D6002 Master of Education

The course is structured in four parts: Part A. Orientation to education, Part B. Key constructs in education, Part C. Enhanced professional learning and Part D. Professional inquiry. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A and some units from other parts.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Part A. Orientation to education

These studies will introduce you to contemporary issues in the study of education. They are intended for students who come into the course without previous qualifications in education or work experience in education-related fields. You will engage with academic traditions and scholarly practices in the field of education at the postgraduate level, become acquainted with a broad range of debates across education contexts and develop an understanding of the complexities in the field.

Part B. Key constructs in education

These studies present key theoretical frames to understand ideas and research conducted across a broad theme of significance in the study of education. The themes offered include learners and learning, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment, education and work, sustainability and inclusion, from which you will choose one or two. You will engage with research that responds to the themes you choose and, as a result, advance your capacity to apply scholarly concepts in education more broadly.

Part C. Enhanced professional learning

These studies will deepen your knowledge of particular ideas and practices around your specialisation, build your skills and address professional issues. Taken together, knowledge and skills gained will develop your expertise in the area of your specialisation to be applied across your learning and work contexts.

Part D. Professional inquiry

The focus of these studies is professional inquiry. You will address the challenges and opportunities of using and evaluating research evidence in professional practice. This may include engagement in practice in a field of professional work relevant to your specialisation or an independent research dimension requiring the knowledge and application of research principles.

The course progression maps provide guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study:

• Semester 1 intake
• Semester 2 intake

Master of Education entry points

The course comprises 96 credit points structured into four parts: Part A. Orientation to education (24 credit points), Part B. Key constructs in education (12 or 24 credit points), Part C. Enhanced professional learning (24 or 36 points) and Part D. Professional inquiry (12 or 24 credit points).

If you are admitted at:

• entry level 1 you must complete 96 credit points (8 units), comprising Part A (2 units), Part B (1 or 2 units), Part C (2 or 3 units) and Part D (1 or 2 units*).
• entry level 2 you must complete 72 credit points (6 units), comprising units from Part B (1 or 2 units), Part C (2 or 3 units) and Part D (1 or 2 units*).
• entry level 3 you must complete 48 credit points (4 units), comprising units from Part B (1 unit), Part C (2 units) and Part D (1 unit*).

* Two units are required in Part D. if you are taking the pathway to graduate research.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies, you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Pathway to graduate research

A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master's by research, PhD) is available if you** achieve a weighted average mark of at least 75% in the units of this course. On-campus attendance is required for this pathway. This pathway is not available at the point of entry, however if you are commencing at entry level 1 or 2 and interested in this possibility you must make space to pursue the two required units in Part D by restricting the number of units across Part B and Part C accordingly.

If you are commencing at entry level 3 (48 credit points) and interested in the pathway to graduate research, you must achieve a 75% average in your first two units to be eligible. If you are initially enrolled in a specialisation, you will be required to transfer to the general award, Master of Education, in order to complete the pathway to graduate research. 

If you are invited into this pathway,  you must take the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education
• EDF5614 Research project in education

** Due to professional accreditation requirements, the research pathway is not available if you are undertaking the inclusive and special education specialisation.

The course comprises 96 points structured into four parts: Part A. Orientation to education (24 points), Part B. Key constructs in education (12 or 24 points), Part C. Enhanced professional learning (24 or 36 points) and Part D. Professional inquiry (12 or 24 points).

If you are admitted at:

• entry level 1 you must complete 96 points (8 units), comprising Part A (2 units), Part B (1 or 2 units), Part C (2 or 3 units) and Part D (1 or 2 units*).
• entry level 2 you must complete 72 points (6 units), comprising units from Part B (1 or 2 units), Part C (2 or 3 units) and Part D (1 or 2 units*).
• entry level 3 you must complete 48 points (4 units), comprising units from Part B (1 unit), Part C (2 units) and Part D (1 unit*).

* Two units are required in Part D. if you are taking the pathway to graduate research.

Note: If you are eligible for credit for prior studies, you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are 12 credit points unless otherwise stated.



Part A. Orientation to education (24 points)
You must complete:

• EDF4610 Interacting with research in education contexts
• EDF4611 Investigating education issues in global contexts

Part B. Key constructs in education (12 or 24 points)
You must complete one or two units from the following:

• EDF5621 Challenging curriculum, pedagogy and assessment
• EDF5622 Developing learners and learning
• EDF5623 Deepening education and sustainability
• EDF5628 Educational leadership for social justice*
• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities**
• EDF5683 Philosophical foundations of behaviour analysis (6 points)***
• EDF5684 Concepts and principles of learning (6 points)***

* If you are in the educational leadership and policy specialisation, you must complete this unit in your Part B studies. 

** If you are in the inclusive and special education specialisation, you must complete this unit in your Part B studies. If you are not in the inclusive and special education specicalisation, you may select this unit in your Part C studies.

*** If you are in the applied behaviour analysis specialisation, you must complete these units in your Part B studies. If you are not in the applied behaviour analysis specialisation, you may complete these units in your Part C studies.

Part C. Enhanced professional learning (24 or 36 points)

You must complete two or three units, from those listed under their specialisation, or as detailed for general education studies:

Adult learning

You must complete 12 or 24 credit points from the following units:

• EDF5661 Designing learning for adults
• EDF5664 Learning through participation

and 12 or 24 credit points from the following units:

• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities
• EDF5657 Indigenous perspectives in professional practice
• EDF5658 Young people: Culture, communities and education
• EDF5659 Building partnerships with families and communities
• EDF5662 Leading local, rural and regional learning and participation
• EDF5663 Education and globalisation in the Asian century
• EDF5666 Education, development and ecological sustainability
• EDF5683 Philosophical foundations of behaviour analysis (6 points)
• EDF5684 Concepts and principles of learning (6 points)

Applied behaviour analysis

You must complete:

• EDF5679 Behaviour assessment and treatment (6 points)
• EDF5685 Professional ethics for behaviour analysts (6 points)
• EDF5686 Measurement, data analysis and experimental design(6 points)
• EDF5687 Evidence-based instructional design (6 points)
• EDF5688 Performance management and supervision (6 points)
• EDF5689 Diverse applications of behaviour analysis (6 points)

Digital learning

You must complete 12 or 24 credit points from the following units:

• EDF5647 Technology and education key issues and debates
• EDF5648 Instructional design: Harnessing digital technologies for learning

and 12 or 24 credit points from the following units:

• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities
• EDF5657 Indigenous perspectives in professional practice
• EDF5658 Young people: Culture, communities and education
• EDF5661 Designing learning for adults
• EDF5662 Leading local, rural and regional learning and participation
• EDF5663 Education and globalisation in the Asian century
• EDF5664 Learning through participation
• EDF5810 VCAL and VET at school
• EDF5683 Philosophical foundations of behaviour analysis (6 points)
• EDF5684 Concepts and principles of learning (6 points)

Early childhood education

You must complete two or three enhanced professional learning units (24 or 36 points) from the following:

• EDF5905 Early years, literacy and numeracy
• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities
• EDF5659 Building partnerships with families and communities
• EDF5683 Philosophical foundations of behaviour analysis (6 points)
• EDF5684 Concepts and principles of learning (6 points)

Educational leadership and policy

You must complete 12 or 24 credit points from the following units:

• EDF5625 Educational organisations, culture and change
• EDF5669 Policy, politics and power

and where required 12 or 24 credit points from the following units:

• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities
• EDF5657 Indigenous perspectives in professional practice
• EDF5661 Designing learning for adults
• EDF5662 Leading local, rural and regional learning and participation
• EDF5663 Education and globalisation in the Asian century
• EDF5683 Philosophical foundations of behaviour analysis (6 points)
• EDF5684 Concepts and principles of learning (6 points)

Expert teaching practice

You must complete 24 or 36 credit points of enhanced professional learning units from the following:

• EDF5632 Understanding inclusion in learning communities
• EDF5645 Educating the gifted
• EDF5646 Talent development and diversity
• EDF5647 Technology and education key issues and debates
• EDF5648 Instructional design: Harnessing digital technologies for learning
• EDF5649 Language and literacies across educational contexts
• EDF5650 Literacy leadership in schools, workplaces and communities
• EDF5651 Developing expertise in mathematics education
• EDF5653 Research perspectives in music education
• EDF5654 Teaching music: Theory and practice
• EDF5655 Expertise in teaching
• EDF5657 Indigenous perspectives in professional practice
• EDF5665 Environmental education, design and learning for sustainability
• EDF5666 Education, development and ecological sustainability
• EDF5674 Engaging with practices of contemporary science
• EDF5810 VCAL and VET at school
• EDF5683 Philosophical foundations of behaviour analysis (6 points)
• EDF5684 Concepts and principles of learning (6 points)

General education studies
You must complete two or three units from those listed under any of the above specialisations.

Inclusive and special education

You must complete the following:

• EDF5656 Practising inclusion
• EDF5667 Positive behaviour support

Part D. Professional inquiry (12 or 24 points)
If you are in the inclusive and special education specialisation, you must complete the following 12 point unit with the option to complete the 0-point professional experience unit for eligible students:

• EDF5692 Professional practice in special and inclusive education
• EDF5699 Extended teaching practice (0 points)*

* This unit is only available if you are registered to teach in Australia.

If you are in the other specialisations, you must complete 12 or 24 credit points from the following research-related units:

• EDF5691 Educational inquiry
• EDF5693 Using and evaluating research evidence
• EDF5694 Taking a stand in education debates
• EDF5695 Self-study as professional inquiry
• EDF5814 Creative research approaches

Pathway to graduate research
A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master's by research, PhD) is available if you** achieve a weighted average mark of at least 75% in the units of this course. On-campus attendance is required for this pathway. This pathway is not available at the point of entry, however if you are commencing at entry level 1 or 2 and interested in this possibility you must make space to pursue the two required units in Part D by restricting the number of units across Part B and Part C accordingly.

If you are commencing at entry level 3 (48 credit points) and interested in the pathway to graduate research, you must achieve a 75% average in your first two units to be eligible. If you are initially enrolled in a specialisation, you will be required to transfer to the general award, Master of Education, in order to complete the pathway to graduate research. 

If you are invited into this pathway,  you must take the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education
• EDF5614 Research project in education

** Due to professional accreditation requirements, the research pathway is not available if you are undertaking the inclusive and special education specialisation.