• Program summary
• Program overview
• Admission requirements
• Program structure
• Program requirements and notes
• Enquiries

Program summary

Program title: Graduate Diploma in Education
QTAC code: 017081 Sippy Downs
                    017981 Noosa #
OP/Rank for 2010 entry: GPA requirement
Award abbreviation: GDEd
Degree type: coursework
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Commence: Semester 1 or Semester 2
Fee type 2010: Commonwealth supported places, postgraduate coursework places, international fee-paying places
Calendar: Education calendar 2010 (PDF 20KB) 
Total courses: 8
USC program code: ED601
CRICOS code: 058884B

# Students can apply to undertake Pathway C of the Graduate Diploma in Education at the USC Noosa Centre. Please note that only Pathway C will be available at Noosa and only as a first semester entry.

Program overview

The overall purpose of the Graduate Diploma in Education is to provide its graduates with the professional studies, knowledge and skills required to become a teacher. This complements previous discipline studies achieved through the successful completion of an undergraduate degree with education studies, curriculum and pedagogical studies and workplace learning experiences.

The program will prepare graduates across a number of pathways: Senior Phase (Years 8–12) with two teaching areas, Middle Phase (Years 4–9) and Early Learning (Years P–3). For students in both the middle and early phase pathway, the primary curriculum will also be a focus of study. Middle phase students will require at least one teaching area, drawn from their undergraduate degree. It is assumed that the undergraduate degree of students entering both the middle phase and early phase pathways provides sufficient breadth to confidently teach across a number of Key Learning Areas (KLAs).

For further information about KLAs and teaching areas in Queensland, please visit the Queensland Studies Authority website.

Workplace Learning (WPL) is an integral aspect of this professional studies course reflecting the nexus between practice and theory. In-depth WPL is gained within two workplace learning practice courses for two blocks of 30 days each plus 20 days broader field experiences, called Community Participation. The program is attributes focused with multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate the achievement of the professional attributes outlined in the USC Teacher Attribute Framework. The attributes reflect the expectations outlined in the National Framework of Beginning Teacher competencies, the Professional Standards for Teachers (EQ2003) and the University Graduate Attributes.

Admission requirements

Students from a non-English speaking background will be required to attain an IELTS level of seven in each category of the test.  Equivalent scores from other forms of English language testing may be considered.

Pathway A: Graduate Diploma in Education (Senior—Years 8–12)

QTAC code: 017081 Sippy Downs

Completion of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognised tertiary institution and must have completed at least one-third of the degree in the nominated first teaching area and one-sixth in the nominated second teaching area, application to some teaching areas may require an interview and/or portfolio or audition.

Pathway C: Graduate Diploma in Education (Middle Phase—Years 4–9)

QTAC code: 017081 Sippy Downs
                    017981 Noosa Site

Completion of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognised tertiary institution and must have completed at least one-third of the degree in a nominated first teaching area. It is assumed that the undergraduate degree, in addition to the nominated teaching area, has sufficient breadth to enable the student to confidently address the range of teaching areas that is expected by most middle phase schooling contexts - usually upper primary school or lower secondary school.

Pathway E: Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) — not available to domestic students

Completion of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognised tertiary institution. It is assumed that the undergraduate degree has sufficient breadth to enable the student to confidently address the range of teaching areas that is expected in most primary schooling contexts.

Pathway H: Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Learning—Years P–3)

QTAC code: 017081 Sippy Downs

Completion of a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a recognised tertiary institution. It is assumed that the undergraduate degree has sufficient breadth to enable the student to confidently address the range of teaching areas that is expected in most early learning contexts.

Program structure

Pathway A: Graduate Diploma in Education (Senior—Years 8–12)

8 required courses:
EDU600 Becoming a Teacher
EDU101 Learning about Learning
EDU201 Language and Literacies in Education
EDU610 Workplace Learning: Learning Engagement(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU612 Workplace Learning: Professional Engagement(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU220 Middle Phase Curriculum: Pedagogies for New Times
EDU221 Middle Phase Curriculum 2: Assessment for Learning
EDU630 Senior Phase Curriculum

Optional additional program:
Graduate Certificate in Vocational Education and Training

Pathway C: Graduate Diploma in Education (Middle Phase—Years 4–9)

8 required courses:
EDU600
EDU101 Human Development and Learning
EDU201
EDU610(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU612(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU220
EDU221
EDU342

Optional additional program:
Graduate Certificate in Early Phase of Learning

Pathway E: Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary) — not available to domestic students

8 required courses:
EDU600
EDU101 Human Development and Learning
EDU610(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU612(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU340 Teaching Reading and Writing
EDU641
EDU342
EDU652

Pathway H: Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Learning—Years P–3)

EDU600
EDU305
EDU610(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU612(30 days Workplace Learning)
EDU340 Teaching Reading and Writing
EDU641
EDU652
Select 1 course from:
EDU343
EDU344 Leadership and Advocacy in Early Learning

Program requirements and notes

1. Students are required to successfully complete 8 courses as specified in the Graduate Diploma in Education program structure.
2. Refer to the Academic Rules for further information.
3. Refer to the recommended enrolment patterns.
4. International students need to refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements. Students from a non-English speaking background will be required to attain an IELTS level of 7 in each category of the test prior to entry as an admission requirement. Equivalent scores from other forms of English language testing may be considered.
5. Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
6. As required by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Act (2000), pre-service teachers must undergo a criminal history check and be issued with a Suitability Card (Blue Card) by the Commission to allow them to undertake field experience in a school or centre in which children under 18 years of age are present. It is now a requirement of all Queensland sites and most Australian sites that pre-service teachers have obtained the Blue Card prior to starting professional workplace learning.
7. Students will be required to have completed or be concurrently enrolled in three on campus courses before they are eligible to enrol in a workplace learning course. Where early assessment tasks indicate that a student may fail a course, the course coordinator will advise the program leader. The program leader, in consultation with the student and the workplace learning team will determine whether the student will be eligible to continue into work placement in that semester.
8. Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including, for example, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, and examinations.
9. Refer to the Education calendar 2010 (PDF 20KB).

Requirements for placements

The Commission for Children and Young People Act (2000 and 2005) applies to all pre-service teachers who will be working with children/students under the age of 18 in Queensland settings as a component of their program of pre-service education. Blue Cards are issued by the Commission once it has carried out the Working with Children Check to see if a person is eligible. If a person is eligible, they are issued a positive notice and a Blue Card.

• Blue Cards and how to apply

Education students are encouraged to apply for their Blue Card as soon as they have accepted their offer to avoid processing delays. Blue Cards are free of charge for Education students when they apply through the Professional Workplace Learning office (Level 2, C Building).

Note: Students who do not possess a current Blue Card will be unable to complete the professional experience component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.

Enquiries

How to apply

Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Tel: +61 7 5459 4699
Email: education@usc.edu.au

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