Program Description

Program Objectives

Program Structure

Academic Rules

Fees

*Double Method Requirement

**Teaching Specialisation

Area(s) of Specialisation

Program Summary

	Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
	Contact: Sue Cass
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Postgraduate
	Typical Duration: 1 Years
	Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
	Min UOC Per Semester: 3
	Max UOC Per Semester: 30
	Min UOC For Award: 48
	Award(s):
	Diploma in Education (Specialisation)

Program Description

• The program requires students to study in each of two single teaching specialisations (method courses) or in one double teaching specialisation. Students must meet prerequisites to undertake their preferred teaching specialisation(s).
• A completed Bachelor degree from a recognised institution is essential for entry to the program. In addition, adequate background studies in the relevant teaching discipline/s are required within the Bachelor degree (or completed subsequently).
• Students should have a major (three years of study- six semester-long courses) in their main teaching specialisation, with at least 4 of these units at level (year) 2 or above.
• In addition, for their second teaching specialisation, students are advised to have studied a minor for at least two years, that is four courses, with at least 2 units at level 2 or above.

• Prospective Science and Mathematics teachers select only one teaching specialization, either Science double method or Mathematics double method.
• English and History are offered as both a double and a single method.
• Economics and Business Studies methods are combined into a single method. Students wishing to specialise in Economics and Business Studies only at the senior level should also enrol in Junior HSIE (Human Society and Its Environment).
• Literacy/ESL is considered a second teaching specialisation only.

• Science is available only as a double method. Science cannot be combined with any single method.
• Mathematics is available only as a double method.
• English is available as a double or as a single method.
• History is available as a double or as a single method.

• Prospective teachers must be able to communicate effectively with school students, staff members and parents in both written and spoken English.
• An exceptionally high level of English competency is therefore required for all Method specialisations.
• If you have not completed your previous studies in a degree in which English was the language of instruction you will be required to provide proof of your competence in English.
• The University accepts recent (within 2 years) results from accredited English proficiency tests as proof.

Program Objectives and Learning Outcomes

• subject content knowledge in areas of specialisation
• how to teach that content to secondary school students
• how to relate to secondary school students
• understanding how secondary school students learn
• effective unit and lesson planning, and effective assessment and reporting design
• enhanced communication skills to ensure effective classroom communication with the students they will be teaching
• effective classroom management skills
• reflective teaching, and the desire to continually improve professional knowledge and practice
• productive engagement with members of their profession and the wider community

Program Structure

• EDST4080 Special Education and EDST4093 Sp Ed: Inclusive Strategies
• EDST4084 Managing the Classroom Environment
• EDST4082 Professional Issues in Teaching 1 and EDST4083 Professional Issues in Teaching 2
• EDST4105 Dip Ed Professional Experience 1 and EDST4106 Dip Ed Professional Experience 2
• Two Single Method courses or one Double Method course

• Students must also enrol in their selected teaching method courses.
• Method courses are studied in both semesters.
• Students are enrolled in either one double method course (English, History, Mathematics, and Science) or in two single method courses.
• They attend weekly lectures and workshops in their method specialisation/s during Semester 1.
• During Semester 2 method classes are conducted only in the weeks that students are actually scheduled to be on campus.

• Method A1 (6 UOC)
• Method B1 (3 UOC)
• Method A2 (6 UOC)
• Method B2 (3 UOC)

• All DipEd students must undertake 50 days of professional experience.
• The first block of professional experience commences in Semester 1, following 12 weeks of on-campus instruction in both the theory and practice of teaching and learning. This professional experience runs over 4 weeks. The first few days are devoted to observation and familiarisation with the school’s policies, procedures and timetable.
• The second block of professional experience commences in Semester 2 and runs over 6 weeks. This professional experience will take place in a school different from the one in which you were placed in Semester 1.
• It is essential that you are available for the full school day (approx 8.30 am - 4 pm) each day. It may be necessary to re-arrange any work or other commitments beforehand, bearing in mind that travel to and from the school may take up to 1 – 1.5 hours each way.

• With regard to school allocations, the School of Education will negotiate with schools to obtain placements.
• You should not approach schools to make your own arrangements under any circumstances.

• Your method lecturer/s will provide the specific preparation you need to tackle classroom practice. Once in a school, however, your supervising teacher becomes your main adviser in the first instance.
• If any other help is needed please contact your method lecturer, the DipEd Academic Professional Experience Coordinator and the Professional Experience Administrator.
• More detailed information on teaching practice is provided in a separate publication - the Professional Experience Handbook 2009 (available towards the end of S1, 2009).
• At the end of the professional experience period your supervising teacher/s will submit a detailed report of your performance.
• After processing by the Academic Professional Experience Coordinator, this will be given to you for use in job applications.
• You should note that Professional Experience is assessed using the NSW Institute of Teachers Graduate Teacher Standards.
• You will be awarded a grade of satisfactory/unsatisfactory only as this course is not graded in the same way as most other courses.

• The prospects for employment as a teacher vary from year to year and depend on your teaching subject/s and choice of location for teaching.
• Past graduates have found employment in Government, Catholic and Independent schools.
• The NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) employ staff in over 300 high schools in the State and conducts interviews for a Graduate Recruitment program during the year. Information on the DET application process will be provided in Semester 1.
• For more details see the DET recruitment website at: http://www.teach.nsw.edu.au
• The Diploma of Education is recognised as a teaching qualification in both government and non-government schools in New South Wales and in most other states of Australia. It is also widely accepted as a qualification overseas. You should, however, check your eligibility for employment with the relevant authority since various employers have differing requirements.
• You should also be aware that a police record check is required before you can be employed as a teacher in schools and that all schools will require student teachers and potential applicants to have signed the Working with Children Check.
• It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that employers’ requirements are met, as far as the structure of their Bachelor (undergraduate) degree is concerned. It is strongly recommended that you do this before enrolment in the DipEd course. You may obtain an “Assessment Request Form” at: www.teach.nsw.edu.au (click on “Becoming a Teacher” link) or call 1300 300 498
• Note that a positive assessment of undergraduate qualifications by an employing body does not necessarily guarantee selection into the UNSW DipEd program.
• Students intending to teach in the Catholic Education System or interstate or overseas should check the requirements of the relevant employing body.

Academic Rules

Fees

*Double Method Requirement

**Teaching Specialisation