Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary)

If you already hold a degree or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of Education and the University and want to follow your interests as a secondary school teacher, this programme is for you. Because this programme acknowledges your previous qualification, this Graduate Diploma can be completed full-time within one year.

Programme Highlights

• Qualifies you for Q3+ (higher salary level than undergraduate degree qualification level)
• Strong emphasis placed on practical experience in classrooms (two seven-week practicums in schools)
• Links specialists in teacher education with specialists in your chosen subject from other faculties
• TeachNZ scholarships available for selected subjects

2008 Graduate Diploma in Teaching Programmes (2MB)

What you'll learn

You’ll receive thorough preparation for your role as a professional educator, including 14 weeks practical teaching experience in the classroom.
Curriculum courses allow you to specialise in areas of interest and qualifications including art, performing arts (drama, dance, music), social sciences (history, geography, social studies), economics and accounting, Te Reo Mäori, English, media studies, classical studies, international languages, mathematics and statistics, science (biology, chemistry, physics) environmental science, physical education and health, and technology. Some curriculum areas can be completed as a special topic, e.g. horticulture. Curriculum choices must be supported by a prior qualification. We will work closely with you to choose what’s right for you.

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, e.g. 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 location

All the compulsory courses and curriculum courses are taught at the Epsom Campus.

• Some curriculum courses may also be available at City, Manukau and Tai Tokerau Campuses.
• International languages, Geography, History and Classical studies may involve some study at City Campus.
• Where possible, timetables will avoid inter-campus travel on any one day.
  

Tai Tokerau Campus, Whangarei.

A mix of on-campus and flexible courses delivered at a distance. Delivery at Tai Tokerau is dependent on numbers of students and availability of courses.
In 2007, it is likely that the programme will not start until mid-year.

Study dates

Late February to end 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.
You may be eligible to apply for Faculty of Education fees bursaries. Call The University of Auckland on 0800 61 62 63 for more information.

Gaining Entry

Academic prerequisites

The basic academic prerequisite for the Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Secondary) is an undergraduate degree or equivalent that links to school subjects. Most overseas qualifications need to be assessed for equivalence with New Zealand degree qualifications. You will therefore need to hold a New Zealand degree, or an overseas degree recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority by February 1 of the year of entry to the programme.
It is your responsibility to contact the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to ensure such recognition. A fee will be charged for this service. For more information, go to www.nzqa.govt.nz
In addition, each curriculum course has 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 Mäori 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

The New Zealand Teachers Council requires all applicants for teaching to consent to disclosure of criminal convictions. Our application form for teaching programmes asks you to indicate whether you have any criminal convictions. Furthermore, before any applicant can be accepted into this programme an official police statement concerning absence or otherwise of criminal convictions will be obtained.

Declaration of health conditions

The Teachers Council also requires all applicants for teaching to declare whether they have a medical condition which may affect their fitness to be a teacher

Supplementary Information

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