Description
The Diploma of Tertiary Studies is a pathway course to university study. If you have the drive and desire to study at university but you have experienced educational disadvantage, don't quite meet the requirements for entry into your preferred course at Monash University, are returning to study after some time away, or would benefit from additional learning support, the Diploma of Tertiary Studies can help you achieve your academic goals. The course will enhance your critical and analytical thinking, and oral and writing skills. It will provide you with the skills to be an independent learner and will also provide you with an introduction to tertiary studies in your area of interest.
When you apply for the Diploma of Tertiary Studies, you will select a stream from business, education or nursing. These streams provide a direct pathway into the second year of specified Monash degree courses.
You may also use your successful completion of the Diploma of Tertiary Studies as the basis for an application to other courses at Monash. All your study is at university level so if you progress to a bachelor's degree course you will be eligible to apply for credit for prior study. The amount of credit granted will be at the discretion of the relevant faculty and will not automatically allow for progression into the second year of your preferred course.
Business
In business you will be introduced to a range of core business disciplines and the impact they have on multi-discipline decision making in organisations spanning the business, professional and public policy communities.
Education
In education you will be introduced to studies about learning, learners and teaching and build a foundation for the skills and knowledge required to practise as a teacher/educator in a range of educational settings, from early years to secondary schools.
Nursing
In nursing you will be introduced to nursing and healthcare as a profession. You will study foundational knowledge in human bioscience, nursing and midwifery, health assessment and professional practice.
Mandatory checks and security clearances
Before participating in professional experience in any education (Police check, WWCC)(Police check, WWCC) (http://www.monash.edu/education/current-students/professional-experience/teacher-placements/clearances) or nursing (Police checkPolice check (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html), WWCCWWCC (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html), immunisationimmunisation (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/immunisation/)) setting, students must meet specific security clearances that apply to the state or territory where the placement is being undertaken.
Outcomes
These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 5 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 5 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).
Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that students will be able to:
- achieve success in their studies and proceed to a Monash University undergraduate degree course
- achieve first-year equivalent standard in an area of study in order to gain entry to a relevant degree course
- demonstrate the intellectual capabilities necessary for tertiary study and scholarship
- operate as a self-directed and independent tertiary learner through the development of positive learning habits including analytical, problem-solving, oral and writing skills.
Structure
This course consists of two parts: Part A. Foundation knowledge and Part B. Specialist discipline knowledge within the area of study corresponding to your chosen field.
Part A. Foundation knowledge
These units will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to be an independent learner who can succeed at university studies. You will develop enhanced writing and critical reading skills and learn how to produce essays and reports that present a critical argument and adhere to the conventions of academic presentation. You will also learn how to maximise lectures, tutorials and learning materials and understand the expectations of university studies.
If you do not have the mathematics prerequisites for your desired Monash course, you will have the opportunity to gain the required level of mathematics in the introductory units. If you already meet the mathematics prerequisites, you will take a unit in understanding knowledge and its contexts, which will help you to identify, compare and discuss different approaches to knowledge.
Part B. Specialist discipline knowledge
You will complete specialist discipline knowledge units taken from the course you are aiming for. These units will introduce you to the fundamentals of your chosen field of business, education or nursing and will ensure you have the knowledge and skills necessary to take the next step in your higher education studies.
Requirements
The course requires 48 credit points comprising Part A. Foundation knowledge (12 points) for successful tertiary study and Part B. Specialist discipline knowledge (36 points) in your chosen field of business, education or nursing.
The units required for each field are detailed below. The course progression mapcourse progression map (http://www.monash.edu.%20au/pubs/2018handbooks/maps/map-d0502.pdf) will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.
Students in the field of education must be available to undertake professional experience in early years or school settings and attend professional experience at times and in a format determined by the faculty.
Units are 6 credit points unless stated otherwise.
Part A. Foundation knowledge (12 points)
Students complete:
- EDF1010 Learning in a university context
and one of:
Part B. Specialist discipline knowledge (36 points)
Students complete the units listed in their chosen destination field.
