Monash University: University handbooks: Postgraduate handbook: Units indexed by faculty
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Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary)

Course code: 1737 + Course abbreviation: GradDipEd(Sec) + Total credit points required: 48 + 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Clayton)

Off-campus (Gippsland – P/T only)

Multimode (Gippsland – F/T only)

Course description

The program of studies is designed for graduates who wish to become secondary school teachers. The course combines academic studies of the foundations of education with specialist discipline teaching units in units appropriate to the student’s first degree.

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.

The units studied in that degree meet prerequisite requirements for specialist discipline teaching units to be studied in the course as approved by faculty board and as published in faculty and university course handbooks and on the web. A major sequence in one of these units is desirable. Advice on the suitability of undergraduate sequences or other information about the Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) may be obtained from the course coordinator.

Criteria for selection will include the following:

• academic merit determined by GPA and/or other assessable post-secondary academic record.
• eligibility for and availability of supervision and teaching practice facilities.
• proof of English proficiency.
• supplementary information provided: (a) on VTAC ‘pi’ form, or (b) on faculty supplementary form (if available), or (c) independently by applicant.

Special requirements

Non-compulsory weekend schools may be offered in some units for off-campus students.

Course structure

Full-time course structure

The course comprises 48 points of study. Students are required to complete eight units, comprising four foundation units and four specialist discipline teaching unit sets (an A and B sequence equals one specialist discipline set). The four foundation units cover the following areas:

• education as a profession
• the relationship between teaching and learning
• psychology of students, particularly adolescents
• social context of education
• implementation of learning strategies, including learning technologies
• communication skills, including literacy skills
• research and evaluation in curriculum and teaching.

The supervised teaching practice component of the specialist discipline teaching units is conducted in blocks. The full-time course consists of the following units:

First semester

• EDF5421 Professional issues 1: a focus on the classroom
• EDF5422 Communication, learning and assessment
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education1A**
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 2A**

Second semester

• EDF5423 Educational contexts
• EDF5424 Professional issues 2: a focus on the profession
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 1B**
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 2B**

In addition, service units may be undertaken in some areas. Some full-time on-campus students may be required to attend sessions at a residential camp before the first teaching round.

Part-time course structure

First year

• EDF5421 Professional issues 1: a focus on the classroom
• EDF5423 Educational contexts
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 1A**
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 1B**

Second year

• EDF5422 Communication, earning and assessment
• EDF5424 Professional issues 2: a focus on the profession
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 2A**
• EDF54xx (Specialist discipline name) education 2B**

** See specialist discipline list below.

Specialist discipline teaching units (teaching methods)

Each student must choose two specialist discipline teaching unit sets (an A and B sequence equals one specialist discipline teaching set). Students are advised to consult the following list of discipline units together with the outlines for each unit and their prerequisites. This information should then be used to choose two sets of specialist discipline teaching units.

The prerequisite entry requirements for a secondary specialist discipline teaching unit are detailed at www.education.monash.edu.au/students/prospective/secondaryteaching.html. These prerequisites do not necessarily meet the requirements of particular employers in specific unit fields.

With permission from the course coordinators, students may undertake study in specialist discipline teaching units in multimode (ie a combination of on-campus and off-campus units).

Please note the following:

(i) some specialist discipline teaching units may only be available in off-campus mode every second year

(ii) the availability of any of the specialist discipline teaching units from year to year is dependent on the faculty’s ability to provide appropriate tutorial assistance, supervision and teaching practice facilities.

*Students in doubt about the suitability of their qualifications for employment should check with the recruitment unit of the Victorian Institute of Teaching (telephone +61 3 9637 2000), GPO Box 4367, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia.

* Specialist discipline teaching unit is available in on-campus mode (Clayton) only.

** Specialist discipline teaching unit is available in on-campus (Clayton) and off-campus mode.

*** Specialist discipline teaching unit is available in off-campus mode only.

# Applicants must nominate LOTE(s) on the LOTE supplementary form.

* Specialist discipline teaching unit is available in on-campus mode (Clayton) or by off-campus mode.

** Specialist discipline teaching unit is available in off-campus mode only.

*** Specialist discipline teaching unit is available in on-campus mode (Gippsland) and off-campus mode.

# Applicants must nominate LOTE(s) on the LOTE supplementary form.

Fieldwork placements (part-time)

Specialist discipline teaching units include a total of 25 days of school placements per year (50 days over the duration of the course). Students must be available to undertake their school placements on a full-time basis. Students who are employed in a school must complete a minimum of 25 days supervised school placements (over the duration of the course) in a setting other than the school at which they are employed.

Fieldwork placements (full-time)

Specialist discipline teaching units include a total of 50 days of school placements. Students must be available to undertake their school placements on a full-time basis. Students who are employed in schools must complete at least 25 days of supervised school placements in a setting other than the school at which they are employed.

Professional recognition

Graduates are eligible for employment as secondary 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.

Contact details

Telephone +61 3 9905 2819 (Clayton) or +61 3 9902 6367 (Gippsland), or visit www.education.monash.edu.au.

Course coordinators

Ms Jennifer Brown (Clayton), Dr Ann Ryan (Gippsland)

Professional Development Programs

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