Monash University Handbook 2010

About the faculty - Faculty of Education

Introduction

The Faculty of Education is committed to innovative research and teaching that takes seriously the global/local interface of all the activities of a public university. The focus of our work is learning and development - the learning and development of individuals of all ages, and of organisations and communities.

Our mission is to contribute to the public interest through high-quality and ethical teaching, research and community service. To this end, we will create and pursue opportunities that strengthen and sustain a vibrant intellectual community.

Our vision is of:

• graduates who are capable, ethical citizens of the world, distinguished by their knowledge, intellectual engagement and professional skill, and their innovation and flexibility
• research practice and scholarly output that is recognised locally and internationally for its originality, rigour and impartiality, and for providing advice and services that inform and lead professional practice, public debate and policy, and community action
• an intellectual, social, physical and web environment that challenges, enthuses and supports all to learn and excel and which sustains productive working relations characterised by parity of respect, contribution and recognition.

The Faculty of Education is located on three Australian campuses - Clayton, Peninsula and Gippsland - and also teaches in Singapore and Hong Kong attracting students from throughout Australia and from more than 50 countries.

Courses

The Faculty of Education's graduate/post graduate programs are designed to develop effective, innovative and sensitive professionals who support the learning and development of a diverse range of individuals, organisations and communities.

The faculty offers coursework programs covering the following areas:

Curriculum and pedagogy

• initial teacher education (early childhood, primary, secondary and adult)
• information and communication technology in education
• literacy studies
• mathematics and science education
• music education

International education, language and cultural studies

• applied linguistics
• bilingual/immersion education
• international education
• teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL)
• teaching English to speakers of other languages - international (TESOL - international)
• teaching languages other than English (LOTE)

Psychology, counselling and inclusive and special/gifted education

• counselling
• gifted education
• inclusive and special education
• psychology

Sport and outdoor recreation studies

Work, learning and leadership studies

• leadership, policy and change
• mentoring and coaching
• organisational leadership
• regional and community development
• school leadership
• work and learning studies

Research

The Faculty offers research degree programs grouped around the following centre and research strengths:

• Centre for Educational Multimedia
• furthering early childhood research and learning
• globalisation, education and social inclusion
• inclusive mathematics education
• language, literacy and social inclusion
• movement, environment and community
• pedagogy and professional learning
• professional practice and ethics in education
• psychology of teachers and students
• science education
• space, place and body
• work: learning across boundaries.

Research degrees

The faculty research program offers the Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Education (Research) and the combined coursework/research programs Master of Psychology (Counselling)/Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)/Doctor of Philosophy.

Master of Education (Research) program

The Master of Education (Research) course is offered in two forms:

• thesis only - 60,000 words (maximum)
• thesis - 40,000 words (maximum) - and two coursework units.

The study program is designed to enable candidates to conceptualise and implement a major research project on a topic of interest to them. In the course of their research, they may draw on a range of research methodologies, both qualitative and quantitative. The research can be firmly grounded in their own professional life, taking the form of a sustained reflection on practice, or they could embark on another type of study, including ethnographic or sociological research, a survey-based study, policy analysis, historical research, or discourse analysis. Candidates work with a supervisor to help them clarify the nature and scope of their research proposal. By embarking on research of this kind, they will be joining a research community and will have the opportunity to participate in staff and student forums and conferences. The coursework component of the degree (for those who decide to do a thesis and two coursework units) is designed to underpin research, and supervisors help choose units that are relevant to the chosen topic.

External candidature

Candidature by external mode is available and can be on a full-time or part-time basis. For further information, contact the administrative officer, Research Degrees, telephone +61 3 9905 2821 or +61 3 9905 9498, email researchdegrees@education.monash.edu.au or visit http://www.education.monash.edu.au.

Graduate and postgraduate programs

Graduate studies

Initial teacher education

Pre-service education of teachers is available at both undergraduate and graduate levels, offering qualifications in early childhood, primary, secondary and adult teaching. At the graduate level, the faculty offers graduate diplomas of education*, building upon a three-year non-education degree.

* Most Australian states and territories (including Victoria) recognise a Graduate Diploma of Education, which builds upon a three-year, non-education degree as providing a four-year teacher education qualification. Registration boards and employing authorities across the world may, similarly, have particular local requirements. Students wishing to teach at a specific location or setting outside Victoria are urged to check that a one-year graduate diploma together with an undergraduate degree is recognised.

