Special Education - EDSTBS8910
Stream Summary
Faculty: ARTSC - Faculty of Arts&Social Science
School: School of Education
Contact: Dr Kerry Barnett
Program: 8910 - Education
Award(s):
Master of Education (Specialisation)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
A specialist program designed to address the increasing demands for knowledge and skills in teaching children and adults with special needs. The program covers a wide range of topics, e.g. autism spectrum disorders, emotional and behavioural disabilities, communication disorders, intellectual disabilities, learning assistance, assistive technology as well as inclusive education. A teaching practicum is essential part of the program.The Master of Education in Special Education is designed both for teachers in mainstream schools who wish to facilitate inclusion of students with disabilities, as well as for those who want to work as special educators in specialised settings.
Graduate Attributes
At the end of the stream, students should have acquired all of the following graduate attributes:
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the field of education as it relates to their specialist area of study, and the ability to synthesize and apply disciplinary principles and practices to new or complex environments.
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of research-based learning and the ability to plan, analyse, present implement and evaluate complex activities that contribute to advanced professional practice and/or intellectual scholarship in education.
- Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Communicate effectively to a range of audiences, and be capable of independent and collaborative enquiry and team-based leadership.
- Demonstrate an understanding of international perspectives relevant to the educational field.
- Demonstrate an advanced capacity to recognise and negotiate the complex and often contested values and ethical practices that underlie education.
Stream Structure
The program consists of eight courses (48 units of credit) and includes either EDST5888 Project (6 UOC) or EDST5118 Professional Practice in Special Education (6 UOC) as a capstone course.
Students can choose a particular sequence of courses. In Strand 1 (See below) students undertake eight core courses, including 25 days of supervised professional practice in a special school or mainstream school with special needs classes. This strand is for students who want an accredited qualification in special education.
OR
In Strand 2 (See below) students undertake four core courses, research methods and a project, plus two electives. This is for students that already have an existing accredited qualification in Special Education and want to update and/or extend their professional learning, with the option of going on to higher degree studies.
Strand 1: For those qualified teachers who need an accredited specialist qualification in Special Education, and have no prior studies in Special Education.
Seven core special education courses with a particular focus on teaching in schools.
- EDST5106 Behaviour Management (6 UOC)
- EDST5107 High Incidence Disabilities (6 UOC)
- EDST5111 Intellectual Disabilities (6 UOC)
- EDST5113 Students with ASD (6 UOC)
- EDST5128 Communication Disorders (6 UOC)
- EDST5129 Transitions (6 UOC)
- EDST5138 Inclusive Education (6 UOC)
AND
One capstone special education course:
One capstone special education course:
- EDST5118 Prof Practice SpEd (6 UOC)
Strand 2: For those qualified teachers who want to update and/or extend their professional learning, with the option of going on to higher degree studies.
Four courses from the following list of specialist education courses
- EDST5106 Behaviour Management (6 UOC)
- EDST5107 High Incidence Disabilities (6 UOC)
- EDST5111 Intellectual Disabilities (6 UOC)
- EDST5113 Students with ASD (6 UOC)
- EDST5128 Communication Disorders (6 UOC)
- EDST5129 Transitions (6 UOC)
- EDST5138 Inclusive Education (6 UOC)
AND
One research methodology course from the following list
One research methodology course from the following list
- EDST5032 Ethnographic Methodology (6 UOC)
- EDST5101 Experimental Research Design (6 UOC)
- EDST5103 Survey Research (6 UOC)
- EDST5120 Qualitative Research (6 UOC)
- EDST5448 Classroom-based Research (6 UOC)
- EDST5458 Researching Education (6 UOC)
AND
- EDST5888 Project (6 UOC)
AND
- Two other elective courses offered by the School of Education
These may be any two courses offered in the School of Education, including the special education and research methodology courses noted above (i.e., students may take all of the core special education courses or more than one research methodology course).
One or both of the two elective courses may be education courses outside the field of special education (e.g., educational leadership, gifted education, TESOL etc.)
One or both of the two elective courses may be education courses outside the field of special education (e.g., educational leadership, gifted education, TESOL etc.)
