Master of Education

The Master of Education is an introductory higher degree for teachers and educators wishing to pursue advanced studies in their area of interest.

Entry Requirements

The degree of Master of Education (MEd) in the Faculty of Education shall be subject to the University's rules for the award of the degree of Master together with the following guidelines:

1. To qualify for admission as a candidate for the Master of Education, a student shall have qualified for a Bachelors degree of the University, or an equivalent qualification from an approved institution, with a major study in Education, provided that the degree or equivalent qualification has a minimum study duration of four years. Other qualifications or substantial professional experience may be considered as meeting these requirements and should be discussed with the Director - Graduate Teaching. Candidates with a three-year qualification in Education completed at Distinction level may be considered for admission to the MEd program.
2. Candidates who do not meet this requirement may be considered for admission to an extended (72 credit point) Med program.
3. A candidate may not include in this degree program any subject which the candidate has previously taken and had credited towards a qualification accepted for admission under Section 1 of these requirements.

Requirements for the Degree Program

The MEd program will normally comprise 48cp of study, chosen as follows...

1. EDGZ921 Introduction to Research and Inquiry (6 credit points); and
2. at least 24 credit points from a single Program (major study). The core of subjects to be covered to complete a major study will vary from Program to Program, and
3. up to 18 credit points of electives chosen from any Program. The amount of choice available will vary from Program to Program. Students wishing to proceed directly to MEd (Research) or Doctoral programs should include Advanced Research Methodolgy and project subjects in their Program, chosen in consultation with their Teaching Program coordinator.

Specialisations on Testamur

A candidate may be eligible to include a specialisation on the final degree testamur. (eg MEd specialising in Information Technology or MEd specialising in Special Education). In order to qualify for a specialisation to be recorded on the degree testamur, a candidate must complete at least thirty credit points from the chosen Program area. Joint specialisations will not be recorded.

Progression to Higher Degrees:

Entry to Doctoral degrees (EdD or PhD) may be available to candidates who meet the University entry requirements for Doctoral candidature. Normally this would be an appropriate Masters degree, completed at credit (65%) level or better.

Suggested progression patterns

The Master of Education degree will normally be completed in two sessions of full-time study, or in four to six sessions of part-time study. Maximum length of candidature is eight sessions of part-time study.

A part-time student will complete up to two subjects each session. The sequence of study in the specialisation will be determined by the subjects on offer in each year and by the pattern of pre- and co-requisites in each Program. Any alternative patterns of study must be discussed with both the Program Co-ordinator and the Director - Graduate Teaching.

Note: EDGZ921 EDGZ921 Introduction to Research and Inquiry is a single session subject which is repeated in Autumn and Spring session. It is also available as a self-study on-line program in Autumn session and in face to face mode in Spring session. Students have the choice of session in which to complete it, but should consider the advice of the Program Co-ordinator for their major. It is a compulsory component of the Master of Education program and must be completed as one of the first four subjects studied.

Course of study

It should be noted that not all the following subjects will necessarily be offered in 2003. Final arrangements will depend upon student numbers and staff resources. Prospective students are strongly recommended to discuss their program of study with the Co-ordinator responsible for the Program in which they are interested or the Director - Graduate Teaching. All MEd students are required to include EDGZ921 Introduction to Research and Inquiry in their program. Additional specific requirements for program majors are listed below.

Suggested Progression

Note this is a suggestion only, and individual student requirements should be discussed with the academic adviser for the major study.
Actual subject choice will depend on timetable constraints.

Session One
Part time: 6 or 8 credit points in major study area
(optional) 6 or 8 credit points in major study area
Full-time: all above plus EDGZ921 Introduction to Research Methods and Inquiry (6cp)

Session Two
Part time: 6 or 8 credit points in major study area
(optional) EDGZ921 Introduction to Research and Inquiry (6cp)
Full-time: 6 or 8 credit points in major study area + 12/16 credit points electives to complete program.

Session Three
Part time: 6 or 8 credit points in major study area
(optional) 6/8cp elective subject

Session Four
Part time: EDGZ921 Introduction to Research and Inquiry ( 6cp), if not done earlier, or remaining 6/8 credit point subject

Session Five/Six
Part time: Remaining coursework requirements
Major studies are available in the areas of:

Program: Adult Education & Training

* Compulsory subjects for students wishing to complete a major in Adult Education and Training. Students should discuss their proposed course of study with the Program Co-ordinator, Professor John Hedberg.

