Master of Education

• Important information
• The course
• Objectives
• Research areas
  • Clayton campus
  • Gippsland campus
  • Peninsula campus
• Applications

Important information

Clayton, Gippsland and Peninsula campuses

Course code: 0077 (Clayton and Peninsula), EREDDG (Gippsland)

Contact: Dr Robin Small (Clayton), Dr Graham Dettrick (Gippsland) and Dr Ros Smith (course leader, Peninsula)

The course

The Master of Education (MEd) is a research degree and candidates are required to carry out an independent study which is reported in a thesis. Applicants must have demonstrated in earlier courses of study that they have the ability and persistence necessary to carry out independent research. In general, applicants may be admitted if they have completed the BEdSt degree or the BEd degree with creditable results or have an honours degree in a field that is an appropriate preparation for the proposed area of research; preference is given to applicants with some qualifications in education. Applicants whose qualifications do not meet these criteria may be admitted to preliminary candidature (which normally involves enrolling for several subjects and demonstrating competence to pursue research work). Further details are given in the MEd regulations. Prospective applicants should obtain a copy of `Research degrees in education: Resource booklet' from the inquiry office, School of Graduate Studies, at the Clayton campus (telephone 9905 2819), the administrative officer, Peninsula School of Education (telephone 9904 4291), or the student administration office, Gippsland School of Education (telephone 051 22 6375 or (03) 9902 6375).

Objectives

The objectives of the MEd course are to:

• give candidates who have excellent research potential, but who may lack the academic grounding in research methodology, the opportunity to enter the MEd via MEd (Preliminary) candidature. Candidates are permitted to progress to the MEd upon completion of appropriate masters level coursework subjects with distinguished results (eg, HD or D);
• enable candidates to pursue independent and original research with the assistance of a member of the academic staff of the faculty who has proven expertise in the area of study;
• assist candidates in the production of a thesis which demonstrates their ability to carry out, critically appraise or apply research in the field concerned and shows independence of thought;
• develop an awareness of a research ethos with the wider objective of encouraging publications, conference papers and continued research interest in the chosen field;
• inspire and motivate candidates to move on to conducting ground-breaking research at doctoral level.

Research areas

Clayton campus

Research areas within the School of Graduate Studies, Clayton campus, include:

• learning and instruction, psychological assessment and remedial strategies, developmental psychology, behaviour and its modification;
• economics and education and training, sociology of education, educational policy and administration, Asian studies, adult and vocational education and training;
• philosophical studies, historical studies, English language, literacy and literature, second language education, education and the law;
• curriculum and teaching, measurement and evaluation in education, science and environmental education, mathematics and technology education, computing and educational technology.

Gippsland campus

Areas of current research available from the Gippsland School of Education include transition from primary to secondary schooling; health and education issues; literacy; writing process and genres; evaluation of reading recovery; information technology; gender issues; history of education; music education history; learner-managed learning; capability; educational psychology areas; teaching philosophy in schools; Koori education, gifted and talented education; school librarianship; research on teaching and teacher education; school-based teacher education; supervision of the practicum; science education; convergence of education and technology; and industry-education partnerships.

Peninsula campus

Research areas within the Peninsula School of Education include:

• curriculum studies - development and evaluation in such areas as art, social studies, human movement and recreation, and environmental studies;
• educational studies - in such areas as schools and community, teacher-pupil interaction, special assistance, educational management, history of education, school development, school effectiveness and school improvement.

Applications

Applications for admission to MEd candidature may be lodged at any time of the year. A preliminary discussion with the appropriate campus adviser before making formal application is highly desirable.

In all cases, admission depends on the availability of a member of staff for supervision of the applicant's approved thesis topic. Candidates who are intending to carry out an empirical research project for the degree should complete a relevant research methodology subject - unless given credit for equivalent studies, or otherwise exempted by the faculty's research degrees committee.

Published by Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168 Copyright © Monash University 1996 - All Rights Reserved - Caution Authorised by the Academic Registrar December 1996