Secondary teaching methods
Teaching methods play a crucial role in determining the subjects you're qualified to teach after completing your education masters degree. Browse the list of secondary teaching methods available via Deakin's Master of Teaching (Secondary).
Which teaching methods am I eligible for?
The best way to determine your eligible method areas for entry to the Master of Teaching (Secondary) is to check your university transcript against our current list of approved teaching methods below. Please note that certain teaching methods may only be available as a major, on campus only or online or have additional eligibility requirements.
In your application you can nominate which method you believe you are eligible for, or you can leave it open to any of the eligible areas
About selecting a teaching method
Importantly, these are not subjects you will learn from scratch – they are based on your previous academic background. For example, if you select History as a method area, you must have substantial knowledge of history (see details below); the course will focus on how to teach the discipline, not the content itself. You won’t be taught content such as history or chemistry or health – instead, we’ll train you to be an effective teacher in a subject you already know.
Please note that method area selection is not a matter of personal interest alone. For instance, enjoying reading novels isn’t enough to qualify for English — you need a strong academic foundation in relevant disciplines. We are building on your previous formal study.
You MUST have completed study in these areas at tertiary level, this will comprise of at least one major sequence in one of your method areas and at least a minor sequence in a second method area. Details on each method we recognise at Deakin University can be found in the table below.
It is also important to understand how your specialist teaching method will affect your future employment opportunities and school placements. In most schools, you will not be restricted to only teach those subjects.
| Specialist teaching method | Prior study |
|---|---|
| Accounting Major or minor | Accounting |
| Biology Major or minor | Anatomy | Animal biology | Biomedical science | Botany | Cell biology | Ecology | Evolution | Exercise physiology | Forensic biology | Genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics | Human biology | Infection and immunity | Microbiology | Molecular life sciences | Physiology | Plant biology | Wildlife and conservation | Zoology and animal science |
| Business management Major or minor | Business management |
| Chemistry Major or minor | Biochemistry | Chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical, polymer or theoretical) | Chemical engineering | Food science and technology | Forensic chemistry | Pharmaceutical science | Pharmacology | Stoichiometry |
| Commerce and business studies Major plus a minor in business studies; or two minors in different business studies areas. | Accounting | Business management | Commerce | Economics | Finance | Human resource management | International business | Laws | Legal studies | Management | Marketing | People management | Project management | Retail and supply chain management |
| Dance (on campus, Melbourne Burwood Campus only) Major or minor | Dance | Musical theatre | Performance studies (Dance) | Performing arts |
| Drama (on campus, Melbourne Burwood Campus only) Major or minor | Drama | Performance studies (Drama) | Movement (Theatre and performance) | Performing arts | Theatre studies (including practical drama) |
| Earth sciences | Earth science | Geology | Meteorology |
| Economics | Economics |
English | English – Children's literature | English – Creative writing | English – Literature | English language studies | Linguistics | Literary studies | Literature | Writing |
| English as a Second Language (TESOL) Major or minor | Linguistics | Second language studies (i.e not the applicant’s first language) | Appropriate studies on Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) eg. Graduate Certificate or Master of TESOL |
| Environmental science Major or minor | Animal biology | Atmospheric science | Biological sciences | Chemistry | Earth science | Ecotourism | Environmental studies (management, engineering, science) | Environmental management and sustainability | Environmental science | Geography | Natural resource management and sustainability | Ocean, fisheries and aquaculture sciences | Plant biology | Sustainability and development | Wildlife and conservation biology |
| Geography Major or minor | Environmental science | Geographical science |
| Health Major or minor Must include at least one unit in nutrition, family, health and human development. | Child and family | Family, society and health | Health promotion | Health, nature and sustainability | Nutrition | Public health |
| History Major or minor | Ancient world studies | Ancient history | Archaeology | History | Indigenous cultures and histories |
| Home economics Major or minor | Food studies | Nutrition | Food science | Home economics |
