master of Teaching (Birth – 5 Years) or they can undertake an additional six months of study to complete a teaching qualification for early childhood and primary school teaching with the Master of Teaching (Birth – 12 Years).

Overview

This program would be appropriate for people wanting to work as a qualified teacher in preschool and early childhood services and also in a primary school setting.

Admission

Applicants must have successfully completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline. Applicants wishing to graduate with a Master of Teaching (Birth – 12 Years) must have at least eight subjects of study in a curriculum area (equivalent of one year of study) in their undergraduate degree in order to meet the curriculum requirements of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA). Where these requirements are not met, applicants may be offered concurrent enrolment in up to four undergraduate subjects of study.

Applicants must have achieved a minimum GPA of 4 in undergraduate study. Current students transitioning from approved Western Sydney Pathway to teaching programs are not included in the GPA requirement.

Program Structure

The program is designed to be completed in two and a half years full-time or five years part-time. The program includes a minimum of 55 days of professional experience in early childhood settings and 30 days professional experience in primary schools (Birth – 12 years).

Accreditation

The Master of Teaching (Birth-5 years/ Birth-12 years) is a professional teaching qualification for students possessing a recognised and relevant bachelor degree. It has been accredited by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) as meeting all initial teacher education accreditation standards including the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate Teacher level. This program has also been approved by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Inherent Requirements

There are inherent requirements for this program that you must meet in order to complete your program and graduate. Make sure you read and understand the requirements for this program online.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

Program Logic

The Program Logic is embedded throughout all Initial Teacher Education programs at Western Sydney University. It explains how each subject contributes to the journey to become a Graduate Teacher. The Program Logic includes three phases: Foundation, Development and Transition. In each of these phases, pre-service teachers develop essential knowledge and skills by learning about evidence-based pedagogies and practices, enabling their successful transition to teaching.

Special Requirements Prerequisites

Prior to enrolling, students in subjects TEAC 7104 Professional Experience Birth - 2 Years, TEAC 7103 Professional Experience 3 - 5 Years, TEAC 7106 Professional Experience K - 6 must:

• Satisfactorily complete Child Protection Awareness training
• Satisfactorily complete Working with Children Check
• Satisfactorily complete Anaphylaxis training

QuEST - Non-Academic Capabilities Selection

Students with an offer to enrol in an accredited initial teacher education program are required to complete an online interview to assess your capabilities, in other words, your talents and personal attributes that are relevant to the teaching profession. Western Sydney University refer to this compulsory assessment as QuEST about which you will receive an email prior to the start of the teaching session.

Program Completion Prerequisites

Prior to graduating and prior to enrolment in subject TEAC 7106 Professional Experience K - 6, students must:

• Satisfactorily complete the National Literacy and Numeracy TEST.

Recommended Sequence

The recommended sequence for the program is as follows:

• Year 1:
  • Autumn session: TEAC 7022 Creative Teaching and Learning, TEAC 7156 Aboriginal Education: Past, Present and Future, TEAC 7057 Becoming an Exemplary Teacher, TEAC 7037 Early Learning Environments
  • Spring session: TEAC 7038 Working Mathematically 1: Exploring Connections, TEAC 7022 Creative Teaching and Learning, TEAC 7037 Early Learning Environments, TEAC 7166 Inclusive Pedagogies
• Year 2:
  • Autumn session: TEAC 7061 Leadership and Management, TEAC 7071 Literacy Connections 1: Understanding and Creating, TEAC 7112 Prosocial Learning Environments, TEAC 7104 Professional Experience Birth - 2 Years
  • Spring session: TEAC 7038 Working Mathematically 1: Exploring Connections, TEAC 7087 Pedagogical Leadership: Critically Reflective Practice, TEAC 7103 Professional Experience 3 - 5 Years, TEAC 7166 Inclusive Pedagogies
• Year 3:
  • Autumn session: TEAC 7163 Investigations: Sustainability, Science and Technology, TEAC 7164 Literacy Connections 2: Communicating, Reading and Writing, TEAC 7165 Working Mathematically 2: Strengthening Connections, TEAC 7106 Professional Experience K - 6

Early Exit

Students may exit this program on completion of 160 credit points with a 1784 Master of Teaching (Birth - 5 Years)

Graduates of Bachelor of Arts (Pathway to Teaching Birth - 5 / Birth - 12) and Bachelor of Social Science (Pathway to Early Childhood Teaching)

These students receive 40 credit points advanced standing for Theorising Play; Introduction to Pedagogical Leadership; Children, Families, Communities; and Early Learning Environments.

Graduates of the Western Sydney University Bachelor of Education (Birth – 5 Years)

These students receive advanced standing for:

• TEAC 7166 Inclusive Pedagogies
• TEAC 7057 Becoming an Exemplary Teacher
• TEAC 7015 Children, Families, Communities
• TEAC 7087 Pedagogical Leadership: Critically Reflective Practice
• TEAC 7061 Leadership and Management
• TEAC 7104 Professional Experience Birth - 2 Years
• TEAC 7103 Professional Experience 3 - 5 Years
• TEAC 7071 Literacy Connections 1: Understanding and Creating
• TEAC 7112 Prosocial Learning Environments
• TEAC 7022 Creative Teaching and Learning

Equivalent Subjects

The following subjects have been replaced:

• TEAC 7153 Inclusive Education: Principles and Practice, replaced by TEAC 7166 Inclusive Pedagogies
• TEAC 7090 Primary English and Literacy 2, replaced by TEAC 7164 Literacy Connections 2: Communicating, Reading and Writing
• TEAC 7094 Primary Mathematics and Numeracy 2, replaced by TEAC 7165 Working Mathematically 2: Strengthening Connections
• TEAC 7099 Primary Science and Technology, replaced by TEAC 7163 Investigations: Sustainability, Science and Technology