D6013 Master of Educational Leadership

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Orientation, Part B. Expert studies in educational leadership and Part C. Professional inquiry.

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 the complexities in the field.

Part B. Expert studies in educational leadership

You will consider educational leadership for a changing world. Various constructs of leadership will be considered including traditional and emergent leadership theories, cultural manifestations of leadership, the role of social justice in educational settings, and persistent challenges facing leaders. You will gain an understanding of how leadership interacts with and responds to the dynamics of policy, politics, and power in differing contexts and how this shapes education and learning. You will expand on your learning through selecting units tailored to your interests. You will enhance your capacity to think and act critically, creatively, and innovatively by exploring cutting-edge issues and research crucial to future leaders in education. Additionally, you will immerse yourself in a project tailored to your specific interests, which will deepen and enhance your learning.

Part C. Professional inquiry

The focus of these studies is professional inquiry.  As such you will have an opportunity to engage in research or extended leadership studies, which will broaden your understanding of, and ability to critically inquire into leadership.  

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part B.

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.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Orientation (24 points), Part B. Expert studies in educational leadership (48 points) and Part C. Professional inquiry (24 points).

Units are 12 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Orientation (24 points)

You must complete:

• EDF5610 Interacting with research in education contexts
• EDF5611 Investigating education issues in global contexts

Part B. Experts studies in educational leadership (48 points)

You must complete the following:

• EDF5628 Educational leadership for social justice
• EDF5669 Policy, politics and power
• EDF5690 Educational leadership inquiry

You must complete an additional 12 points selected from the following:

• EDF5624 Educational leadership in international contexts (6 points)
• EDF5625 Educational organisations, culture and change
• EDF5626 Ethical leadership and decision making in education (6 points)
• EDF5627 Relationships and wellbeing in educational leadership (6 points)
• EDF5668 Leading educational improvement (6 points)

Part C. Professional inquiry (24 points)

You must complete 24 points from the following elective choices:

• EDF5624 Educational leadership in international contexts (6 points)
• EDF5625 Educational organisations, culture and change
• EDF5626 Ethical leadership and decision making in education (6 points)
• EDF5627 Relationships and wellbeing in educational leadership (6 points)
• EDF5668 Leading educational improvement (6 points)
• Approved level 5 units from select Faculty of Education graduate coursework programs.

Pathway to graduate research - optional

A pathway to graduate research (e.g. master's by research, PhD) is available if you:

• have been admitted at level 1 or 2*; and
• achieve a weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 75% in the units of this course.

Students completing this pathway will need to make the following unit substitutions:

• EDF5613 Research approaches in education (12 credit points) to replace EDF5690 Educational leadership inquiry (12 points) (Part B)
• EDF5614 Research project in education(12 credit points) to replace 12 points of approved level 5 units from select Faculty of Education graduate coursework programs (Part C)

Please note:

• this pathway is not available at the point of entry;
• your eligibility to undertake this pathway will be checked prior to the commencement of EDF5613;
• if you are commencing at entry level 1 or 2, you must take the required two units in the final semester of your studies; and
• the research pathway is not available if you have been admitted at level 3. If you have been admitted at level 3 and are interested in a research pathway you are encouraged to consider the Graduate Certificate of Educational Research.