Master of Education

Overview

• Ideal for educators who want to enhance their competitiveness, or those looking for a career change.
• Provides a framework for professional development, and can contribute to current teachers’ professional development requirements.
• Flexible study options include online or on campus, over 2 semesters full-time or 4 semesters part-time.
• Specialise in an area such as: Early Years, Leadership and Management, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
• Early exit option of a Graduate Certificate in Education.
• Commonwealth Supported Places available for Australian citizens and permanent visa holders, and New Zealand citizens (subject to change).

Details

Our Master of Education is one of the most innovative postgraduate education courses in Australia. You can study a range of diverse and current areas which enhance your competitiveness or provide opportunities for a career change. These programs will suit teachers, educators and graduates with relevant employment experience and adopt an approach to learning that values both the individual component and peer-to-peer relationships.

Study areas

All students (including international students)

Generic

This study area is suitable if you want a Master of Education qualification but don't want to specialise in a particular area. The generic masters consists of two (2) core units and six (6) option units.

Early Years

This study area enables professionals working in early education and child care, child protection or family services to enhance their knowledge of working with young children and their families.

Leadership and Management

This study area is suitable for aspiring and current leaders in schools as well as education professionals in hospitals, government and community organisations.

Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL)

This study area will prepare you to teach English as a second language to speakers of other languages.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

This study area will enable you to be eligible to teach English as a foreign language.

Study areas not available for international students

Career Development

This study area will enable you to work as a career counsellor, career teacher or career coach. You will also meet the requirements of the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners and the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) professional standards (valid until 2014).

Early Childhood Teaching

Qualified teachers are able, on completion, to become early childhood specialists, both in schools and as leaders in childcare settings. This study area allows early childhood teachers to upgrade their qualifications, and includes a field experience component (practicum). 

This study area is recognised by the Queensland Department of Communities and the Crèche and Kindergarten Association (C&K) as a specialist early childhood qualification. Additional requirements may be needed for employment interstate or overseas.

Education Research: Theory and Practice

This study area prepares you to undertake a major research project in higher degree research or in your employment, and will provide you with tools to evaluate research issues and research methodologies.

Information and Communication Technology

This study area enhances your knowledge of ICT in teaching and learning. You will engage with emergent technologies and ICT-supported teaching methods.

Information-Learning Connections

This study area extends your knowledge of the impact that the rapidly changing information-rich learning environment has on teaching and learning. It will provide an opportunity for your career development across education, librarianship and information services.

School Guidance and Counselling

This study area is suitable for guidance officers seeking to advance their knowledge or qualified teachers seeking a career change.

This study area is recognised by Education Queensland, Catholic Education and independent schools as a guidance officer qualification in Queensland schools. An alternative study schedule enables School Guidance and Counselling graduates to meet CICA professional standards (valid until 2014).

Studies in Literacy

This study area allows you to study contemporary and historical perspectives on curriculum practices of literacy in schools.

Teacher-Librarianship

This study area allows you to be eligible to seek employment in a wide range of library and information environments. Qualified teachers who complete this program may also seek employment as a teacher-librarian in schools.

Graduates are eligible for associate (professional) membership of the Australian Library and Information Association.

Teaching for Diversity: Disability and Learning Difficulties

This study area is designed for regular classroom teachers, specialist staff and guidance officers whose work involves students with learning, social and behavioural challenges.

Units

The Master of Education is comprised of eight units (96 credit points); two (2) core units: EDN610 and EDN611, four (4) study area core units, and two (2) option units, selected from the list of ED79 Master’s option units.

There are exceptions to this basic structure in Early Childhood Teaching; School Guidance and Counselling; TEFL, TESOL and Teacher-Librarianship.

Students can choose from a variety of study areas or choose a generic Masters which does not provide a study area and consists of two (2) core units and six (6) option units.

Entry requirements

Applicants for the Master of Education must hold:
- An appropriate four-year Bachelor degree or equivalent at a standard acceptable to the Executive Dean
OR
- A three-year Bachelor degree or equivalent at a standard acceptable to the Executive Dean PLUS at least one year of appropriate professional or industrial experience.

Applicants planning to take the TESOL study area must have a teaching background (at least one year of appropriate professional experience). If you do not have a teaching background, you can apply to take the TEFL study area instead.

Applicants planning to take the Early Childhood Teaching or Teacher-Librarianship study areas must be registered teachers or be eligible for registration. If you are applying for the School Guidance and Counselling study area, you must be a registered teacher and supply certified or original evidence of your teacher registration.

If you want to study School Guidance and Counselling full-time, please be aware that applications for 2012 close early due to compulsory block units that are held before semester commencement. Applications must be submitted by Monday, 14 November, 2011. (There is no mid-year entry for School Guidance and Counselling full-time. Only part-time study is available.) This qualification is only recognised by education employing authorities in Queensland.

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

View all scholarships

You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments