D6005 Master of TESOL

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Orientation, Part B. Key constructs in TESOL, and Part C. Professional inquiry. Depending upon prior qualifications, you may receive credit for Part A, and for some units from Parts B and/or C.

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

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 complexities in the field.

Part B. Key constructs in TESOL

These core units present key theoretical frames to understand ideas and research conducted across a broad range of themes significant to the study of language education. The themes include language learners and learning, linguistically responsive teaching, critical issues in English language education and bi/multilingualism. You will engage with research that responds to the themes and, as a result, advance your capacity to apply key concepts to a variety of English language learning experiences and education contexts. Units that focus on TESOL pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment and testing, and language and content integration in content-based programs, will deepen your knowledge of ideas and practices in TESOL, build your skills and address professional issues.

Part C. Professional inquiry

The focus of these studies is professional inquiry, including work integrated learning. You will engage in professional practice to develop and upgrade the practical skills you need, to function in the field of TESOL in a variety of contexts. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to apply knowledge about language and learning that you have acquired through the course. Professional inquiry studies may also include an independent research dimension requiring the knowledge and use of research principles.

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

• D6005 - Master of TESOL
• D6005 - Master of TESOL (48 and 72 point structure)

Master's entry points

If you are admitted at:

• entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A (24 points), Part B (48 points), Part C (24 points)
• entry level 2 you complete 72 points comprising Part B (48 points) and Part C (24 points)
• entry level 3 you complete 48 points comprising Part B*.

*If you wish to complete the WIL units, (EDF5697, EDF5698 and EDF5709 or EDF5710) you will undertake 36 points from Part B and 12 points from Part C.

Pathway to graduate research

A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master by research, PhD) is available if you achieve a weighted average mark of at least 75 per cent in the units of this course. On-campus attendance is required for this pathway. This 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 C. 

If you are commencing at entry level 3 (48 credit points) and are interested in the pathway to graduate research you must achieve a 75 per cent average in your first four units to be eligible.

Students invited into this pathway take the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education (12 points)
• EDF5614 Research project in education (12 points)

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Orientation (24 points), Part B. Key constructs in TESOL (48 points) and Part C. Professional inquiry (24 points).

If you are admitted at:

• entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A (24 points), Part B (48 points), Part C (24 points)
• entry level 2 you complete 72 points comprising Part B (48 points) and Part C (24 points)
• entry level 3 you complete 48 points comprising Part B*.

*If you wish to complete the WIL units, (EDF5697, EDF5698 and EDF5709 or EDF5710) you will undertake 36 points from Part B and 12 points from Part C.

Units are 6 credit points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Orientation (24 points)

You will complete:

• EDF4610 Interacting with research in education contexts (12 points)
• EDF4611 Investigating education issues in global contexts (12 points)

Part B. Key constructs in TESOL (48 points)

You will complete:

• EDF5629 Critical issues in English language learning and teaching
• EDF5630 Pedagogy in TESOL
• EDF5631 Bi/multilingual education
• EDF5634 Understanding language and learning
• EDF5638 Linguistically informed teaching
• EDF5639 Integrating language and content in content-based programs
• EDF5643 Second language assessment and testing
• EDF5644 Curriculum design and innovation in TESOL contexts

Part C. Professional inquiry (24 points)

You will complete Option 1 or Option 2 below.

Option 1 - You will complete the following two units:

• EDF5697 Professional practice for teachers of TESOL A
• EDF5698 Professional practice for teachers of TESOL B

and one of the following units:

• EDF5709 Professional placement - teaching (0 points)
• EDF5710 Professional placement - observation (0 points)

plus one of the following research-related units:

• EDF5691 Educational inquiry (12 points)
• EDF5693 Using and evaluating research evidence (12 points)
• EDF5694 Taking a stand in education debates (12 points)
• EDF5695 Self-study as professional inquiry (12 points)
• EDF5814 Creative research approaches (12 points)

Option 2 - Pathway to graduate research

A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master by research, PhD) is available if you achieve a weighted average mark of at least 75 per cent in the units of this course. On-campus attendance is required for this pathway. This 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 C. 

If you are commencing at entry level 3 (48 credit points) and are interested in the pathway to graduate research you must achieve a 75 per cent average in your first four units to be eligible.

Students invited into this pathway take the following two units:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education (12 points)
• EDF5614 Research project in education (12 points)