Graduate Certificate of Education (Special Educational Needs)
ObjectivesThe Graduate Certificate of Education (Special Educational Needs) is designed to allow teachers and other professionals to undertake focused short-term study programs and to gain credit for them. This course aims to provide educators with high quality programs linked to their professional and career development in the area of special education and associated areas. This course takes into account the implementation of policy and addresses the fundamental philosophy of inclusion for people with disabilities and impairments within school education systems. Applicants who require eligibility for employment in Victorian special schools need to enrol in the Master of Education (Special Educational Needs), which includes the required supervised teaching component.
Entry requirementsEntrants to the course must have successfully completed an approved qualification at degree or diploma level inclusive of approved teacher education. It is possible for some credit to be granted for appropriate, approved professional development programs already undertaken. In addition to minimum entry requirements, International students for whom English is not their first language, are required to have an overall IELTS score of at least 7.
Academic titleGraduate Certificate of Education (Special Educational Needs)
Course descriptionFees and charges
Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study. If you are studying a graduate certificate of 4 credit points, your total course EFTSL is 0.5.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the university receives some government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study. All Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and holders of a permanent visa will receive a Student Learning Entitlement (SLE). The SLE entitles a student to the equivalent of 7 years of full time study in a Commonwealth supported place.
Fee paying place - Domestic (DFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fee paying places are available to domestic students. Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa.
* The 'indicative annual course fee' cited has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2009, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline.
The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2009 can be viewed at http://www.deakin.edu.au/current-students/handbooks2009/search.php.
Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.
Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on 'indicative course fees' to calculate the total future cost of their course.
Course rules
The course requires the completion of 4 credit points comprising three core units and one elective.
Course structure
For 2007 onwards commencing students:
Core units
Semester 1
EEI714 Individualised Program Planning
Semester 2
EXE732 Social Justice and Difference
EEI715 Teaching Social Behaviour
Elective units
Semester 1
ECP703 Child Protection
ESP701 Education and Development of Exceptional Learners
ESM701 Teaching Mathematics Successfully
EXE739 Internationalising the Curriculum
Semester 2
EEI715 Teaching Social Behaviour
EEL702 Literacy and Students with Special Educational Needs
ESP703 Student Welfare and Discipline Issues
EEL701 Professional Learning and Literacy
Note: EEL702 offered in alternate years 2009, 2011
Teaching methods
Students receive instructional materials through Deakin Studies Online, CD-ROM and website links. Interaction with lecturers is provided through use of Deakin Studies Online, email and telephone links.
Articulation to masters course
The Graduate Certificate allows fast tracking into a related masters degree. On completion of the Graduate Certificate of Education (Special Education Needs) up to 4 credit points may be granted toward a masters degree if taken as a fifth year of tertiary study.
Alternatively, direct entry to masters may be offered for a graduate certificate taken as a fourth year of tertiary study if completed at credit level or higher.
Graduate Certificates may be undertaken as an entry point for some courses and appellations or as an exit point after satisfactory completion of at least 4 credit points of study.
Additional requirements
Some students with alternative qualifications such as nurses, psychologists or therapists who are working in the field of disability may be admitted but may not proceed to the Master of Education (Special Educational Needs) as they will not meet the requirements for employment eligibility as teachers. Some credit may be granted for appropriate, approved professional development programs already undertaken
Admission requirements - general
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide
Admission requirements - specific
Entrants to the course must have successfully completed an approved qualification at degree or diploma level inclusive of approved teacher education. It is possible for some credit to be granted for appropriate, approved professional development programs already undertaken. In addition to minimum entry requirements, International students for whom English is not their first language, are required to have an overall IELTS score of at least 7.
Advanced standing - general
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the Advanced Standing System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Advanced standing - specific
Advanced standing is considered on an individual basis in accordance with University and Faculty policy. Applicants who have completed graduate certificate or graduate diploma units are eligible to apply for up to 2 credit points of advanced standing. Applicants who have completed modules with assessment through the Victorian Professional Development Network are eligible to apply for up to 2 credit points of advanced standing.
How to apply
Applications must be made directly to the university through the Applicant Portal referring to closing dates for applications as dates for particular courses may vary.
Your faculty may require further information from you when submitting your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.