Master of Teaching (Special Education)

Admission requirements

Primary Specialisation:

Applicants must have completed an appropriate undergraduate degree or approved equivalent.

Approved undergraduate majors are: 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.

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 Specialisation:

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.

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 or secondary school settings, including students with disabilities, learning and/or behavioural difficulties.

Master of Teaching (Special Education) Primary

This specialisation 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

This specialisation 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

Master of Teaching (Special Education) Primary

On completion of this course 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

On completion of this course 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

Every effort has been made to ensure the information published on the Course Rule pages is accurate at the time of publication. Flinders University reserves the right to amend its curriculum without prior notice, and will update the Course Rules to reflect any amendments at the earliest opportunity.