Key facts
Duration
2 years part-time
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
This course is designed to support the professional studies of current (and often out-of-field) teachers in the secondary teaching areas of Science Education to further their knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and practical skills that support their practice as Science teachers in secondary school contexts. Graduates of this degree are supported to move into new areas of teaching beyond those recognised through their initial teacher education degree.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Secondary Science
- Year
2023 course information
- Deakin code
- E514
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Approval status
The course is approved by the University pursuant to the Higher Education Standards Framework.
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Secondary Science, students must attain 4 credit points.
The course comprises a total of 4 credit points including:
- 4 credit points of core units (ETM705, ETM706, ETM707, ETM708)
- AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.
Core Units
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Online*
*This course is offered via Online with intensive seminars requiring face-to-face attendance (at a Melbourne city location)
This course is offered in conjunction with the Department of Education and Training (DET).
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work-integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. Refer to the relevant unit guide.
Workload
You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include online and/or intensive seminars (face-to-face) and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period for each credit point undertaking required teaching, learning and assessment activities.
Participation requirements
Course delivery is blended and students are required to dedicate time to weekly engagement with located or online teaching and learning activities and resources. This is recommended at combined total 8-10 hours per week per unit including active learning/engagement either face to face or online, and independent study.
For each unit, students are required to participate actively in 5 x 6-hour intensive learning experiences with additional online learning opportunities and two assessment tasks.Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Entry requirements
Entry information
Minimum course entry requirements
- Bachelor degree or higher in the field of Education that is a recognised initial teacher qualification for the purpose of registration as a primary or secondary teacher in Australia
Additional entry information
- Applicants will be qualified teachers, or eligible to become registered teachers in Australia.
For all applicant enquiries into this course please contact:
Ms Amanda Peters
School of Education
Faculty of Arts and Education
amanda.peters@deakin.edu.au
+61 3 924 45596
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Recognition of Prior Learning may be granted to applicants based on prior studies and/or equivalent industry experience.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year as they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of Prior Learning.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by four credit points of study for Graduate Certificates. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options.
FEE-HELP calculator
What is FEE-HELP?
FEE-HELP loans cover up to 100% of tuition fees for eligible students. By taking out a FEE-HELP loan, the government pays your tuition fees directly to Deakin, and the balance is repaid from your employment income - but only once you're earning over $48,361.
Please note: fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and based on 2023 rates. Actual fees may vary. We advise confirming fees with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
Estimate your FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP payments
per pay cycle
Take-home pay
after FEE-HELP and tax
per pay cycle
Your estimated FEE-HELP repayments
- $* is the estimated full cost for a Graduate Certificate of Secondary Science (4 credit points), based on the 2023 fees.
- is the annual FEE-HELP payment, based on your current salary
- of your current salary be spent on FEE-HELP
*Disclaimer
Deakin University (Deakin):
- gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility for the currency, accuracy or the completeness of the information provided;
- advises users that no reliance should be placed upon on the information provided, and;
- instructs users that they should confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
This tool provides indicative information about the fees that will be payable in respect of courses and subjects offered to prospective students domiciled in Australia during the periods indicated.
Please note that the fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and actual fees may vary. Users are advised to confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
The estimated course fee is based on the tuition fee costs applicable to a domestic full time student commencing the course in Trimester 1 and studying full time for the duration of the course but:
- does not include non-tuition costs that may apply, such as Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF);
- does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries awarded to the student (including the 10% Deakin alumni discount);
- assumes the maximum number of units that need to be successfully completed actual number completed may be reduced if recognition of prior learning is granted;
- assumes that no exceptional, or non-typical, circumstances apply to the proposed course of study;
- assumes that the options that the user selects are appropriate for the course of study that they intend to undertake;
- where fees are estimated for future years those fee will be subject to annual increases in accordance with increases in the cost of course delivery.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Entry pathways
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate of Secondary Mathematics you may be eligible to articulate into the Master of Education.
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
Call us 1800 693 888 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Live Chat Mon–Thurs, 8am–7pm, Fri 8am–5pm
Careers
Career outcomes
The course allows currently qualified teachers to expand their career opportunities and move into a 7-10 science teaching role.
For more information go to 'DeakinTALENT '
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Synthesise key disciplinary concepts, multimodal literacies, and investigative practices relevant to the teaching of secondary sciences and apply these to the teaching and learning of contemporary issues and sustainable practices in science. |
| Communication | Generate and employ a range of communication strategies to interpret and translate complex knowledge to support engagement with learning in science education in diverse settings. |
| Digital literacy | Design, apply, and evaluate digital technologies to flexibly develop students' digital skills to understand science concepts and practices. |
| Critical thinking | Critically analyse and flexibly respond to diverse individual student needs and school contexts to design and implement strategies supporting a culture of interest in and learning of secondary science. |
| Problem solving | Evaluate the diverse learning needs of students interpreting curriculum requirements and contemporary practice principles to generate and implement science teaching and learning sequences. |
| Global Citizenship | Formulate and implement inclusive teaching and learning strategies that respond to the cultural diversity of students and empower them to participate as ethical and informed citizens in a global context. |
| Approved by Faculty Board October 2020 | |
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