Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary)

Use the qualification(s) you already hold to become a secondary school teacher.

Teachers come from a wide range of backgrounds and offer their own unique perspective to teaching and learning. If you already have a degree you can qualify to teach in your chosen curriculum subject(s) at secondary schools after just one year of full-time study.

Quick facts

Full-time: 1 year (part-time study options also available)
Taught at: Epsom Campus (Some courses also taught at the Manukau Institute of Technology. May be available at Tai Tokerau Campus through flexible delivery depending on numbers and subject areas available.)
Points per programme: 120

Programme highlights

• Strong emphasis placed on practical experience in classrooms (two seven-week practicums in schools)
• Qualifies you for Q3+ (a higher salary level that recognises your previous qualification)
• TeachNZ scholarships available for selected subjects
• Specialise in areas of interest and qualification.

What you'll be studying

During the course of your study you will:

• study educational theory and practice specific to secondary teaching and adolescents
• study curriculum courses specific to your qualification and teaching subject
• undertake practical experience in secondary classrooms and work alongside experienced teachers to develop your teaching practice.

How you'll learn

You’ll learn through workshops, small group tutorials, lectures and field experience. You’ll be mostly assessed through assignments and practical work experience in schools.

Assessment

All assessment is internal. Grades are awarded for all courses on an A+ to D- scale. The University-based courses use a variety of assessment methods, for example, group work, tests, seminars, essays, units of work including teaching resources and assessment tasks. The use of ICT is incorporated into many of the assessment tasks.

The compulsory practicum component is assessed by associate teachers in schools and university-based curriculum specialists with wide teaching and mentoring experience.

Practicum

Practicum is typically scheduled as follows:

Practicum One:
March - two weeks
May and June - five weeks

Practicum Two:
August and September - five weeks October - two weeks
Practicum is designed to provide extended periods of time across a range of school types.

Mostly you will be in the school every day in order to immerse yourself in the school experience. However there will also be an opportunity to return to the university on Tuesday afternoons to receive ongoing advice and support from your lecturers.

On practicum you will be observed and assessed by your associate teachers and a subject specialist lecturer.
As outlined under programme structure on page 5, in term one, you will spend two weeks in a school where the focus is learning about the complexity of the school environment and working with associate teachers across curriculum areas.In term two you will have a continuous block placement of five weeks in the same school, working closely with experienced teachers in your curriculum areas, supported by your lecturers.

In term three the term two pattern is repeated in a different school. This school placement is of five weeks duration. At the beginning of term four you will return to this school and teach and perform all the duties expected of a beginning teacher. These placements are available in selected schools across Auckland. Students may request to undertake the second practicum in a school outside the Auckland urban area. You must be prepared to travel to schools at your own cost.

Career opportunities

You’ll be able to teach at secondary school level, utilising your undergraduate degree to teach one or more subjects, eg, the arts, social sciences, English, mathematics, technology, or other areas. This programme aims to equip you with curriculum knowledge and management skills to assist you to be confident in the classroom from day one. The programme can also lead to other interesting related careers such as human resources training, curriculum development and management.

Further study

If you want to take your studies further, our programmes can lead you all the way to study at masters and doctoral level, to maximise your career and salary prospects.

Study locations

• Epsom Campus. All compulsory courses and curriculum courses are taught at the Epsom Campus.
• Manukau Institute of Technology. The University of Auckland at Manukau offers compulsory core courses at this location. Curriculum courses are undertaken flexibly (where available) or at Epsom Campus.
• Tai Tokerau Campus, Whangarei. This location is offered depending on student numbers and availability of courses. Compulsory core courses are taught on campus and the curriculum programme is studied flexibly using study guide material, Internet and occasional on-campus workshops at Epsom Campus.

Study dates

2 March to end of November

Years to complete

One year full-time study
A two year part-time study option is also available

Fees

Updated tuition fee information will be available at www.auckland.ac.nz/fees.

Gaining entry

Academic prerequisites

The academic prerequisite for the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) is an undergraduate degree or equivalent that links to secondary school subjects. Overseas qualifications need to be assessed by the University for equivalence with New Zealand degree qualifications. In addition, each curriculum course has entry requirements.

Additional entry requirements

Secondary teaching is a demanding profession. We need to make sure that you have thought seriously about the reasons you want to become a teacher. We need to identify the strengths that you would bring to teaching. These qualities are assessed by referees’ reports and at an interview.

The following selection criteria are used:

• Written and spoken communication in English. The secondary school classroom places a high demand on accuracy and clarity of communication in English.
• If English or Māori is not your first language then we require that you provide sufficient evidence of your competency in English.
• Personal qualities for secondary teaching.

New Zealand Teachers Council criteria

To be admitted to this programme students must demonstrate the potential to meet the New Zealand Teachers Council criteria for provisional registration.
Two declarations are required by the Teachers Council at registration time:

• Declaration of criminal convictions
• Declaration of health conditions

Supplementary information

To gain entry into this programme, you need to supply us with supplementary information. Click on the link below to download a supplementary information form, complete it, and return it to the Faculty of Education as soon as possible.