1997 Postgraduate Handbook

Master of Education (Special Education)

The Master of Education (Special Education) is a specialist qualification designed for professionals who work in special education or who help people with disabilities.

The course is designed to:

• build on previous study/experience and examine closely the theory that underpins practices aimed at helping people with disabilities; and,
• broaden perspectives through study of practices in a variety of settings and through analysis of relevant research.

Enrolment through

Bathurst campus

Study mode

Distance education

Normal course duration

Part-time 2 years

The minimum time requirement for part-time candidature is two years and the maximum time four years.

Admission criteria

Applicants must:

hold a Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent from an approved tertiary institution;
or
be a graduate of an approved tertiary institution with an end-on integrated professional qualification in teaching, speech pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology or nursing;
or
possess other qualifications deemed to be equivalent by the Faculty of Education;
and
have been engaged in appropriate professional experience for the equivalent of two full-time years;
and
have access to clients in educational or other settings for the completion of practical exercises;
and
complete any additional qualifying subjects or course prescribed by the Faculty Board.

Course requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 8 eight- credit point subjects.

There will be an Orientation Day held on a Saturday in the Autumn session each year for all students enrolled in this course to introduce new and continuing students to staff, other students and library resources. The date of the Orientation Day will be advised through the Open Learning Institute at the commencement of the Autumn session.

Residential school

There are no compulsory residential schools. One voluntary residential school will be conducted in Autumn session of the first year only. This will be held in the Easter school vacation.

Course structure

Year 1
Session I (Autumn)

• ESS503 Systems & Services
• ESS514 Issues in Special Education

Year 1
Session 2 (Spring)

• EER500 Educational Research: An Introduction
• ESS504 Working with Families

Year 2
Session 3 (Autumn)

• ESS501 Learning Theory Applications
• ESS513 Communication Disorders
  or
• ESS505 Appraising Research In Special Education

Year 2
Session 4 (Spring)

• ESS511 Inclusion Studies
• ESS512 Curriculum for Individuals with Learning Disabilities

• or
  • ESS506 Special Education Project

For students wishing to proceed by undertaking an investigation and produce a report of approximately 15 000 words, the structure of the second year is as follows:

Year 2
Session 3 (Autumn)

• ESS501 Learning Theory Applications
• ESS505 Appraising Research In Special Education

Year 2
Session 4 (Spring)

• ESS506 Special Education Project (2 subject project) = 16 credit points

Inquiries

Course Coordinator
Dr David H. McKinnon
School of Teacher Education
Telephone: (063) 38 4235 or 063 38 4410
Facsimile: (063) 38 4417 or (063) 38 4469
email: dmckinno@csu.edu.au

Last Revised: 25 November 1996.