| Humanities Major or minor study in one of the specialist humanities areas together with two units in another humanities area of study. | Anthropology | Criminology | Cultural studies | Economics | Environmental science | Gender and sexuality studies | Geography | History | Indigenous studies | International relations | International studies | Laws | Legal studies | Marine science| Middle East studies | Ocean, fisheries and aquaculture | Philosophy | Politics and policy studies | Sociology | Sustainable marine management |
| Information technology Major or minor | Computer science | Computer technology | Information technology |
| Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Major | Language taught as part of the VCAA curriculum | Statement of Equivalency in a language |
| Legal studies Major or minor | Criminology | Industrial relations | Laws | Legal studies | Police studies |
| Mathematics Major or minor | Engineering (must be mathematics based) | Geomatics | Mathematics | Regression modelling | Accounting |
| Media studies Major or minor | Digital media | Film and television studies | Journalism | Media and communication | Media studies | Producing screen content | Screen production | Social media |
| Music Major | Music Performance (classical, jazz, improvisation, popular music) | Composition | Music Studies | Musicology | Ethnomusicology | Music and technology |
| Outdoor education Major | Outdoor education |
| Philosophy Major or minor | Philosophy |
| Physical education Major | Physical education | Exercise and sport science, including skills: aquatics, athletics, ball handling, dance, fitness education, fundamental motor skills, games, sports education. |
| Physics Major | Acoustics | Atomic physics | Cosmology | Engineering (must be physics based) – civil, electrical, mechanical, mechatronic | Medical imaging | Nuclear physics | Optics | Physics | Solid mechanic | Thermodynamics | Ultrasound/Sonics |
| Politics Major or minor | International relations | Politics and policy studies | Global studies |
| Psychology Major or minor | Behavioural studies | Psychological science | Psychology | Psychology for allied health |
Religious education* | Religious education (RE) | World religions | Theology or philosophy of religion | Scripture and sacred texts | Sociology of religion | Comparative religion | History of religion | Religion and culture / politics | Pedagogical methods for teaching religion | Christianity (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) | Islam (Sunni, Shia, Sufi) | Judaism (Orthodox, Reform, Conservative) | Hinduism | Buddhism (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Zen) | Sikhism | Indigenous Religions (e.g. Aboriginal spirituality) | New Religious Movements (e.g. Scientology, Baháʼí Faith) | Secular worldviews and atheism |
| Student welfare Major or minor | Counselling | Social work | Youth work |
| Visual arts Major | Art | Ceramics/pottery | Computer-generated art | Craft | Cultural arts (Archaeology) | Design | Drawing | Fashion design | Industrial design | Landscape architecture | Metal | Painting | Photography | Sculpture | Textiles | Visual arts | Visual arts and photography | Wood |
| Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or an approved equivalent | VET study areas include but not limited to: Graduate Certificate of Adult Vocational Education and Training (GCAVET) and at least eight years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent) and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or an approved equivalent. |
| VCE vocational major Major | Any study area from the VCAA curriculum not already listed. |
*The Victorian Catholic Education Authority (formerly CECV) requires all teachers in Catholic schools to achieve appropriate accreditation within five years of commencing employment. You can meet part of this requirement at Deakin in one of two ways:
1. Bachelor of Arts/Master of Teaching (Secondary) students can meet teaching requirements in a Religious Studies major and the two curriculum study units: EMM741 Introduction to Teaching in the Middle Years and EMM742 Introduction to Teaching in the Senior Years.
2. Master of Teaching (Secondary) students can meet teaching requirements in Religious Studies major from another university and complete EMM741 and EMM742 at Deakin.
Both pathways provide formal, assessed study in Religious Education and may count towards accreditation to teach Religious Education in Catholic schools. Deakin’s VIT-accredited programs also offer a method in Religious Education for students with the required undergraduate qualification. For full details, see the Victorian Catholic Education Authority Accreditation Policy.
Please note: Vocational studies or work experience cannot be used to meet teaching method requirements. Assessment is based on tertiary studies and must be Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level 7 or above to be considered. Equivalent international tertiary qualifications are accepted and will be assessed on application.
