Postgraduate - CourseMaster of Education

This course addresses the professional learning needs of educators, educational administrators, managers, policy makers and others interested or involved in learning and education or educational work in the wider community, who may be based either locally or internationally. The course offers a generalist stream and specialisations which indicate a particular area of focus associated with various learning concepts and contexts. The course builds students' learning through broadening their knowledge of key constructs related to learning concepts and contexts, deepening their professional learning in specialist areas and advancing their capacity as professional inquirers.

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

Student learning is sequenced from broad to deep across four tiers:

(1.) Orientation to education: introduces contemporary issues in the study of education to those who come into the course without previous qualifications in education or work experience in education-related fields.

(2.) Key constructs in education: presents key theoretical frames to understand ideas and research conducted across a broad theme.

(3.) Enhanced professional learning: deepens knowledge of particular ideas, specialist areas and practices.

(4.) Professional inquiry: extends scholarly work through systematic inquiry into public intellectual debate and educational issues.

Specialisations

Students can complete this course as a generalist degree by meeting the requirements outlined under General education studiesGeneral education studies (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/general-education-studies/), or complete one of the following specialisations:

• Adult learningAdult learning (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/adult-learning/)
• Digital learningDigital learning (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/digital-learning/)
• Early childhood educationEarly childhood education (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/early-childhood-education/)
• Educational leadership and policyEducational leadership and policy (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/educational-leadership-and-policy/)
• Expert teaching practiceExpert teaching practice (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/expert-teaching-practice/)
• Inclusive and special educationInclusive and special education (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2015handbooks/aos/inclusive-and-special-education/)

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://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

(1.) develop their knowledge and understanding of educational contexts and their issues, values and practices

(2.) extend their understanding of key concepts relating to education

(3.) examine areas of enhanced professional learning and develop a deeper understanding of professional practice

(4.) develop critical analytical skills in discussing relevant research and academic concepts

(5.) apply research processes to areas of professional interest and practice

(6.) synthesise and communicate ideas at an advanced academic level

(7.) demonstrate advanced capacity as knowledgeable, evidence-informed and reflective practitioners.

Students who have completed previous postgraduate study may be eligible for credit up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the course. Block credit up to a maximum of 24 credit points is available for a bachelor's degree qualification (or equivalent) in a related discipline and a further 24 credit points are available for an honours degree qualification in a related discipline. Students with two or more years of full-time relevant informal learning may be eligible for recognition of prior learningrecognition of prior learning (http://monash.edu.au/education/future-students/apply/credit/).

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

Students complete one of the following structures as determined by any credit granted on the basis of their admission qualifications:

• Structure 1: 96 points over two years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 2: 72 points over one and a half years full-time, or part-time equivalent
• Structure 3: 48 points over one year full-time, or part-time equivalent.

Note: Students eligible for credit may elect not to receive it and complete one of the higher credit-point options if they choose.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Structure 1 - 96 credit points

Students must complete:

(A.) two orientation units (24 points):

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

(B.) two of the following key constructs units (24 points):

• EDF5620 Leading education and work
• EDF5621 Challenging curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
• EDF5622 Developing learners and learning
• EDF5623 Deepening education and sustainability

(C.) two or three enhanced professional learning units to satisfy the requirements for general education studies or one of the specialisations listed above (24 or 36 points)

(D.) one or two professional inquiry or research units, depending on how many units are completed at (C.) (12 or 24 points):

Professional inquiry

(1.) Students in the Inclusive and special education specialisation complete:

• EDF5692 Professional practice in special and inclusive education
• EDF5699 Extended teaching practice (0 points)

and if required to make up the total points required, one of the units from (2.) below.

(2.) Students in all other specialisations complete:

• 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

Research

(3.) An alternative research pathway is offered* to students who achieve a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent (high credit) in the units of this course. This is not available at the point of entry, however students interested in this possibility must make space to pursue two units of professional inquiry by taking only two enhanced professional learning units in (C.) above. Students invited into this pathway take the following two units:

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

* This pathway is not available in the Inclusive and special education specialisation.

Structure 2 - 72 credit points

Students must complete six units from the requirements listed in Structure 1 above, comprised as follows:

• one or two units from (B.) (12 or 24 points)
• two or three units from (C.) (24 or 36 points)
• one or two units from (D.) (12 or 24 points)

Structure 3 - 48 credit points

Students must complete four units from the requirements listed in Structure 1 above, comprised as follows:

• one unit from (B.) (12 points)
• two units from (C.) (24 points)
• one unit from (D.) (12 points)

Note: Students who achieve a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent (high credit) in their first two units and are interested in a research pathway should contact the student adviser to discuss options.

Course progression

Refer to the course mapscourse maps (http://monash.edu/education/current-students/courses/maps/2015/) for guidance on how to plan your unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Master of Education

Students who have completed the following two units with a minimum mark of 65 per cent (high credit) in each unit are eligible to apply for 0077 Master of Education which is a research degree by thesis. Students choosing 3204 Master of Education, a research degree by thesis and coursework, may receive credit for 24 points towards the following coursework units:

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

Doctor of Philosophy

Students may be eligible for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) if they meet Monash University Institute of Graduate ResearchMonash University Institute of Graduate Research (http://www.monash.edu.au/migr/) eligibility requirements of a weighted average mark of 70 per cent (distinction) for all units, and have achieved a minimum mark of 70 per cent (distinction) in each of the following two units:

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

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

• Graduate Certificate of Education Studies after successful completion of 24 points of study at level 4 and above
• Graduate Diploma of Education Studies after successful completion of 48 points of study at level 4 and above.

Master of Education
Master of Education in Adult Learning
Master of Education in Digital Learning
Master of Education in Early Childhood Education
Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy
Master of Education in Expert Teaching Practice
Master of Education in Inclusive and Special Education

The actual award conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved, or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.