Monash University: University Handbooks: Postgraduate handbook 2005: Units indexed by faculty
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Postgraduate handbook 2005 - Education

Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary)

Course code: 0341 + Total credit points required: 60 + 1 year full-time (with overload) + On-campus (Peninsula)
Contact: Mr David Zyngier (telephone +61 3 9904 4291 for initial inquiries)

Course description

This course is designed to prepare graduates from a range of disciplines to become primary school teachers. The program of study ensures eligibility for employment as primary school teachers in the government, Catholic and independent school systems in Victoria. For interstate and overseas positions, applicants are advised to check with local authorities. Students should form a broad conceptual understanding of the field of education and will engage in a range of on-campus and off-campus activities.

Entry requirements

The minimum entry requirement is an approved degree or equivalent. For overseas degrees, the faculty accepts assessments made by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, GPO Box 4367, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia. Telephone +61 3 9637 2000 or +61 3 9616 9089.
Applications are made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC), telephone 1300 364 133 (except for international students, who apply through Monash International). Application forms are available in the VTAC guide, which can be obtained from Victorian newsagents from August, or via the VTAC website at http://www.vtac.edu.au. Applications should be submitted to VTAC by the end of September (later applications may be accepted on payment of a late fee).

English language requirment for applicants through VTAC

Domestic students website: www.education.monash.edu.au/prospective/howToApply/englishLanguageRequirements.html

University Test of English as a Second Language

In order to manage a teacher training course, and particularly to teach classes effectively on 10 weeks of teaching practice, applicants will need to have excellent communication skills in English and will need to provide evidence of this. Applicants who do not have a satisfactory result in English at Year 12 in Australia (including applicants with overseas qualifications), or who have not received an official exemption from the University Test of English as a Second Language (UTESL), must enrol for this written test of reading, writing and listening skills. Applicants who do not sit the test will not be considered for selection, unless they have an official exemption from UTESL.
Applications for exemption should be addressed in writing to English Exemptions, Faculty of Education, Monash University, PO Box 6, Victoria 3800, Australia, and should include evidence of English proficiency. Completion of all secondary and tertiary studies in full English medium in a country where English is an official language will generally be accepted as grounds for exemption. Attendance at English courses may not be regarded as adequate evidence. However, results on nationally or internationally recognized tests such as the IELTS-academic (a 7 is required for most teaching methods) and the TOEFL (only if accompanied by the essay test result or the TWE, with a minimum score of 600 and 4.5 TWE or 250 on the CBT) or the ASLPRs (a 4 is required) can be presented.
Further inquiries regarding English requirements and exemptions may be directed to english.exemptions@education.monash.edu.au. Note that inquiries and applications for exemption should be submitted by the 1 October for timely applicants and 1 November for late applicants. The requests will receive responses one week from each of these dates.
The Language Testing Research Centre conducts the test (UTESL) at the University of Melbourne. Testing will take place on a Saturday from 9.30 am to 1 pm on 23 October and 20 November 2004. For information about the test and a registration form, contact the Language Testing Research Centre on telephone +61 3 8344 4389 or fax +61 3 8344 5163, or by email at ltrc-info@unimelb.edu.au.
Applicants who perform well on the UTESL, or who have received partial exemption, will be asked to attend an interview at the Faculty of Education, Clayton, or to be involved in a telephone interview. Interviews are normally held in late November and in December. Applicants will be invited to attend in writing or by email, and an explanation of the interview will be provided. This interview tests oral communication skills in English.
Applicants do not need to submit a letter of exemption with their VTAC application. The institution of first preference, of which an applicant requests an exemption, will inform VTAC and all other institutions of their exemption and oral interview results (where applicable). This will occur in December in time for the selection in January.

English language requirements for international students

Refer to the Monash International Postgraduate Course Guide or the website at http://www.monash.edu/international/englishrequirement/.

Course outline

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) consists of 10 on-campus units, which are linked with four school experience rounds arranged throughout the course. Students will be in schools for a total of up to 50 days fieldwork. Candidates must satisfactorily complete each of the 10 units of study and receive a satisfactory teaching assessment to be eligible for the award.

Course structure

Semester 1

Semester 2

This is a conceptual outline only. It gives a general indication of how the course will progress and is subject to change without notice. Students should also consult their course coordinator to assist in planning their program. Check the current timetable for unit availability via the website at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/current/timetables after 30 September.

Fieldwork placements

Students must normally be available to undertake their fieldwork placement on a full-time basis. Students who are employed in schools who are required to do 50 days fieldwork must complete at least 50% of their fieldwork in a setting other than the school where they are employed.

Further information

For further information regarding this course, contact the Faculty of Education, Peninsula campus (telephone +61 3 9904 4291 or visit http://www.education.monash.edu.au.

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