Course description
Professional recognition
The Master of Education (Special Educational Needs) is accredited by the Victorian Institute of Teaching for specialist teaching positions.
Fees 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
The Master of Education (Special Educational Needs) has been designed to enable qualified primary or secondary teachers to meet the Department of Education and Training requirements for employment related to special educational needs across a range of school settings, including special schools, special developmental schools and mainstream settings, in both Australia and overseas.
Course rules
To be awarded a Master of Education (Special Educational Needs), students are required to successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising 3 core, 3 elective and 2 practicum units.
The practicum units can be taken across a range of settings. The requirements for these units comprise 15 days of supervised teaching experience, a supervised case study (15 days or equivalent) and 15 days of professional development activities eg: workshops and seminars related to special education.
Course structure
For students enrolling from 2007
Three compulsory core units:
Trimester 1
EEI714 Individualised Program Planning
Trimester 2
EXE732 Social Justice and Difference
EEI715 Teaching Social Behaviour
and
Three elective units from:
Trimester 1
ECP703 Child Protection
ESP701 Education and Development of Exceptional Learners
ESM701 Teaching Mathematics Successfully
Trimester 2
EEL702 Literacy and Students with Special Educational Needs
ESP703 Student Welfare and Discipline Issues
EEI701 Learning Disabilities: Identification and Teaching Strategies
and
Two practicum units:
Trimester 1
EEI700 Practicum Case Study
Trimester 2
EEI716 Practicum: Special Educational Needs
Notes:
(i) EEI700 includes 15 days supervised/registered experience.
(ii) EEI716 includes 15 days of supervised teaching and 15 days of Professional Development activities.
(iii) EEI700 and EEI716 may be completed in a specialized area such as vision impairment where supervision would be conducted by a member from the visiting teacher service.
(iv) 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 also provided through use of Deakin Studies Online, email and telephone links.
Articulation
The Master of Education (Special Educational Needs) can articulate directly with credit to a Masters course with a research component.
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 approved teacher training, for example, a four-year Bachelor of Education or a degree plus Bachelor of Teaching or equivalent. Candidates with a three year initial teaching qualification 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.
Teachers requiring Victorian Institute of Teaching registration for employment purposes must hold an approved teaching qualification prior to commencing this course. Unqualified teachers and other professionals are advised to enrol in Master of Education (Special Needs) E744 course.
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, 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.
Professional experience requirements - Working With Children Check (WWCC)
Students who intend to undertake practicum in Victorian schools are required to complete a WWCC unless a copy of Victorian teacher registration is provided. Students requiring a WWCC should contact the Professional Experience coordinator email: tania.harvey@deakin.edu.au
