Postgraduate - Course4215 - Master in Early Childhood Education

This course enables early childhood educators, leaders, policy makers and others to advance their studies in young children's learning. It builds professionals' knowledge and skills to position them as leaders within the early childhood sector. The course addresses the needs and demands emerging in global economies to build the capacity of professionals in the early childhood sector so they can respond to complex issues relating to children, their families and communities and initiate inclusive teaching and learning practices among young children.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html).

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• examine relationships between children, families and communities in global contexts
• consider the nature of work and leadership in early childhood contexts
• investigate approaches to develop and assess literacy and numeracy within early childhood education
• apply inclusive teaching and learning approaches to an early childhood context
• develop critical analytical skills in discussing relevant research and academic concepts
• demonstrate capacity in synthesising and communicating ideas at an advanced academic level.

Students who have completed prior studies may be eligible for credit for prior studiescredit for prior studies (http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/prospective/credit.html). Students with two or more years of full-time relevant informal learning may be eligible for recognition of prior learningrecognition of prior learning (http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/prospective/credit.html).

This course includes an independent research dimension requiring the knowledge and application of research principles and practices applicable to a field of professional work or learning; or a capstone experience comprising professional experience and scholarship in a specific area of professional practice.

This course consists of orientation units, a key constructs unit, enhanced professional learning units, and professional inquiry or research units.

Students must complete:

(a.) two core orientation education units (24 points):

• EDF4610 Interacting with research in education contexts
• EDF4611 Investigating education issues in global contexts

(b.) one or two of the following key constructs units (12 or 24 points):

• EDF5620 Leading education and work
• EDF5621 Challenging curriculum, pedagogy and assessment

(c.) three enhanced professional learning units (36 points):

• EDF5904 Children, families, communities
• EDF5905 Early years literacy and numeracy
• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities or a level 5 elective chosen from a rotational listrotational list (http://www.education.monash.edu.au/units/postgrad-unit-rotations.html)

(d.) professional inquiry units through one of the following options (12 or 24 points):

Option 1:

One or two of the following professional inquiry units, depending on how many units are completed at (b.):

• EDF5691 Professional project
• EDF5693 Using and evaluating research evidence
• EDF5694 Taking a stand in education debates
• EDF5695 Self-study as professional inquiry
• EDF5814 Creative research approaches

Option 2:

A possible pathway to research is available to students who achieve a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent in the units of this course. The pathway is by invitation to students who meet this criterion and is not offered at the point of entry. However, students interested in this possibility must make space to pursue two units of professional inquiry by taking only one key constructs unit in (b.) above. Students invited into this pathway take the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education
• EDF5614 Research project in education

Refer to the course mapcourse map (http://monash.edu/education/current-students/courses/maps/2014/2014-map-4215-mece-ft%20and%20pt.pdf) for course progression advice.

Students may exit this course early and apply to graduate with the following, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award:

• Graduate Diploma in Education Studies after successful completion of 48 points of study.

Master in Early Childhood Education