2500 - Master of Education

This course is designed to meet the needs of educators, educational administrators, managers, policy makers and others interested or involved in learning and education or working in the wider educational community, who wish to pursue studies at postgraduate level. Students choose from a broad range of units and also have the option of completing a designated specialisation pathway. Students may also undertake a research thesis or professional project as part of the course.

This program is designed to extend participants' knowledge, understandings and skills in educational research and practice. Participants will have the opportunity to explore both the theoretical and practical aspects of teaching and learning, whether in early childhood settings, schools, workplaces or other settings. The program fosters a reflective stance towards professional learning and the development of professional knowledge. Students from diverse professional and educational backgrounds will have the opportunity to explore and examine the nature of professional learning and develop deeper understandings of evidence-based practice. They will be encouraged to think about the relationship between research and practice, and to develop critical and analytical skills in discussing relevant and substantive research in both areas of specific interest and in wider and more general educational debates. As part of this critique and reflection students will develop their scholarly writing skills. Students will also have the opportunity to learn about a range of research methodologies, and they may choose to develop and implement their own research projects.

Students are required to successfully complete one of the following three options: *

• option 1 - six units
• option 2 - five units plus EDF6010/ EDF6020 Professional project (8000 words)
• option 3 - four units plus a research thesis (16,000 words).

Students who are interested in pursuing doctoral studies must select option 3, ie. the minor thesis.

* Units within the Master of Education are offered in various flexible learning modes. These may include units offered through on-campus (weekly or intensive block delivery classes) and off-campus modes. Some units may be offered on one or more campuses or in more than one mode.

Option 1

• an appropriate 12-point research core unit selected from the faculty suite of research methodology units
• any five elective units (60 points) which may be chosen to form a designated specialisation

Option 2

• an appropriate 12-point research core unit selected from the faculty suite of research methodology units
• any four elective units (totalling 48 points) which may be chosen to form a designated specialisation
• EDF6010/EDF6020 Professional project (A) or (B) (8000 words) (12 points)

Option 3

• an appropriate 12-point research core unit selected from the faculty suite of research methodology units
• any three elective units (36 points) which may be chosen to form a designated specialisation
• EDF6031 Masters thesis part 1, and EDF6032 Masters thesis part 2 (16,000 words) (24 points)

Elective units

Any 12-point units selected from the entire range of units offered within the education postgraduate coursework studies programs.

Note that electives usually do not need the course adviser's approval, unless there are exceptional circumstances (ie if the student wishes to enrol in a unit from another faculty). Students wishing to graduate with a specialisation noted on their testamur should enrol in the units listed for each specialisation below.

Research methodology units

• EDF6005 Reading, interpreting and communicating research (12 points)
• EDF6006 Introduction to quantitative research methods (12 points)
• EDF6007 Qualitative approaches to research (12 points)
• EDF6008 Working with theory in research (12 points)
• EDF6009 Special topic in research (12 points)
• EDF6012 Specific focus in research A (6 points)
• EDF6013 Specific focus in research B (6 points)

Research thesis

The research core unit is a corequisite for the research thesis. It may be taken concurrently with the research thesis or completed prior to the commencement of the research thesis.

Specialisation pathways

Students may choose to enrol in a series of units which make up a designated specialisation.* The units making up each specialisation are shown below. Some additional elective units may also be required, depending on the pathway chosen. Where students undertake a series of units that meet the requirements of an approved specialisation pathway, this specialisation will be shown on their testamur. Students must also enrol in an appropriate research methodology unit, and may additionally choose to undertake a Masters thesis or professional project. Students may only complete one specialisation pathway.

* Note: Students undertaking this course via Singapore can only do the'Early childhood' or 'Leadership, policy and change' specialisations as set out below. Students undertaking this course via Hong Kong can only do the 'Leadership, policy and change' specialisation as set out below.

Specialisation units

Bilingual/immersion education

(Available only on a cohort basis)

• EDF6201 Theory and principles of bilingual/immersion education
• EDF6202 Establishing, maintaining and evaluating an immersion program
• EDF6203 The classroom and the bilingual/ immersion teacher*
• EDF6228 Developing materials for content-based teaching in languages

* Only required for students completing Option 1

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Margaret Gearon

Early childhood (Clayton)

Select at least two units from:

• EDF6641 The social and political contexts of early childhood
• EDF6642 Contexts for childhood
• EDF6643 Values in early childhood education

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Mindy Blaise

Early childhood (Singapore)

Students must complete the following six core units:

• EDF6009 Special topic in research
• EDF6642 Contexts for childhood
• EDF6822 Leadership and organisation, or EDF6601 Studies in special education - inclusion
• EDF6643 Values in early childhood
• EDF6641 Social and political contexts of early childhood
• EDF6010 Professional project (A), or EDF6020 Professional project (B)

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Mindy Blaise

Gifted education

Select at least two units from:

• EDF6607 Gifted education; identification and programming
• EDF6610 The psychology of the gifted child
• EDF6613 Advanced studies in gifted education

