James Cook University Teachers College Overview

James Cook University in Australia proudly offers world-class teacher education programs and exciting opportunities for ongoing professional learning. JCU’s programs are committed to preparing graduates for the imperatives associated with the tropical region, especially in Rural and Remote, Sustainability and Indigenous Education.

James Cook University’s programs in Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary education are certified by the Queensland College of Teachers and recognized nationally and internationally. JCU’s post-graduate programs offer dynamic professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators, and community workers from a range of disciplines.

JCU’s Education staff has a strong commitment to community engagement with a focus on education for sustainable futures and improved educational outcomes for our region and communities both nationally and internationally.

About the Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary)

Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) prepares teachers to critically respond to the challenges of northern Queensland and the Tropics, through a theoretically informed practice-based approach with provision for learning experiences in urban, rural and remote school-community environments.

The course is a four phase (two year) developmentally sequenced professional preparation for those holding at least a first degree and who value learning about, as well as contributing to, the diverse needs and aspirations of learners and communities.

The course is offered on campus in Townsville and Cairns, and externally (online with internal options) with a mandatory one-week residential block during Orientation week. Students who study externally can elect to enrol in individual subjects internally.

The Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) course includes a prescribed professional placement in primary schools in each of the first three phases of the course for a total of 60 placement days, a 20-day extended capstone in the final phase and school based experiences with primary students in selected subjects within the course. Graduate teachers may be required to undertake such placements away from the campus at which they are enrolled, at their own expense.

All students must meet minimum literacy standards upon entry and completion as required by the Queensland College of Teachers.

Course Highlights at James Cook University in Australia

James Cook’s Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) is a postgraduate entry program.

The Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) at JCU in Australia is an innovative post-graduate program. It has been developed in collaboration with our educational partners Catholic Education, Department of Education and Training (DET) and Independent Schools to prepare ‘day-one ready’ graduate teachers to meet the diverse learning needs and aspirations of our students and communities. This innovative program is offered internally in Cairns and Townville.

• High-quality candidates: James Cook University use selection criteria that ensure you have the academic background and dispositions necessary to be high-quality primary teachers.
• Regional focus: Their Degree, similar to JCU’s strategic intent, focuses on providing consequential experiences to prepare you as an educator for rural and remote areas, in addition to urban contexts, so you can respond confidently to the diversity of our classrooms.
• Research informed: The Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) program is grounded in foundations of high-quality initial teacher education and ensures your development in acquiring the knowledge and skills that inform practice in our partners’ schools. Special attention is given to preparing you to make evidence-based decisions associated with students’ learning.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL): You will be linked to a school for each phase and be provided the opportunity to engage with the school over the phase and your practicum, under mentored conditions, to maximize your professional learning. Your on-campus subjects are likely to be run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Students will be expected to spend one day a week in school, likely Fridays, in addition to the practicum requirements.
• Subject specialization: Your first Degree provides you with the background to have subject specialization in the primary grades. Of particular interest to their Partners, are teachers with specializations in mathematics (numeracy), science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and English (literacy).
• Capstone: The program concludes with a 20-day capstone experience in your final phase of study, as a school-based internship or community-based service learning opportunity that requires you to conduct a research-based professional inquiry within this setting. JCU’s partners see this capstone as the most suitable means of fostering transition into the profession.

Entry requirements

Applicants to James Cook University’s Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) will need a completed Bachelor degree (or equivalent) that does not lead to teacher registration (with a minimum GPA of 4.0 on a 7-point scale), which includes the equivalent of full year of study in areas appropriate to curriculum demands of primary teaching in Australian schools; that is subjects that link to the national school curriculum (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)) content in English, technologies, mathematics, science, humanities and social sciences, The Arts, health and physical education.

All applicants for initial teacher education courses must satisfy both academic and non-academic entry criteria.  Applicants’ non-academic capabilities will be assessed by way of an instrument applied by QTAC and developed in consultation with the Australian Council of Deans of Education.

All students must meet minimum literacy and numeracy standards upon entry and completion.

Professional Recognition in Canada

James Cook University’s Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) is nationally accredited through the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in association with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT). Graduates of this course are eligible for Teacher registration in Australia.

Graduates of James Cook University’s Master of Teaching and Learning (Primary) are eligible to apply for licensing in Canada, however, it is critical students understand the requirements needed to complete this process before licensing will be granted. KOM Consultants understand the process and requirements needed to enter the teaching profession in Canada. Contact KOM for more information

All students applying directly through KOM Consultants will be supported with the latest information on the accreditation process.

James Cook University latest news

James Cook University Researcher Snares PM’s Science Prize

A frog researcher whose ground-breaking discoveries at solved the mystery of a disease killing frogs around the world has won one of Australia’s most prestigious science prizes.

JCU adjunct Dr Lee Berger, based within the One Health Research Group (a multi-institutional collaborative research group), has been awarded one of the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science: the $50,000 Frank Fenner Prize for Life Scientist of the Year.

Through her PhD research, Lee Berger discovered chytridiomycosis – …

James Cook University Rises In Global Rankings

has bolstered its standing as a world-class research university, with an authoritative global ranking listing the University in the top 300 of the world’s universities.

The 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) has been released today by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy and ranks JCU in the top 201-300 group of universities.

JCU is one of only 15 Australian universities to be ranked in the top 300 of the world’s universities.

JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said the ranking is a terrific result and reflects the very high standard of research undertaken by the University. …

James Cook University Rockets Up The Rankings

has rocketed up a key global ranking of ‘young’ universities, with JCU now ranked 28th of the world’s universities aged 50 years or under.

The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings list the world’s best universities that have been operating for up to 50 years. The 2018 ranking compares 250 institutions from 55 countries.

For the past two years, JCU has been ranked 38th in this category, but has now climbed 10 places to 28th spot. …

Tropical Health & Medicine Expands at James Cook University in Cairns

Officially opened by the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon. Matthew Canavan, this is the second building on campus devoted to the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM).

Vice Chancellor Professor Sandra Harding said the building would enable AITHM’s 53 staff and 32 postgraduate students in Cairns to expand their work and training.

“We’re proud to have not just some of the world’s leading researchers working here, …

JCU’s The Science Place Achieves Australian-First Green Building Rating

’s landmark The Science Place building has become the first educational building in Australia to achieve a prestigious LEED® Gold rating for its environmentally sustainable design.

The innovative $85M building at JCU’s Douglas campus is also the first LEED Gold Certified building rated for its construction in Queensland*.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and is devised by the Unites States Green Building Council to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage sustainable design. …