1999 Education Handbook - Master of Education (Special Education) (MEd[SpEd])

Master of Education (Special Education) (MEd[SpEd])

General information
Target group
Objectives
Course structure

General information

Clayton campus
Course code: 2393
Contact: Dr Lawrence Bartak or Dr Joanne Deppeler (please telephone 9905 2819 or 9905 2784 for initial inquiries)

The special education pathway is designed to meet the requirements of teachers, other professionals and administrators who wish to gain higher qualifications and expertise in the area of supporting individuals with special needs.

Objectives

The objectives of the special education pathway are to provide students with knowledge and understanding of:

the practices and issues relevant to the support of individuals with special needs;
assessment, diagnosis, program planning and implementation for students with special needs;
data collection, goal-setting, modifications of curriculum and services for individuals with special needs;
the collaborative decision-making processes and factors relevant to effective roles as change-agents;
regional, national and international human resources systems relevant to support of individuals with special needs;
the professional, ethical and research issues which are relevant to the field.

Course structure

The coursework subjects comprise three compulsory subjects - GED1811, GED1812 and GED1816. Students who wish to teach in the special education area in schools and meet the requirements set by the Standards Council must also complete GED1818. This is an optional unit for other students who will otherwise replace it with another approved subject. The remaining subjects must be selected from an approved list of subjects (as specified below).
GED1811 and GED1812 are core subjects for this degree and should be completed early in the program. The elective subjects must be selected from the prescribed list of subjects. The third compulsory subject, GED1816, is usually undertaken after the elective subjects have been completed. Research subjects as listed in the Master of Education course information would also be appropriate for this degree.

Core subjects

GED1811 Studies in special education/inclusion
GED1812 Facilitating change in special and inclusive settings
GED1816 Special education practice 1
GED1818 Special education practice 2 (not compulsory for non-teachers)

Elective subjects

GED1805 Cognitive psychology, learning and teaching
GED1806 Communication disorders in children and adults
GED1807 Anxiety disorders
GED1808 Adolescent development and its educational implications
GED1809 Studies in learning difficulties
GED1813 Behavioural problems in children
GED1814 The psychology of the gifted child
GED1815 Intellectual disability
GED1817 Counselling, guidance and pastoral care in schools
GED1837 Psychological, physical and social components of health education
GED1841 Autism spectrum disorders
GED2805 Gender and education
GED2835 Aboriginality and education
GED2847 Difference, equity and education: issues of gender, ethnicity and class
GED2852 Educating and learning in the workplace
GED2854 Adult education and training: policies and practices
GED3801 Legal issues and the exceptional individual
GED3803 Issues in health education
GED3823 Theory and practice of TESOL
GED3836 Writing practices in learning contexts
GED3837 Literacy in adults contexts: policies, practices and theories
GED3842 Reading: theory, research and practice
GED4801 Teaching standards and teacher evaluation
GED4810 Assessment of student learning
GED4816 Evaluation and development of educational software
GED4819 Catering for individual differences in mathematics education
GED4821 Planning and managing instructional materials and resources development
GED4830 Developing the reflective practitioner
GED4834 Computer communications in education
GED4835 Issues in educational multimedia
EDN8036 Issues in primary education

Any of the research subjects in the Master of Education course information list may also be chosen.

Project

The project, of approximately 20,000 words, must focus on a topic relevant to individuals with special needs. Students intending to enrol in the project must complete an appropriate research methodology subject.