Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) - Victoria University of Wellington

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This programme prepares graduates with appropriate teaching subjects to become confident and competent secondary teachers. The Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) is available on campus or online, and the requirements are the same for both modes of delivery.

New Zealand is facing a shortage of secondary teachers so employment prospects are excellent, particularly for those who can teach mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, te reo Māori, English, and technology.

Who should apply?

Those with an undergraduate degree or equivalent which includes two teaching subjects, one to a 200-level and one to a 300-level. These teaching subjects form the content basis for the two curriculum areas that are required in the Graduate Diploma programme.

Timeframe

The graduate diploma is a one-year full-time programme but can be completed part-time usually over two years (but must be completed in three years).

Study Options

This programme is available on campus or online, full- or part-time. There are two intakes each year for this programme, in February and July.

The online option is a flexible and convenient alternative for those with good self-management skills.

The on campus and online programmes have the same component parts. The online programme includes a compulsory four-day residency at VUW's Karori Campus. The residency is held in May for February-intake students and in October for mid-year intake students.

Part-time students are able to complete the programme either online or on campus. This would usually be spread over two years and must be completed within three years of start of study.

Time commitment

• Online: full-time online students complete 40-50 hours per week
• Campus based: full-time students attend approximately 20 hours of classes per week and are also required to complete 20-30 hours of study
• Part-time students, either on-campus or online, need to spend approximately half these amounts, ie, 20-25 hours per week (more if completing in 18 months)
• Teaching experience blocks require full-time attendance even for part-time students. (Part-time students will have their teaching experience blocks spread over the two years).

Programme of Study

To be awarded the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), a student must successfully complete 156 points from the Schedule of Courses meeting all course and programme requirements.

The programme is divided into three components:

• Teaching for Learning (including Teaching Experience) - 67 points
• Directed Studies - 19 Points
• Curriculum and Selected Studies - 70 points

The programme runs over two trimesters, as follows :  

Trimester 1

• TEAP 851 Teaching for Learning 1
• TEAP 852 Teaching for Learning 2
• TEAP 854 Mätauranga Mäori in the Classroom
• A minimum of 26 points of Curriculum and Selected Studies courses

Minimum total of 75 points

Trimester 2

• TEAP 853 Teaching for Learning 3
• TEAP 855 Language and Literacy Across the Curriculum
• TEAP 856 Facing the Classroom with Confidence
• A minimum of 26 points of Curriculum and Selected Studies courses

Minimum total of 63 points  

Teaching for Learning 1, 2 and 3 (TEAP 1, 2 and 3) include teaching experience blocks. These give you the opportunity to grow and develop as teachers and put into practice what you have learned in your courses.  

Curriculum and Selected Studies courses chosen (at least two, and possibly three) should be relevant to your qualifications and experience. One of these subjects should have been studied to 300 level as part of your degree and the other to 200 level. These choices will be discussed with you when you attend the assessment exercise which forms part of the selection process for this programme.

Selected Studies

If you choose only two Curriculum Studies courses you need to choose some Selected Studies options. You can choose from:

• Effective Communication
• Sports Coaching
• Information Technology
• Being an Effective Professional
• Teaching as Performance
• Fostering Creative Thinking Skills
• Teaching Outside the Classroom
• Te Reo Māori me nga; Tikanga
• Junior Secondary Physical Education

Academic Assessment

• Internal assessment of assignments and portfolios
• Teaching experience assessment
• No examinations.

Graduation and Teacher Registration

Following satisfactory completion of the programmes:

• February-intake students graduate in May the following year
• Mid-year intake students graduate in December in their year of completion.

As a graduate of this programme you can:

• Apply for a teaching position in schools through New Zealand
• Apply for provisional teacher registration from the New Zealand Teachers Council (NZTC)
• Be recommended by your employing school for full NZTC registration after two years (and up to five years) of satisfactory teaching.