Master of Education

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

International students

Start date
February
July

Campus
Magill

Duration
1 year(s) full-time

Program Code
MMEU

English Language Requirements

IELTS total [6.5]
IELTS reading [6.0]
IELTS writing [6.0]

Equivalent English qualifications (PDF)

International Admission by Country
See full entry requirements

CRICOS Code
024059E

Entry requirements
Successful completion of a 4-year bachelor level education qualification or equivalent; or successful completion of a 3-year bachelor level qualification in any discipline, plus a Graduate Certificate in Education and three years of relevant professional experience; or successful completion of a 3-year bachelor level qualification in any discipline, a recognised teaching or training certificate and three years of relevant professional experience.
English language entry requirements
In addition, international students who speak English as a foreign language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission. Possession of one or more of these qualifications, in addition to the academic entry requirements, does not, in itself, guarantee a place at the University of South Australia. Applications are considered on an individual basis and selection is competitive. Where previous study/work experience was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation form the educational institution/employer certifying that the language of instruction/employment was English.
English language test
- IELTS total [6.5]
- IELTS reading [6.0]
- IELTS writing [6.0]
Please access the following link for a comprehensive list of English language tests accepted by UniSA and other important information in relation to meeting the University’s language requirements: English Language Equivalence Table (PDF)
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Aim

The Master of Education aims to develop a critical understanding of and engagement with current theories, research, debates and practices in a variety of educational fields and education sectors through a series of courses or courses plus research.

Content & Structure

Three schedules are available to students: Coursework with Applied Research, Coursework with Minor Thesis, and International Student (Onshore) with Applied Research. The first schedule is designed for Australian students who do not intend to progress to doctoral studies from this program. The second schedule is designed for Australian students who intend to progress to doctoral studies from this program. The third schedule is specifically designed for international students studying onshore and completing specialisations in TESOL, Digital Technologies, or Educational Leadership and Management.

Coursework with Applied Research Schedule
This schedule is designed for external students studying online in part-time mode. Students may choose to study online in full-time mode. A total of 36 units is required to complete the program. Students studying this schedule may choose to specialise in a particular area by choosing four courses (18 units) in one specialisation from those listed on the schedule. This will allow graduation with a Master of Education with a specialisation on their parchment.
Alternatively students may choose not to specialise in a particular area by choosing any courses from the program schedule, in which case they will graduate with a Master of Education without a specialisation on their parchment.
Moreover, the program can be taken as coursework only or by a combination of coursework and an 18 unit research strand made up of 9 units of research methodology courses and 9 units of a research project.

Coursework with Minor Thesis Schedule
This schedule is designed for external students studying online in part-time or full-time mode with the intention of progressing to doctoral studies. It comprises three specialisation courses, a research design course and a minor thesis consisting of 18 units. The specialisation courses must be taken in one specialisation from those listed in the program schedule; the minor thesis will focus on a specific issue within that specialisation, and students will graduate with a specialisation on the parchment. The minor thesis will be externally examined and will assist students with an application for PhD or EdD studies.
Those who decide not to progress to the minor thesis after 18 units of study may do a further 18 units of study from any of the courses in the applied research schedule to complete the Master of Education degree. In this case 18 units of coursework is required in one specialisation to graduate with that specialisation on the parchment.

International Student (Onshore) with Applied Research Schedule
This schedule is designed for on-campus international students studying full-time over one year. Only three specialisations are available to on-campus international students: TESOL, Digital Technologies, and Educational Leadership and Management. Students must undertake 18 units of specialisation coursework and 18 units of research courses. Students will graduate with a specialisation on the parchment. This schedule only applies to on-campus international students.

International students can enrol in the program offshore in online mode and choose from the first or second schedule below to graduate with a specialisation on the parchment, or coursework without a specialisation. Note, offshore international students are not restricted to the TESOL, Digital Technologies, and Education Leadership and Management specialisations.

Specialisation Coordinators:
Educational Leadership and Management – Mohan Chinnappan
Early Childhood Leadership – Victoria Whitington/Kaye Colmer
Digital Technologies - Alan Barnes
Languages Education - Angela Scarino
Literacy and Language Education - Sue Nichols
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Zheng Lin
Applied Research courses - Greg Restall
Research Design and Minor Thesis courses – Michele Simons

