Course code: 2040 (Clayton, Gippsland and Peninsula), (formerly EREDDG Gippsland)
Contact: Dr Ilana Snyder (Clayton), Associate Professor Tony Taylor (Gippsland) or Dr Ros Smith (Peninsula)
The faculty offers a wide range of pathways to the Master of Education degree by coursework, either by direct enrolment at masters level or via postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas. Students may undertake a general course or concentrate on one of a number of specialisms. As a general rule, each consists of two compulsory core subjects and a combination of subjects chosen from a nominated list, subjects chosen from other pathways, subjects undertaken in other faculties, and project work.
Students who successfully complete the first two (core subjects) in a designated pathway qualify for a postgraduate certificate in education. Students who complete a further two subjects from the designated list qualify for a postgraduate diploma. In some courses where registration or employment requirements are involved, additional subjects may be specified.
The Master of Education (coursework) is designed primarily to meet the requirements of teachers, educators and educational administrators who wish to gain higher professional qualifications and expertise in education.
The objectives of the Master of Education course are to provide students with the knowledge and understanding to be able to:
Whilst the specific regulations governing the degree are set out elsewhere, in general terms to be eligible for admission applicants must hold either an approved three-year bachelor degree and an approved fourth year of study or an approved four-year bachelor degree or have qualifications or experience considered by the faculty board to be equivalent to, or a satisfactory substitute for, the above awards.
Applicants contemplating admission to this course may seek formal credit or recognition of prior learning. Applicants should apply for credit prior to enrolment but currently enrolled students may also apply. The Faculty of Education considers each application on its merits within the context of the faculty guidelines on credit transfer which are contained in a booklet `Learning from experience' available from the Professional Development Institute, Faculty of Education, Monash University, Gippsland campus, Churchill 3842 ($7 postage and packing).
To qualify for the award of the degree of Master of Education by coursework, students must complete either six subjects and a project (of approximately 20,000 words) or eight subjects. Students who intend to pursue a doctoral degree in the faculty must choose the project option.
Students who complete postgraduate certificates or postgraduate diplomas will be credited with two or four subjects respectively towards the masters degree.
Exemptions may be granted for a maximum of two subjects to applicants who have either completed or partially completed a postgraduate BEdSt or equivalent higher qualification in this or another university.
Students may undertake one of the designated pathways outlined below, in which case the specialism will be noted on their testamur or they may construct an individual program from the total range of subjects available. The proposed program should be discussed with the appropriate course adviser for approval at the time of applying for candidature. Classes in most subjects are held late afternoon and evening.
Subjects are available in the two areas of research methods and statistics. In research methods, the subject GED0801 is designed to introduce students to a range of research methods and to help students undertaking research projects to make informed choices about research strategies. The subjects GED0803, GED0805 and GED0806 are designed to provide specialised guidance for project and thesis candidates who are focusing on a research topic that will involve the relevant research method. While prior completion of GED0801 will provide valuable background for students in these subjects, it is not a prerequisite. Each subject is designed to be accessible to students without prior studies in research methods.
The subject GED0807 is also available. It is suitable for students without prior studies in statistics and is designed to provide sufficient statistical expertise to enable students to conduct and report most of the statistical analyses common in empirical research studies.
Students may pursue a general course consisting of any eight Master of Education subjects or six Master of Education subjects plus a project (as indicated above) or they may elect to follow one of the specialisms described below.
In addition to the subjects listed in the pathways, the following subjects are also available for Master of Education studies:
Most of these pathways may be taken either full-time or part-time and it is expected that full-time candidates will complete all requirements within two years whilst part-time candidates will complete within four years. The expected number of hours per week for a full-time student is forty-eight.
Students may undertake the degree by flexible learning modes. These include subjects taught over January in summer school, subjects available on different campuses, and subjects taken by distance education mode.
Details of all subjects, including reading lists, follow the course information in this handbook. By resolution of the faculty board, each subject of the degree is offered conditionally upon there being a sufficient demand for it from enrolling students in any given year and conditionally on appropriate staff being available. Students should consult the timetables available from one of the faculty offices.
A number of EdD subjects will be available to approved masters level students. A list of these subjects and all further information regarding this pathway may be obtained from one of the Faculty of Education's offices: the inquiry office, Clayton campus (telephone 9905 2899 or 9905 2784), the student matters officer, Gippsland campus (telephone (03) 51 22 6969 or (03) 9902 6969) or the administrative officer, Peninsula campus (telephone 9904 4291).