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Leonie Kronborg

Inclusive and special education

• EDF6601 Studies in special education/ inclusion
• EDF6602 Evidence-informed inclusive and special education practice 1
• EDF6614 Inclusive and special education practice 2 (not compulsory for non-teachers in which case another elective may be chosen)

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Joanne Deppeler

Information and communication technology in education

• EDF6441 Issues in educational multimedia

Select two units from:

• EDF6442 The impact of computer technology on education and society
• EDF6444 Evaluation and development of educational software
• EDF6447 Explorations in flexible learning and instructional design

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Bernard Holkner

International education

• EDF6701 Globalisation and education
• EDF6702 Internationalising the curriculum
• EDF6703 International education markets

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Cynthia Joseph

Leadership, policy and change (Clayton)

• EDF6821 Power, authority and decision-making
• EDF6822 Leadership and organisation
• EDF6823 Management and change
• EDF6828 Resource management

Students undertaking Option 3 and intending to complete the masters thesis select only three of the above.

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Nicholas Allix

Leadership, policy and change (Singapore, Hong Kong)

Students must complete the following six core units:

• EDF6009 Special topic in research
• EDF6821 Power, authority and decision-making
• EDF6822 Leadership and organisation
• EDF6823 Management and change
• EDF6828 Resource management
• EDF6010 Professional project (A), or EDF6020 Professional project (B)
  

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Nicholas Allix

Literacy studies

• EDF6301 New literacy studies
  

Select one of:

• EDF6308 School and community literacy practices
  
• EDF6115 Communication practices and the use of new media
  

In addition EDF6236 (Language, society and cultural difference) is recommended but not compulsory.

Course/Pathway Adviser: Mr Graham Parr

Mathematics and science education

• EDF6401 Research on teaching and learning science and mathematics
  
• EDF6402 Research on science and mathematics curriculum
  

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Debbie Corrigan

Music education

Select at least two units from:

• EDF6322 Teaching music: policy and practice
  
• EDF6323 Learning music: current research issues
  
• EDF6324 European perspectives on music education
  

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Jane Southcott

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages - International/TESOL - International

Option 1

• EDF6236 Language, society and cultural difference
  
• EDF6233 Theory and practice of TESOL
  

plus one of:

• EDF6234 Curriculum design and evaluation in languages education
  
• EDF6201 Theory and principles of bilingual/immersion education
  
• EDF6210 Language testing and assessment
  

plus:

• EDF6232 Professional practice for teachers of English as a foreign language*, or
  any 12-point unit selected from the units offered within the education postgraduate coursework studies programs.

Option 2

• EDF6236 Language, society and cultural difference
  
• EDF6233 Theory and practice of TESOL
  

plus one of:

• EDF6232 Professional practice for teachers of English as a foreign language*
  
• EDF6234 Curriculum design and evaluation in languages education
  
• EDF6201 Theory and principles of bilingual/ immersion education
  
• EDF6210 Language testing and assessment
  

* Students with less than three years of approved relevant teaching experience must complete this unit.

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Jenny Miller and Dr Jill Brown

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/TESOL

• EDF6236 Language, society and cultural difference
  
• EDF6233 Theory and practice of TESOL
  
• EDF6238 Advanced practicum in language teaching: TESOL
  

Students undertaking Options 1 or 2 should also select one of:

• EDF6234 Curriculum design and evaluation in languages education
  
• EDF6210 Language testing and assessment
  
• EDF6201 Theory and principles of bilingual/immersion education
  

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Jenny Miller and Dr Jill Brown

Teaching Languages other than English/LOTE

(Available only on a cohort basis)

• EDF6223 LOTE methodology
  
• EDF6224 Advanced practicum in language teaching: LOTE *
  
• EDF6234 Curriculum design and evaluation in languages education
  

* EDF6224 is mandatory for those teachers wishing to be fully qualified for employment with the Department of Education and Training who have not already qualified to teach LOTE. Qualified LOTE teachers only may choose another masters unit relevant to their course as approved by course adviser.

Course/Pathway Adviser: Dr Jenny Miller and Dr Jill Brown

Work and learning studies

• EDF6801 Learning at work in the knowledge economy
  
• EDF6802 Adult education and training: Theories and practices
  
• EDF6810 Navigating education and work: Global perspectives, local practices
  

Course/Pathway Adviser: Mr Damon Anderson

Master of Education

Master of Education specialising in Bilingual / Immersion Education

Master of Education specialising in Early Childhood Education

Master of Education specialising in Gifted Education

Master of Education specialising in Inclusive and Special Education

Master of Education specialising in Information and Communication Technology in Education

Master of Education specialising in International Education

Master of Education specialising in Leadership, Policy and Change

Master of Education specialising in Literacy Studies

Master of Education specialising in Mathematics and Science Education

Master of Education specialising in Music Education

Master of Education specialising in TESOL

Master of Education specialising in TESOL - International

Master of Education specialising in Teaching Languages other than English (LOTE)

Master of Education specialising in Work and Learning Studies

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.