Professional education for teachers falls conveniently into two categories - initial (preservice) and post-initial education. In the initial category, the university provides for students aspiring to become early childhood, primary, secondary or adult and vocational education and training teachers, while for those who are already teachers, the faculty offers a variety of programs suited to their further professional development.
The
Faculty of Education offers a variety of pathways into teaching at all levels.
In addition to its established four-year courses leading to degrees in early
childhood, primary and secondary education, and adult and vocational education,
the faculty now offers an expanding range of double degrees which are currently
taught in conjunction with the faculties of Art and Design, Arts, Business and
Economics, and Science.
These double degrees qualify graduates to teach at the primary, secondary and
adult level and present students with a variety of employment opportunities
both within education and in areas such as journalism, psychology, commerce,
music, science, and sport and outdoor recreation. The double degrees also
enable students to diversify their experience of tertiary education by
undertaking a significant proportion of their studies with students from other
faculties.
These traditional initial teacher education pathways are supplemented by the
innovative Bachelor of Adult Learning and Development course. This course is
designed to provide training in education for people working in vocational
education and training, industry and community settings.
A third pathway into teaching caters for graduates in other faculties who wish
to enter primary or secondary teaching. Provided that their degree includes
studies appropriate for teaching, these students can undertake a one-year
full-time (or two-year part-time) course leading to the Graduate Diploma of
Education. The Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) is available at both
the Clayton and Gippsland campuses, while a Graduate Diploma of Education
(Primary) is offered at the Peninsula campus. The Graduate Diploma of Education
(Secondary) can be undertaken on campus or by distance education.
Students wishing to enrol in a Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) need
to ensure that their initial degree contains at least two practice of teaching
subjects.
The faculty also provides many opportunities for the further professional education of teachers who have completed their preservice education, whether at Monash or at another university or tertiary institution. The faculty offers a Bachelor of Education (Honours) program (Clayton campus only), postgraduate certificates and diplomas, and coursework masters and research-based degrees on each of the three campuses. In addition, the faculty has a long history of involvement with the professional education of teachers through the provision of short courses and other non-award courses, seminars and programs, which are constantly revised to maintain relevance and currency for practising professionals. Increasingly, the faculty is also shaping programs for professionals in related fields of expertise.