Early childhood

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood) is offered on the Peninsula campus. This course is designed as a fourth year of study (48 credit points) for those who hold a bachelors degree, generally in a field other than education, and provides a qualification to teach in the early childhood years. It also prepares students to work in preschools, childcare centres, mobile kindergartens and family day care centres and in hospitals as play specialists.

Primary teaching

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) is offered on the Peninsula and Gippsland campuses. This course is designed as a fourth year of study (60 credit points) for those who hold a bachelors degree, generally in a field other than education, and provides a qualification to teach in the primary years.

Secondary teaching

The Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) is offered from the Clayton (full-time and part-time) and Gippsland (full-time and part-time) campuses. The course is designed as a fourth year of study (60 credit points) for those who hold a bachelors degree, in a field other than education, and provides a qualification to teach in the secondary years.

Adult learning*

The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education provides a teaching qualification for staff currently employed at Monash University or at another tertiary institution or for those preparing for a career in higher education. It is offered through the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT).

* For postgraduate students, the work and learning studies specialisms offered within the Master of Education on the Clayton campus focus on adult learning. It is designed to further knowledge of theory and practice in adult learning and development for education and training professionals working in TAFE, workplace and community settings.

Professional development

The Faculty of Education offers a range of other graduate level courses. These provide professional development opportunities for educators to upgrade their skills and qualifications and to use these studies as a pathway for entry into postgraduate studies.

Postgraduate studies

The faculty offers a wide range of postgraduate programs which may be taken either as coursework or research degree programs.

Notes

The course structures outlined in this handbook are indicative of the program students will follow, but are subject to change. Students should consult the course adviser to assist in planning their program. To confirm unit availability, check the current timetable via the website at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/current/timetables.

Note that not all graduate and post graduate programs will be offered in any one year. Contact the relevant faculty office on the campus responsible for the program, from September onwards, for advice on which courses will have an intake in the following year. Check the current timetable for unit availability via the website at http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/current/timetables after 30 September.

Credit for prior studies and recognition of prior learning

Credit may be granted for studies already completed at Monash University or at another tertiary institution, including overseas universities, or on the basis of recognition of prior learning (RPL). An application for RPL must be accompanied by an RPL portfolio. Applicants should apply for credit prior to enrolment, but currently enrolled students can also apply.

International students must apply for credit and/or RPL prior to enrolment.

The Faculty of Education considers each application on its merit within the context of the faculty and university guidelines on credit transfer. For further information, contact the admissions and student services office, Faculty of Education, Monash University, on the relevant campus.

Special requirements (Working With Children Check)

Some courses offered by the Faculty of Education require students to obtain a Working with Children Check. All education students undertaking fieldwork practicum in government, catholic and independent schools will be required to complete a Working with Children Check (WWCC). The Victorian Department of Education and Training requires all student teachers to hold a current WWCC Card before being allowed to undertake practicum in schools in Victoria. WWCC Cards (administered by the Victorian Department of Justice) are obtained by the student as part of the enrolment process. They are valid for five years. Students are required to apply for a volunteer WWCC through a participating Australia Post outlet* and provide proof to the faculty that the WWCC has been undertaken. Further details will be available at enrolment/re-enrolment. A copy of the WWCC will be held on each student's file, but it is the student's responsibility to ensure their check is valid at all times throughout their enrolment and to provide the card upon request at the placement school. All off-campus and interstate students are required to provide a WWCC (or equivalent) issued from and as required by the state/territory in which their professional experience is to be undertaken.

* Details of Australia Post outlets can be found on the Australia Post website at www.auspost.com.au/. Further details about the WWCC can be found on the Department of Justice website at www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren

Student advisers

All students in the faculty are encouraged to see their tutors or lecturers about any academic problems they may have. For routine inquiries, students should initially contact the student services office on their campus.

Coursework programs

Clayton

Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary)

• Telephone: +61 3 9905 2881

Postgraduate coursework studies

• Telephone: +61 3 9905 8646

Psychology studies

• Telephone: +61 3 9905 2877

Gippsland

• Telephone: +61 3 9902 6367

Peninsula

• Telephone: +61 3 9904 4291

Research programs

General inquiries

For general advice regarding research degrees offered by the faculty, telephone: +61 3 9905 2821 or +61 3 9905 9498

Contact information is also available on the faculty website at http://www.education.monash.edu.au.