Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Administration)
ObjectivesThe Master of Education (MEd) is offered to professional educators. You can choose to do coursework only, or you can combine coursework with a research paper. The Master of Education builds upon graduate certificates offered within the Faculty and, if undertaken with a research paper, may articulate to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). As a graduate of this course you will possess an understanding of contemporary education issues and discourses; have high-level critical and evaluative skills; translate into practice your experiences and understandings of the program; and select appropriate research methods and techniques for educational research projects. The management of learning is becoming a feature of many complex organisations that see themselves as 'learning organisations'. This course explores what might constitute the responsibilities of those involved in managing such organisations and the learning processes within them. While schools are a focus of much of the work in this program the basic ideas are equally applicable to other learning organizations and those who work within them.
Entry requirementsThe normal minimum educational requirement is: * four years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to an approved teaching qualification or * four years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to at least three years teaching experience. Candidates with: * three years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to an approved teaching qualification or * three years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to at least three years teaching experience who have satisfactorily completed a Graduate Certificate of Education at credit level or higher may be eligible to enrol directly into the Master of Education. 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. Special entry Special entry is also available and assessed at the time of application.
Academic titleMaster of Education (Educational Leadership and Administration)
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.
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.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this course enhance their professional standing and opportunities for promotion to leadership positions within schools, TAFE and universities as well as increasing the possibility of employment within organisations committed to learning as a central feature of their activity such as health and welfare organisations, service industries and consultancy and development agencies.
Course rules
To be awarded a Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Administration), students are required to successfully complete 8 credit points of study under one of the following configurations:
Coursework only for appellation
* a minimum of 5 credit points from units listed for the Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Administration) (including selected generic units chosen in consultation with MEd co-ordinator) of which at least three are specific to the appellation; and
* up to 3 credit points from any units at masters level offered by the School of Education.
Note: The coursework-only degree does not qualify for entry to the Doctor of Philosophy program. Future doctoral applicants with this degree will need to undertake research studies at the required standard equivalent to those in the research pathway (see below).
Coursework with research paper for appellation
* a minimum of 3 credit points from units listed for the Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Administration) (including selected generic units chosen in consultation with course co-ordinator) of which at least two are specific to the appellation;
* EXR780 Research Perspectives and Practices *
* EXR790 Research Design and Development;
* EXR796/797 Research Paper Part A and Part B ** undertaken in the chosen specialist area
* up to 2 credit points from any unit at masters level offered by the School of Education chosen in consultation with the MEd course co-ordinator.
*Where students have an equivalent research study and/or experience this unit may be replaced with another 1 credit point unit in consultation with the MEd course co-ordinator.
** Research Paper Part A and Part B may be available to complete within the same trimester, but only after consultation with the course coordinator.
Coursework with minor thesis for appellation
* two credit points of units specific to the Master of Education (Educational Leadership and Administration);
* EXR780 Research Perspectives and Practices *
* EXR790 Research Design and Development; and
* EXR798/799 Minor Thesis Part A and Part B ** undertaken in the chosen specialist area
* up to 1 credit point from any unit at Masters level offered by the School of Education chosen in consultation with the MEd course co-ordinator.
Note: Only available in special cases with approval from the MEd course co-ordinator after completion of two units at distinction level or higher.
*Where students have an equivalent research study and/or experience this unit may be replaced with another 1 credit point unit in consultation with the MEd course co-ordinator.
** Minor Thesis Part A and Part B may be available to complete within the same trimester, but only after consultation with the course coordinator.
Course structure
Students who wish to undertake a course with appellation will select appropriate specialist units in consultation with the relevant course coordinator, taking into account any particular course requirements for that particular appellation.
Specialist units for appellation
Trimester 1
ECM704 Introduction to Educational Leadershipand Administration
EXE737 Leading and Managing Learning Organisations
EXE738 Policy Studies in Global and Local Contexts
Trimester 2
ECM705 School Cultures and Contexts
EXE737 Leading and Managing Learning Organisations
EXE732 Social Justice and Difference
EXE735 Evaluation: Improvement and Accountability
Note: ECM704, ECM705, EXE737 are specific for this appellation
Generic units
Ten generic units have been developed for the Masters programs. They focus on contemporary educational issues which can be applied to any specialist study and are designed to be compatible with on-line technologies and to complement the specialist units. Each generic unit may be tailored toward the specialist interests of the student.
EXE731 Advancing Professional Development
EXE732 Social Justice and Difference
EXE733 Assessing Learning
EXE734 New Technologies in Education and Training
EXE735 Evaluation: Improvement and Accountability
EXE736 Knowledge, Learning and Learners
EXE737 Leading and Managing Learning Organisations
EXE738 Policy Studies in Global and Local Contexts
EXE739 Internationalising the Curriculum
EXE740 Independent Reading Study
Note: EXE734 is a wholly online unit
Teaching methods
Students receive instructional materials offered through Deakin Studies On-line, CD-ROM and website links. Interaction with lecturers and classmates is also provided through use of DSO, email and telephone links.
Articulation
Masters courses require a research component to lead to a Doctor of Philosophy.
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
The normal minimum educational requirement is:
* four years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to an approved teaching qualification or
* four years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to at least three years teaching experience.
Candidates with:
* three years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to an approved teaching qualification or
* three years of tertiary study inclusive of or in addition to at least three years teaching experience
who have satisfactorily completed a Graduate Certificate of Education at credit level or higher may be eligible to enrol directly into the Master of Education.
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.
Special entry
Special entry is also available and assessed at the time of application.
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
Applications for advanced standing will be considered as follows:
* Applicants who have completed graduate certificate/graduate diploma/masters units at a fifth-year level (in addition to four-year minimum entry requirements) are eligible to apply for up to 4 credit points of advanced standing;
* Applicants who have completed modules with assessment through the Victorian Professional Development Network (in addition to four-year minimum entry requirements) 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.