Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) 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.

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

Admission requirements

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.

Limited credit may be granted for topics taken at the University or other institutions. 

Course aims

The Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) aims to qualify graduates who apply a specialised body of content and pedagogical knowledge, skills and dispositions to:

• plan, implement and advocate transformative teaching and learning in the field of early childhood education
• enact policies and practices that take account of social and individual difference, ensuring that all children learn in supportive and just environments
• work independently and collaboratively with children, colleagues and communities to construct and assess inclusive and intellectually challenging curriculum for children aged birth to 8 years
• engage in critical reflection and continuing professional learning through a variety of pathways including research-based projects

Learning outcomes

On completion of the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood) graduates will be able to:

• synthesise in-depth, current knowledge and an integrated understanding of the theories, content and processes of learning and teaching in the field of early childhood education
• 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 mutually respectful and socially just learning environments for children aged birth to 8 years
• communicate respectfully with students, colleagues, parents and communities to enhance professional practice and student learning in the field of early childhood education
• apply the cognitive, technical and creative skills to construct and assess inclusive and challenging curriculum for children aged birth to 8 years
• demonstrate and apply sound knowledge of research principles and methods to execute a research based project in early childhood education
• commit to ongoing professional learning to do with new discourses, debates and issues in education as they arise in the field of early childhood education
• demonstrate dispositions towards relational and transformative education and a strong sense of themselves as agents, advocates and leading professionals in the field of early childhood education.

Credit

Limited credit may be granted for recognition of prior studies undertaken at the University or other approved tertiary institutions. Further information is available on this page.

Program of study

To qualify for the Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), a student must:

• complete 72 units of postgraduate education studies as set out below, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic; and
• meet the required benchmark in the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to undertaking the final professional experience topic. Students must normally meet the benchmark within two attempts. Further attempts may be recommended by the Dean (Education) under exceptional circumstances.

Except with the permission of the Dean (Education):

• no compulsory topic may be taken more than twice
• teaching practicum topics may not be attempted more than once
• students must undertake the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students (LANTITE) prior to undertaking the final professional experience topic.

Students should note that teaching practicum topics require full-time commitment for their duration.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 EDUC9120  Introduction to Teaching and Research in the Education Profession (4.5 units)
 EDUC9123  Pedagogies of Belonging (4.5 units)
 EDUC9126  Making Meaning in the Expressive Arts (4.5 units) 
 EDUC9127  Thinking and Working Scientifically in the Early Years (4.5 units)
 EDUC9130  Professional Experience: An Introduction (Early Childhood) (0 units)
 EDUC9222  Researching Play and Pedagogies (4.5 units)
 EDUC9223  The Numerate and Literate Infant (4.5 units)
 EDUC9224  Being a Mathematician (4-8) (4.5 units)
 EDUC9231  Professional Experience 1: Early Childhood  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 EDUC9301  Curriculum and Pedagogy in the Early Years  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9302  Exploring Language, Literature, Literacies (4-8) (4.5 units)
 EDUC9303  Critical Pedagogies for a Changing World (4.5 units)
 EDUC9304  Professional Experience: Final Assessment (Early Childhood) (4.5 units)
 EDUC9400  Teaching Indigenous Australian Students GE  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9401  Teacher as Researcher (4.5 units)
 EDUC9403  Numeracy and Multiliteracies in Design and Technology (4.5 units)
 EDUC9405  Social Understandings of Health and Well-Being in the Early Years (4.5 units)