Business
Business or business administration
Students complete:
and two units chosen in consultation with the Faculty of Business and Economics, such as:
Education
Early years education
Students complete:
- EDF1051 Early years professional experience 1A (0 pts)
- EDF1052 Early years professional experience 1B (0 pts)
- EDF1030 English and literacy learning
- EDF1031 Creative learning in childhood through music and the arts
- EDF1032 Thinking mathematically from an early age
- EDF1033 Education for environment and sustainability
- EDF1303 Understanding learning and learners
- EDF1304 Understanding teaching for learning
Early years and primary education
Students complete:
- EDF1051 Early years professional experience 1A (0 pts)
- EDF1052 Early years professional experience 1B (0 pts)
- EDF1030 English and literacy learning
- EDF1031 Creative learning in childhood through music and the arts
- EDF1032 Thinking mathematically from an early age
- EDF1033 Education for environment and sustainability
- EDF1303 Understanding learning and learners
- EDF1304 Understanding teaching for learning
Primary education
Students complete:
- EDF1053 Primary professional experience 1A (0 pts)
- EDF1054 Primary professional experience 1B (0 pts)
- EDF1028 Information and communication technologies across the curriculum
- EDF1029 Learners with special needs in the primary classroom
- EDF1303 Understanding learning and learners
- EDF1304 Understanding teaching for learning
and one of the following sequences:
Secondary health and physical education
Students complete:
- EDF1055 Secondary professional experience 1A (0 pts)
- EDF1056 Secondary professional experience 1B (0 pts)
- EDF1071 Introduction to health and physical education
- EDF1072 Contemporary issues in health and physical education
- EDF1171 Sociocultural foundations of health and physical education
- EDF1172 Biophysical and behavioural foundations of health and physical education
- EDF1303 Understanding learning and learners
- EDF1304 Understanding teaching for learning
Professional experience
Before participating in professional experience in any educational setting, students must:
For advice on professional experience intervention, support and unsatisfactory progress refer to the Professional experience intervention and support policyProfessional experience intervention and support policy (http://www.monash.edu/education/current-students/policies-and-procedures/professional-experience-intervention-and-support-policy).
Nursing
Students complete:
- NUR1013 Indigenous health for nursing and midwifery practice (0 pts)
- NUR1111 Global health and cultural competence in nursing and midwifery practice
- NUR1112 Fundamental skills and knowledge for nursing and midwifery practice 1 (12 pts)
- NUR1113 Law, ethics and leadership in nursing and midwifery
- NUR1114 Fundamental skills and knowledge for nursing and midwifery practice 2 (12 pts)
Special course requirements
Students must refer to the information available on the special requirements outlined below. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have the correct documentation.
Police checks
Students must have a current Police check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's Police checksPolice checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/police-checks.html) webpage.
Working with Children checks
Students must have a current Working with Children check regarding their suitability to undertake placements. Refer to the faculty's Working with Children checksWorking with Children checks (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/wwc-check.html) webpage.
Immunisation and infection requirements
In accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council recommendations, this course requires that students comply with the faculty's Immunisation and vaccination policy and proceduresImmunisation and vaccination policy and procedures (http://www.med.monash.edu.au/current/immunisation/). These are designed to provide maximum protection against the increased risk of some vaccine preventable diseases for students, patients and workers in a health care setting.
This policy, and the associated procedures require that students have certain specified vaccinations, and have their blood borne virus status determined, before they commence a clinical placement. Students who have not complied with this policy may not be able to undertake clinical placement, with the attendant academic consequences.
Prospective students are provided detailed information on the effect of blood borne virus infection on the scope of practice of health care workers. Students who test positive to a blood borne virus (including HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) will be required to consult a specialist medical practitioner approved by the faculty to provide advice on any necessary restrictions on work practices to protect patients and others from infection.
Drug Administration policy
Students should be aware of their legal responsibilities regarding the administration and storage of drugs in keeping with the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic) and the Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006 (Vic). The School of Nursing and Midwifery have formulated a policy and students should be aware of the drug administration policy relevant to your particular year of study. Refer to the faculty's clinical guidelines webpage.
Fieldwork
This course requires students to undertake off-campus rural and metropolitan clinical placements. In the clinical setting you will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit. Where your skill or knowledge is found to be inadequate, access to the clinical component of the unit will be denied. You may be withdrawn from a clinical practicum if required skills and knowledge are deemed inadequate, or on other grounds deemed appropriate by the head of school.
Clinical expenses
Students are responsible for all travel and accommodation expenses during clinical placement. Uniforms and accessories are required for clinical placements and you will be notified regarding purchase arrangements upon commencement.
Progression to further studies
This diploma leads to the destination degree courses listed below. To be eligible to apply for an internal course transfer to gain direct admission into the second year of a destination course, you must:
- pass each unit in the diploma on the first (and only) attempt; and
- achieve the average mark required for the destination course.
If you do not meet this requirement you are encouraged to apply for admission through VTAC. Should you gain successful admission through VTAC you will receive credit towards the degree for the units you have passed in the diploma.
Business
- B2000 Bachelor of Business
B2007 Bachelor of Business Administration
Education
- D3001 Bachelor of Education (Honours)
Specialisations:
- Early years education
- Early years and primary education
- Primary education
- Secondary health and physical education
Students are required to achieve the standard in the CASPer testCASPer test (https://takecasper.com/) prior to gaining admission to the Bachelor of Education (Honours). Once enrolled in the BEd(Hons), students will be required to achieve the standard in the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students. See D3001 Bachelor of Education (Honours) for more information.
Nursing
- M2006 Bachelor of Nursing
The Diploma of Tertiary Studies course can also provide a pathway into other Monash degree courses that are not destination degrees. You can apply for other courses through VTAC and you will need to make sure that you have met the prerequisites for those courses.