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
COURSEWORK WITH APPLIED RESEARCH SCHEDULE
Specialisation Course 1		4.5
Specialisation Course 2		4.5
Specialisation Course 3		4.5
Specialisation Course 4		4.5
Contemporary Practice in Education Research	EDUC 5204	4.5	Note(s): 2
Practitioner Inquiry 1	EDUC 5070	4.5	Note(s): 3
Project in Education	EDUC 5030	9	Note(s): 4
COURSEWORK WITH MINOR THESIS SCHEDULE			Note(s): 1
Specialisation Course 1		4.5
Specialisation Course 2		4.5
Specialisation Course 3		4.5
Research Design for Thesis Work	EDUC 5213	4.5
Education Thesis A	EDUC 5205	9
Education Thesis B	EDUC 5206	9
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT (ONSHORE) WITH APPLIED RESEARCH SCHEDULE				Rule(s): 1
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Specialisation Course 1		4.5
Specialisation Course 2		4.5
Research Methods and Issues in Education	EDUC 5033	9	Note(s): 5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Specialisation Course 3		4.5
Specialisation Course 4		4.5
Project in Education	EDUC 5030	9
Students select one of the following specialisations:
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERSHIP SPECIALISATION
Professional Learning Environments in Early Childhood Education	EDUC 5212	4.5
Issues in Leading Contemporary Early Childhood Services	EDUC 5207	4.5
Leading Educational Change and Improvement	EDUC 5209	4.5
Leadership for Developing and Managing People	EDUC 5208	4.5
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES SPECIALISATION
Learning with Digital Technologies	EDUC 5092	4.5
Designing for Online Learning	EDUC 5085	4.5
Cognitive Technologies and Learning	EDUC 5081	4.5
Educational Leadership in a Digital World	EDUC 5088	4.5
LANGUAGES EDUCATION SPECIALISATION
Understanding Language and Culture	LANG 5028	4.5
The Languages Curriculum	LANG 5027	4.5
Assessing Language Learning	LANG 5025	4.5
Language Learning in the Context of Diversity	LANG 5026	4.5
LITERACY AND LANGUAGE EDUCATION SPECIALISATION
Inclusive Literacy Teaching	EDUC 5041	4.5
Perspectives on Reading Comprehension	EDUC 5042	4.5
Literacy and New Technologies	EDUC 5073	4.5
Place-based Literacy Teaching	EDUC 5097	4.5
TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES SPECIALISATION
Language Learning in TESOL: Learner Identity and Difference	EDUC 5109	4.5
Teaching and Language Assessment in TESOL	EDUC 5110	4.5
Language and Culture in TESOL	EDUC 5111	4.5
Curriculum and Evaluation in TESOL	EDUC 5112	4.5
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SPECIALISATION
Theory and Practice of Educational Leadership and Management	EDUC 5214	4.5	Note(s): 6
Contemporary Issues in Educational Policy Making	EDUC 5203	4.5	Note(s): 6
Leading Learning Organisations and Communities	EDUC 5211	4.5	Note(s): 6
Select one of the following three courses
Leading Educational Change and Improvement	EDUC 5209	4.5
Leading Evidence-based Practice in Education	EDUC 5210	4.5
Leadership for Developing and Managing People	EDUC 5208	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. International students (onshore) can only take one of the TESOL, Digital Technologies, or Educational Leadership and Management specialisations. The program must be completed in full-time mode.

2. Students will need to seek prerequisite advice relevant to their chosen specialisation.

3. Students are required to complete at least 18 units within a specialisation if they choose to specialise and have the specialisation recorded on their parchment. Students completing the Coursework with Minor Thesis schedule will graduate with a specialisation, having completed three specialisation courses and a thesis focussed on a specific issue within that specialisation.

4. Credit will not normally be granted for more than one third of the total number of units of the award. Applications for credit must be based on equivalent masters study and be additional to entry requirements. Students will apply for credit in the first instance to the specialisation coordinator/course coordinator who will forward their recommendation to the Program Director for approval. The Program Director will consult with specialisation coordinators and/or course coordinators, as appropriate.

Notes

1. Domestic students considering further research studies at doctoral level should enrol in the Coursework with Minor Thesis schedule and complete three specialisation courses, the Research Design course and the two Minor Thesis courses. Students can change to an applied research strand on completion of the first 18 units.

2. Students can enrol in a 4.5 unit course from another specialisation instead of enrolling in EDUC 5204 Contemporary Practice in Education Research (4.5 units). If students choose this option they must enrol in EDUC 5070 Practitioner Inquiry 1.

3. Students can enrol in a 4.5 unit course from another specialisation instead of enrolling in EDUC 5070 Practitioner Inquiry 1 (4.5 units). If students choose this option they must enrol in EDUC 5204 Contemporary Practice in Education Research.

4. Students can enrol in 2 x 4.5 unit specialisation courses from another specialisation instead of undertaking EDUC 5030 Project in Education (9 units).

5. Instead of enrolling in EDUC 5033 Research Methods and Issues in Education (9 units), students have the option to enrol in either EDUC 5204 Contemporary Practice in Education Research (4.5 units) or EDUC 5070 Practitioner Inquiry 1 (4.5 units) plus an additional 4.5 unit course from another specialisation.

6. Students selecting the Education Leadership and Management specialisation must complete these three courses as core. Students then select one course from the remaining three courses listed.

7. Not all specialisations will be available every year. For information about specialisation offerings, contact the School of Education at Magill campus.