Master of Specialist Inclusive Education

2023 Deakin University Handbook

Note: You are seeing the 2023 view of this course information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]

Year	2023 course information
Award granted	Master of Specialist Inclusive Education
Course Map	These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2023: Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2023: Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 These course maps are for new students commencing from Trimester 3 2023: Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Online	Yes
Duration	Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, the Master of Specialist Inclusive Education is typically between 1-year full time (2-years part time) - 8 credit points, and 1.5 years full time (3-years part time) - 12 credit points Deakin courses can also be studied part time over a longer period.
Deakin course code	E734
Approval status	This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Note: This is not an initial teacher education qualification. Students wishing to enter the profession of teaching should instead consider one of our five Master of Teaching courses or E737 Master of Applied Learning and Teaching (Secondary)

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Specialist Inclusive Education equips qualified primary or secondary teachers with advanced knowledge of contemporary education issues and inclusive education practices within school systems.

Are you passionate about enabling all students to reach their full potential through an equitable standard of education?

Deakin’s Master of Specialist Inclusive Education gives you the tools to instil positive teaching practices in the classroom and beyond. You’ll gain highly specialised knowledge and skills to ensure the accessibility, participation and success for students with diverse educational needs.

The course explores the implementation of social justice policy and addresses topics of gender, sexuality, social class, race, ethnicity, disability and the intersections between them. You’ll learn how to provide high-quality, inclusive education to students with disabilities and/or additional learning needs. Plus, you’ll graduate with advanced level, specialist skills that enable you to mentor other teachers and professionals involved in developing personalised, inclusive educational programs.

We maintain close links with the education sector – like the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) and Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) – to ensure our courses are developed and reviewed with industry and professional input. You’ll be taught by staff with experience in the sector that are recognised as leaders and innovators in their fields – so you can be confident that what you learn at Deakin will be relevant to your teaching career.

Plus, our strong links to international universities, including the University of Sheffield (UK) and Aarhus University (Denmark), ensure you (and your career) benefit from a globally aligned approach to inclusive education.

Through a combination of theory, research and professional experience you’ll gain high-level critical thinking and evaluative research skills that are transferable across a variety of educational settings, including both mainstream and specialist schools. With increasingly diverse student populations driving the amalgamation of mainstream and specialist schools, this highly sought-after skill set will truly set you apart from your peers.

Professional recognition

The Master of Specialist Inclusive Education holds VIT program endorsement for specialist teaching in combination with an approved pre-service education qualification

International students and permanent residents

Graduates intending to apply for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) will be required to demonstrate:

an IELTS average band score of 7.5 across all four skill areas (where there is no score below 7 in any of the four skills areas)
a score of no less than 8 in speaking and listening.

Read the VIT's Qualification for Teachers Registration policy for full details.

Career opportunities

The contemporary need for teachers to successfully identify and address complex learning challenges in the classroom is growing.

As a graduate, you’ll be qualified to meet the Department of Education and Training (DET) requirements for employment related to special educational needs across a range of educational settings in Australia and overseas, including:

specialist schools
specialist developmental schools
mainstream primary and secondary schools.

You’ll be well prepared to take a critically reflective, research-oriented approach to your practice and better equipped to pursue leadership positions.

The course also presents a clear pathway for those looking to study a higher degree by research.

For more information go to 'DeakinTALENT'

Alternative exits

Research information

Students are able to undertake one of three options for research training and research in the course. Each option has a common foundation that is based on an introductory unit of one credit point in research design & method. This research study is then further supported by one of the three research options:

Option 1: application of the research training through a one credit point research based project for professional practice;

Option 2: advanced research training of one credit point of either quantitative or qualitative research methods; and Research Paper (2 credit points);

Option 3: advanced research training of one credit point of either quantitative or qualitative research methods; and Minor Thesis (4 credit points).

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on your course, the type of fee place you hold, your commencement year, the units you choose and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. Further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods is available on our Current students fees website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Integrate, analyse, evaluate and critically review inclusive education theoretical foundations and practices, and create and apply specialist pedagogies, curriculum and assessments across a range of educational contexts.
Communication	Develop personal, professional and scholarly communication strategies for application to varied channels of communication (including oral, written, digital and/or augmented) that effectively supports partnerships between specialist and non-specialist stakeholders of inclusive learning in diverse contexts.
Digital literacy	Critically analyse, design, implement and evaluate high quality, credible, adaptive digital resources to support equitable access, participation and engagement in learning for all students.
Critical thinking	Analyse the interrelationship between philosophies, theories and practices of inclusive education to inform strategies that advance equitable access and positive learning outcomes for students and complex learning partnerships.
Problem solving	Critically analyse, reflect and use professional and ethical judgement to realise creative, positive and inclusive solutions to complex teaching and learning problems across a range of learning partnerships.
Self-management	Actively engage in critical reflective practice and ongoing professional learning and support the development of inclusive communities of practice, cross-disciplinary dialogue and scholarship.
Teamwork	Collaborate, build, contribute to and lead learning partnerships and multidisciplinary teams across a range of diverse contexts to advance the inclusive learning and development of all learners.
Global citizenship	Analyse national and international practice and theory of inclusive education in relation to legal, ethical and policy frameworks to address issues of equity and social justice across diverse communities in a global context.
Approved by Faculty Board July 2017

Course rules

The Master of Specialist Inclusive Education is typically 12 credit points.

The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money.

To be awarded a Master of Specialist Inclusive Education, students are required to successfully complete the following:

AAI018 Academic Integrity (0 credit point compulsory unit)
3 credit points of compulsory core units (EIE702, EXE732, EEI715)
3 credit points of professional experience units (EEI703, EEI704 and EEI705)
6 credit points of study that combine research and course elective units (list A) in one of the following three options:

Option 1

2 credit points of research units (EDX701 and EDX707)

And

4 credit points of course elective units selected from ESP701, ECP711, ECP703, EIE704, ECM720, ECM723

[ECM720 replaces ECM712 from 2023]

Option 2

4 credit points of research units including a 2 credit point research paper (EDX701, EDX712, EDX703, EDX704)

And

2 credit points of course elective units selected from ESP701, ECP711, ECP703, EIE704, ECM720, ECM723

Option 3

6 credit points of research units which include a minor thesis (EDX701, EDX712, EDX705 and EDX706)