Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education

The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education is an 18-unit course offered by the College of Education, Psychology and Social Work on campus and in distance mode.

The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education encapsulates a critical and contemporary understanding of inclusion in education. Topics provide knowledge and skills to better understand diverse students, their learning needs, and how to modify curriculum, environments, and social interactions to better support them. Theories, principles, and strategies to effectively differentiate are explored. A range of learning difficulties are investigated, considering implications in diverse settings. Whole school behavioural approaches and classroom ecologies are explored to better understand relationships between individuals, environments, and instruction.

The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education is professionally-oriented and is intended for people currently employed in the field of education and those who have an interest in further enhancing their knowledge and practice in special education.

The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education articulates with the Master of Inclusive and Specialised Education and the Master of Education.

• Admission requirements
  
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved Bachelor of Education degree or equivalent qualification in education, disability studies, psychology, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy or a closely related discipline from an approved tertiary institution.

However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

This course provides students with opportunities to critically examine recent literature, engage in debate and reflection, and expand and apply in-depth knowledge to develop:

• critical understanding of the relationship between specialised education and inclusion
• skills in understanding, analysing, evaluating and interpreting current inclusive education research
• knowledge of the interdependency of curriculum, instruction, assessment, learning and behaviour
• the skills necessary to effectively differentiate learning experiences for diverse students
• an understanding of positive, whole-school approaches to support student behaviour

Learning outcomes 

On completion of this course you will be able to:

• justify a critical understanding of inclusion, informed by current research, legislation, and international treaties
• integrate knowledge of inclusive education practices to be applied in different contexts
• evaluate appropriate whole-school approaches to student behaviour, including PBIS
• formulate key principles of differentiation to meet diverse student needs
• support collaborative trans-disciplinary teams to provide an integrated approach to behaviour, learning and teaching

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Inclusive Education, a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP, or better, in each topic according to the program of study below.

Core - Year 1 topics

4.5 units comprising:

EDUC8129  Contemporary Issues in Special Education (4.5 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

13.5 units of option topics selected from the following list:

EDUC9307  Educational Planning and Assessment for Students with Diverse Learning Needs  (4.5 units)
EDUC9406  Differentiation and Inclusive Educational Practices  (4.5 units)
EDUC9504  Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Support  (4.5 units)
EDUC9521  Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities  (4.5 units)