Graduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching (1914)
- Approved Abbreviation: GradCertSecTeach
- Western Sydney University Program Code: 1914
- AQF Level: 8
This program applies to students who commenced in 2022 or later.
Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.
Handbook Summary 2025
The Graduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching enables qualified teachers to expand the subjects they are eligible to teach. It also provides a flexible pathway for former Western Sydney University students who exited from a Master of Teaching (Secondary) degree to complete an accredited teaching qualification in a curriculum area. This program comprises curriculum subjects that cover NSW requirements for Years 7-12, school-based professional experience in schools, and postgraduate studies in education to deepen professional knowledge and skills. Program advice should be sought before applying.
Handbook Summary 2024
The Graduate Certificate in Secondary Teaching provides a pathway for qualified secondary teachers to expand the number of teaching areas for which they are eligible to teach. Applicants to this program can be either currently working in secondary schools or seeking employment in secondary schools. This program comprises two curriculum subjects that cover NSW syllabus requirements for Years 7-10 and Years 11-12. In addition, students will undertake one in-school professional experience block and one subject in either student wellbeing, curriculum and assessment design or leadership. Applicants must have a minimum of four undergraduate pre-requisite subjects as required by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for the area of study the applicant is intending to teach. Academic program advice should be sought.
Study Mode
One year part-time.
Program Advice
secondaryenquiries@westernsydney.edu.au
Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.
Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |
Location
| Campus | Attendance | Mode | Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penrith campus | Part Time | Internal | See above |
Work Integrated Learning
Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.
There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program. Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.
Admission
To be eligible to enrol in this program, students must have a secondary teaching qualification and a minimum of 4 undergraduate subjects as required by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for the area of study the applicant is intending to teach. Students are advised to seek academic project advice as to this.
If applicants require additional undergraduate subjects to meet the area of study, these may be completed as non-award study at Western Sydney University or any other University.
Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.
Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.
http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/
Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.
Special Requirements Prerequisites
An Australian university qualification in Secondary Teaching recognised by NESA, a Working with Children Check, Child Protection Awareness Training, and ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training.
Program Structure 2022-2024
This structure applies to students who commenced in 2022 - 2024. If you commenced in 2025 or later, please refer to the relevant Structure tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 40 credit points, comprising a 10 credit point core professional practice subject, 20 credit points of functionally equivalent core curriculum subjects plus a 10 credit point alternate subject.
Core Subjects
All students are required to complete the core subject listed below.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| TEAC 7154 | Professional Experience 1 and Pedagogy | 10 |
| Total Credit Points | 10 | |
Curriculum Subjects
All students are required to complete two of the following functionally equivalent subject combinations based on NESA undergraduate subject content requirements.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Subjects | 20 | |
| English Curriculum 1 | ||
| English Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Aboriginal Studies Curriculum 1 | ||
| Aboriginal and Society Studies Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| History Curriculum 1 | ||
| History Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Geography Curriculum 1 | ||
| Geography Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Business Studies/Commerce Curriculum 1 | ||
| Business Studies/Legal Studies/Economics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Music Curriculum 1 | ||
| Music Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Technology Curriculum 1 | ||
| Technology Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 1 | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Languages Curriculum 1 | ||
| Languages Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 1 | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Science Curriculum 1 | ||
| Science Curriculum 2 | ||
| Total Credit Points | 20 | |
Alternate Subjects
All students are required to complete one alternate subject listed below.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Subject | 10 | |
| Leadership, Mentoring and Professional Growth | ||
| Mental Health in Educational Contexts | ||
| Principles and Practices of Evaluation | ||
| Designing Curriculum Futures | ||
| Total Credit Points | 10 | |
Replaced Subjects
The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2024 or earlier.
