Topic

What can I do with a degree in Secondary Teacher Education?

17 July 2024

Whether you want to be a Secondary School Teacher or an Education advisor, see what you can do with a degree in Secondary Teacher Education from UC.

HOW TO APPLY

Secondary teaching is a rewarding career that provides a chance to inspire others through subjects you are passionate about. As a prior degree is required, this qualification allows the immersion in subjects of expertise, interest and passion. This qualification prepares graduates to teach in any New Zealand secondary or area school, or with young people (generally years 7-13; ages 11-18) and meets the New Zealand Teachers Council (NZTC) graduating teacher standards. Graduates may also gain teaching positions in many overseas countries. At UC this qualification is made up of four core components:

Professional Studies, which focuses on teaching and learning competencies and techniques when working with adolescents.
Education Studies, which involves the application of educational theory to secondary school teaching.
Curriculum Studies, which develops knowledge and skills around the curriculum of particular subjects within the secondary school context.
Teaching Practice, which involves the practical aspect of teaching at a secondary level, in a supervised and supported context.

Through their Secondary Education degree, graduates develop a valuable set of skills that are transferable to a range of careers. These skills include:

An understanding of human development across the lifespan
Knowledge of teaching and learning processes
Interpretive and analytical thinking
Problem solving skills
Thinking critically and creatively, and challenging ideas
Planning and organisation
Oral and written communication.

Opportunities to apply your learning in schools are available in this major, through community engagement, work-integrated learning (on placement) and international study tours. These experiences deepen your skillset, awareness of others, working knowledge, and employability.

Secondary Teacher Education graduates gain teaching and management positions in secondary schools in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There are also international teaching opportunities, for example in the UK and Australia, or in international schools around the world.
As well as opportunities in the education sector, teaching skills of leadership, communication, coordination, responsibility and organisation are prized in many professions such as management, policy, publishing, community work, politics and business.
The contacts and experiences from teaching placements can often provide a good springboard into the working world.

Graduates of UC’s Secondary Teacher Education programmes will be eligible for provisional registration. This enables you to apply for secondary teaching positions in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Graduates can teach anything from drama to French, physical education to statistics. There may be opportunities to get involved in school committees, extra-curricular student activities and take on leadership opportunities. See some examples of graduate jobs below.

Note: Some of the jobs listed may require postgraduate study. See the ‘Further study’ section.

Secondary school teacher

Prepares and delivers instructional activities and lessons in specialised subjects
Observes and evaluates performance in order to provide feedback
Develops and marks tests and assessments

Kaiwhakaako Māori | Māori-medium teacher

Provides Māori medium education by developing te reo and tikanga
Collaborates with whānau and iwi
Prepares class plans, and sets and marks assessments

Special education / early intervention teacher

Teaches young people with diverse learning needs
Evaluates special needs, working with whānau and teachers to develop learning plans
Recommends and coordinates support services, treatment and therapy

Guide / leader / mentor | kaiārahi

Supports people to practise biculturalism
Identifies opportunities and reviews processes to achieve organisational Māori aspirations
Connects with contributors, leaders and knowledge guardians

Private tutor

Develops a student’s subject understanding
Maintains knowledge of the curriculum
Prepares students for assignments or tests

Education advisor

Works with teachers to develop teaching programmes to increase student achievement
Designs and creates teaching resource materials
Assists with school implementation of new education priorities and policies

School counsellor

Helps a student to share their feelings and experiences
Listens to and reflects upon their issues
Raises self-awareness and understanding

Educational publisher

Develops educational materials for use in classrooms, eg workbooks, videos or apps
Writes assessment questions
Ensures an efficient material distribution system

Secondary school dean

Assists in the management of students who may be struggling academically
Monitors attendance and attends to truancy
Supports teaching staff

Vice / deputy principal

Promotes the school’s values, plans and policies
Develops initiatives that allow for optimum learning and teaching
Provides leadership and fosters relationships

Boarding manager

Ensures the house is managed efficiently
Looks after the physical, cultural, social, intellectual and emotional needs of students
Helps students settle into the environment

Operations manager

Improves ongoing business effectiveness
Ensures health and safety adhered to
Builds an engaged and skilled team
Manages day-to-day operations and budgets

Entrepreneur and CEO

Develops an idea to form their own business
Offers freelance or consultancy services

Get started with Entrepreneurship here