The Master of Teaching (Special Education) is a pre-service teacher education course which requires two years of study (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work.
Student may elect to undertake the Primary R-7 stream or the Secondary stream. Additional entry requirements apply for the secondary stream.
Admission requirements
Primary Stream:
Applicants must have completed an appropriate undergraduate degree or approved equivalent.
Applicants must complete a non-academic capabilities assessment task that is based on the Australian Institute for Teaching and school Leadership Initial Teacher Education standards.
Secondary Stream:
Applicants must hold an approved undergraduate Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification with topics which cover at least one subject (preferably two) specialisation in education.
Specialisations normally offered are: Business Education, English, Drama, Mathematics, Information Technology, Modern languages (restricted to Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Indonesian, German and Modern Greek), Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Sciences), Visual Arts, Health Education, Physical Education, History, Geography, Legal Studies, Politics, Psychology, Nutrition, Tourism, TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) and Womens’ Studies. Not all teaching specialisations are offered every year.
Applicants must complete a non-academic capabilities assessment task that is based on the Australian Institute for Teaching and school Leadership Initial Teacher Education standards.
Note that in South Australia, to teach to year 10, four undergraduate semester topics in the teaching area are needed; to teach to Year 12, six undergraduate semester topics in the teaching area are needed.
Course aims
The Master of Teaching (Special Education) degree aims to support teacher education students to become effective teachers of students in either primary school (R-7) or secondary school settings, including students with disabilities, learning and/or behavioural difficulties.
Master of Teaching (Special Education) Primary R-7 Stream
This stream aims to qualify graduates who apply an advanced body of content and pedagogical knowledge, skills and dispositions to:
- plan, implement and advocate transformative teaching and learning in the primary years
- enact policies and practices that take account of social and individual difference, ensuring that all children learn in safe and just environments
- negotiate independently and collaboratively with children, colleagues and communities to construct and assess inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum in the primary years
- engage in critical reflection and continuing professional learning through a variety of pathways including research-based special education projects.
Master of Teaching (Special Education) Secondary Stream
This stream aims to qualify graduates who apply an advanced body of content and pedagogical knowledge, skills and dispositions to:
- plan, implement and advocate transformative teaching and learning in the secondary years
- enact policies and practices that take account of social and individual difference, ensuring that all young people learn in safe and just environments
- negotiate independently and collaboratively with young people, colleagues and communities to construct and assess inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum in the secondary years
- engage in critical reflection and continuing professional learning through a variety of pathways including research-based special education projects.
Learning outcomes
In undertaking this Masters program students will:
Master of Teaching (Special Education) Primary R-7 Stream
On completion of this stream graduates will be able to:
- synthesise in-depth, current knowledge and an integrated understanding of the theories, content and processes of learning and teaching diverse students in the primary years
- articulate advanced knowledge and reflexivity regarding children’s development and individual and social differences, including for Indigenous Australians
- apply the cognitive, technical and creative skills and dispositions to create and maintain inclusive, mutually respectful and socially just learning environments in the primary years
- communicate respectfully with students, colleagues, parents and communities to enhance professional practice, student learning in primary schools, and to advocate for students with special needs
- apply the cognitive, technical and creative skills to construct and assess inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum in the primary years
- demonstrate and apply sound knowledge of research principles and methods to execute a research based project in special education
- commit to ongoing professional learning to do with new discourses, debates and issues in special education as they arise in the primary years
- demonstrate dispositions towards relational and transformative education and a strong sense of themselves as agents, advocates and leading professionals in the primary years.
Master of Teaching (Special Education) Secondary Stream
On completion of this stream graduates will be able to:
- synthesise in-depth, current knowledge and an integrated understanding of the theories, content and processes of learning and teaching diverse students in the secondary years
- articulate advanced knowledge and reflexivity regarding young people’s development and individual and social differences, including for Indigenous Australians.
- apply the cognitive, technical and creative skills and dispositions to create and maintain inclusive, mutually respectful and socially just learning environments for all young people
- communicate respectfully with young people, colleagues, parents and communities to enhance professional practice, student learning in secondary schools, and to advocate for students with special needs
- apply the cognitive, technical and creative skills to construct and assess inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum in the secondary years
- demonstrate and apply sound knowledge of research principles and methods to execute a research based project in special education
- commit to ongoing professional learning to do with new discourses, debates and issues in special education as they arise in the secondary years
- demonstrate dispositions towards relational and transformative education and a strong sense of themselves as agents, advocates and leading professionals in the secondary years.
Program of study