TEAC 7020 Contemporary Teacher Leadership
Recommended Sequence 2022-2024
This sequence applies to students who commenced in 2022 - 2024. If you commenced in 2025 or later, please refer to the relevant Sequence tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 40 credit points, comprising a 10 credit point core professional practice subject, 20 credit points of functionally equivalent core curriculum subjects plus a 10 credit point alternate subject, as per the recommended sequence below.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| Select one alternate subject from the following: | 10 | |
| Leadership, Mentoring and Professional Growth | ||
| Mental Health in Educational Contexts | ||
| Principles and Practices of Evaluation | ||
| Designing Curriculum Futures | ||
| Select one of the following functionally equivalent core subjects based on NESA undergraduate subject content requirements: | 10 | |
| English Curriculum 1 | ||
| Aboriginal Studies Curriculum 1 | ||
| History Curriculum 1 | ||
| Geography Curriculum 1 | ||
| Business Studies/Commerce Curriculum 1 | ||
| Music Curriculum 1 | ||
| Technology Curriculum 1 | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 1 | ||
| Languages Curriculum 1 | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 1 | ||
| Science Curriculum 1 | ||
| Credit Points | 20 | |
| Spring session | ||
| TEAC 7154 | Professional Experience 1 and Pedagogy | 10 |
| Select one of the following functional equivalent core subjects based on NESA undergraduate subject content requirements: | 10 | |
| English Curriculum 2 | ||
| Aboriginal and Society Studies Curriculum 2 | ||
| History Curriculum 2 | ||
| Geography Curriculum 2 | ||
| Business Studies/Legal Studies/Economics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Music Curriculum 2 | ||
| Technology Curriculum 2 | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 2 | ||
| Languages Curriculum 2 | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Science Curriculum 2 | ||
| Credit Points | 20 | |
| Total Credit Points | 40 | |
Replaced Subjects
The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2024 or earlier.
TEAC 7020 Contemporary Teacher Leadership
Program Structure 2025
This structure applies to students who commenced in 2025 or later. If you commenced prior to 2025, please refer to the relevant Structure tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 40 credit points, comprising a 10 credit point core professional practice subject, 20 credit points of functionally equivalent core curriculum subjects plus a 10 credit point alternate subject.
Core Subjects
All students are required to complete the core subject listed below.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| TEAC 7155 | Professional Experience 2 | 10 |
| Total Credit Points | 10 | |
Curriculum Subjects
All students are required to complete two of the following functionally equivalent subject combinations based on NESA undergraduate subject content requirements.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Subjects | 20 | |
| English Curriculum 1 | ||
| English Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Aboriginal Studies Curriculum 1 | ||
| Aboriginal and Society Studies Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| History Curriculum 1 | ||
| History Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Geography Curriculum 1 | ||
| Geography Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Business Studies/Commerce Curriculum 1 | ||
| Business Studies/Legal Studies/Economics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Music Curriculum 1 | ||
| Music Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Technology Curriculum 1 | ||
| Technology Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 1 | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Languages Curriculum 1 | ||
| Languages Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 1 | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Or | ||
| Science Curriculum 1 | ||
| Science Curriculum 2 | ||
| Total Credit Points | 20 | |
Alternate Subjects
All students are required to complete one alternate subject listed below.
| Subject | Title | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|
| Alternate Subject | 10 | |
| Leadership, Mentoring and Professional Growth | ||
| Mental Health in Educational Contexts | ||
| Principles and Practices of Evaluation | ||
| Designing Curriculum Futures | ||
| Total Credit Points | 10 | |
Recommended Sequence 2025
This sequence applies to students who commenced in 2025 or later. If you commenced prior to 2025, please refer to the relevant Sequence tab for details.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 40 credit points, comprising a 10 credit point core professional practice subject, 20 credit points of functionally equivalent core curriculum subjects plus a 10 credit point alternate subject, as per the recommended sequence below.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Autumn session | Credit Points | |
| Select one alternate subject from the following: | 10 | |
| Leadership, Mentoring and Professional Growth | ||
| Mental Health in Educational Contexts | ||
| Principles and Practices of Evaluation | ||
| Designing Curriculum Futures | ||
| Select one of the following functionally equivalent core subjects based on NESA undergraduate subject content requirements: | 10 | |
| English Curriculum 1 | ||
| Aboriginal Studies Curriculum 1 | ||
| History Curriculum 1 | ||
| Geography Curriculum 1 | ||
| Business Studies/Commerce Curriculum 1 | ||
| Music Curriculum 1 | ||
| Technology Curriculum 1 | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 1 | ||
| Languages Curriculum 1 | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 1 | ||
| Science Curriculum 1 | ||
| Credit Points | 20 | |
| Spring session | ||
| TEAC 7155 | Professional Experience 2 | 10 |
| Select one of the following functional equivalent core subjects based on NESA undergraduate subject content requirements: | 10 | |
| English Curriculum 2 | ||
| Aboriginal and Society Studies Curriculum 2 | ||
| History Curriculum 2 | ||
| Geography Curriculum 2 | ||
| Business Studies/Legal Studies/Economics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Music Curriculum 2 | ||
| Technology Curriculum 2 | ||
| PDHPE Curriculum 2 | ||
| Languages Curriculum 2 | ||
| Mathematics Curriculum 2 | ||
| Science Curriculum 2 | ||
| Credit Points | 20 | |
| Total Credit Points | 40 | |