Program: Educational Leadership

*Core subjects in Educational Leadership

Students should discuss their proposed course of study with the Program Co-ordinator Professor Terry Burke.

Subjects in Educational Leadership are delivered using on line technologies.

Program: Information Technology in Education and Training

^* Compulsory subjects for students wishing to complete a major specialisation in Information Technology in Education and Training.

Subjects in Information Technology in Education and Training are delivered using on line technologies.

The choice of additional subjects will depend on the background of the students. Specialist subjects are available for students who already have a background in the area, and professional subjects available for students with an interest, but little background, in the area. Students should discuss their proposed course of study with the Program Co-ordinator, Dr Sue Bennett.

Program: Literacy Education

^* Compulsory subjects for students wishing to complete a major specialisation in Literacy.

Students should discuss their proposed course of study with the Program Co-ordinator, Dr Jan Turbill.

Program: Special Education

* Compulsory subject for specialisation in Special Education.

Students should discuss their proposed course of study with the Program Co-ordinator, Dr Deslea Konza, as teaching accreditation requirements in the Special Education and Gifted and Talented Education areas will depend on subject choice. Subjects in Special Education and Gifted and Talented Education are available in on campus programs only. They are delivered using face to face workshops and seminars.

Program: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

* Compulsory subject for students wishing to complete a specialisation in TESOL.

The recommended sequence is
EDGA976 Text and Context
EDGA984 Language and Learning in TESOL
followed by subjects chosen from the remainder of the TESOL program.

Students should discuss their proposed course of study with the Program Co-ordinator, Associate Professor Bev Derewianka as teaching accreditation requirements in the TESOL area will depend on subject choice.

The Master of Education majoring in TESOL is also available as a fee-paying, distance education course using print based subject packages . Contact the Program Co-ordinator for more details.

Elective Subjects

These subjects do not form a specialisation, but may be available to students from any specialisation as elective subjects to complement the major area of study.

Research Methodology and Project Subjects

Subjects in this group do not constitute a separate area of specialisation, but provide the various methodology and project subjects which are required for completion of the MEd and higher degrees as explained above in the section Patterns of Study.

Program: Physical & Health Education

The MEd (Physical & Health Education) is offered in conjunction with Charles Sturt University. The degree consists of six core subjects (3 offered by the University of Wollongong and 3 offered by Charles Sturt University) plus two electives chosen from those offered in the specialisations of Educational Leadership, Physical and Health Education, Special Education, Information Technology or those offered by Charles Sturt University in Exercise Science, Journalism, Events Management and Tourism. This program is a fee paying program offered by distance. Students should discuss their proposed program of study with with the Program Coordinator - Dr Tonia Gray.

Core Subjects

Elective Subjects

Advanced Standing

The Faculty of Education has approved up to 8 credit points of Advanced Standing in the Master of Education to currently enrolled candidates who have completed any of the following Department of School Education, AMES and other accredited professional development courses:

• Adult Literacy Teaching: A Professional Development course, or
• Cambridge/RSA Certificate in English Language Teaching, or
• Certificate in Religious Education, or
• Certificate in School Leadership and Management, or
• Certificate of Special Education (Integration)*, or
• Certificate of Faculty Administration*, or
• Collaborative Learning and Reflective Practice*, or
• Computing Studies Intensive Methodology course (CSIM), or
• Design and Technology Training Agents (Completion of this course with the Tertiary Extension Lobe will allow candidates 8 credit points of Advanced Standing in the Curriculum major plus 8 credit points Advanced Standing for an elective subject), or
• Diploma in TESOL (UNSW/WELC), or
• Educative Leadership, or
• ESL Basic Training K-12, or
• Faculty Leadership for Effective change (FLEC), or
• Frameworks: A Literacy and Learning course*, or
• Frameworks: Assessment and Evaluation Module *, or
• Interactive Multimedia Workshop (Univ. Wollongong)*, or
• Introduction to Functional Grammar (NSW AMES), or
• Learning Assistance Support Team (LAST), or
• LOTE Intensive Methodology (LIM), or
• Supervision for Effective Teaching (SET), or
• Team Leadership course (TLC)* formerly FLEC.

* Accreditation of these courses requires completion of an extended assessment lobe. See relevant Program Co-ordinator for details.

Major study requirements must still be met by the candidate, ie, normally this credit cannot be substituted for a compulsory subject within a program, or form part of a major study within a program. Candidates may claim a maximum of eight credit points of Advanced Standing on this basis in one program of study.