The Graduate Diploma of Special Education is a specialist qualification designed for teachers who wish to acquire basic training in special education. The course provides teachers with basic training in Special Education and the opportunity to increase their status in the teaching profession, obtain four-year trained salaries, increase eligibility for promotion and gain recognition as a teacher with special professional qualifications.
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 three-year Diploma of Teaching or Bachelor of Teaching degree;
or
be a graduate of an approved tertiary institution with an end-on integrated professional qualification in teaching;
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.
Course requirements
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 8 eight- credit point subjects one of which is the Practicum component that must be passed at a satisfactory standard. With respect to those teachers who are already employed in a special education setting, the Practicum component may not be supervised. A supervisor's report may be required to provide evidence that the student is performing the role in a satisfactory manner.
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)
Year 1
Session 2 (Spring)
Year 2
Session 3 (Autumn)
Year 2
Session 4 (Spring)
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.
