Special and Inclusive Education

The Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education) program is designed to help candidates develop the skills, knowledge and values needed to specialise in teaching children with special education needs, or to qualify for appointments as leaders, consultants and resources personnel in special education.

Although graduates are in high demand in mainstream education for their contributions to school communities, the special-education sector – where less than half of all teachers have a formal specialist qualification – remains the staple employer.

The master's program – but not the graduate certificate or graduate diploma – is recognised by the NSW Department of Education as a formal qualification in special and inclusive education, provided that all the units studied are from the Special and Inclusive Education designation.

Outcomes

At the conclusion of this designated degree students should be able to:

• understand current Australian legislation and articulate the implications for the provision of education programs for students with disabilities.
• critically evaluate research, reports and policy documents related to education and associated fields.
• demonstrate an understanding of evidence-based instructional practices, and how they can be applied and adjusted to meet the needs of students with special education.
• develop an understanding of universal design for learning and apply across planning, instruction and environment.
• draw on research and practice in special and inclusive education research in Australia and overseas, to inform and evaluate their practices.
• demonstrate a highly proficient set of problem-solving skills to address the learning needs of students with special education needs within a range of contexts.
• critically examine learning and social contexts in reference to the principles of inclusion.
• demonstrate the key skills and knowledge of collaboration with and between teachers, parents, support personnel, students, and community agencies to deliver a quality inclusive educational program.
• develop, justify and critique approaches to supporting behaviour within a range of learning contexts.
• demonstrate an understanding of how to promote literacy, numeracy and social capabilities to meet the personal needs of all students.
• develop knowledge and leadership skills to support educational providers to develop inclusive educational environments.

Awards and requirements

Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education)
To qualify for the award of Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education) candidates must complete 8 units of study (48 credit points), including

• a minimum of 5 units of study (30 credit points) from this specialisation, comprising:
  - 2 units of study (12 credit points) of core units; and
  - a minimum of 3 units of study (18 credit points) of elective units; plus
• a minimum of 1 unit of study (6 credit points) of capstone units of study; and
• a maximum of 2 units of study (12 credit points) of postgraduate Education units which can be chosen from any designation within the Master of Education program.

Formal Special and Inclusive Education Recognition
Candidates who hold a teaching qualification and intend on seeking recognition in Special and Inclusive Education by the New South Wales Department of Education are required to undertake all units of study from the Special and Inclusive Education table.

Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Special and Inclusive Education)
To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (Special and Inclusive Education) candidates must complete 6 units of study (36 credit points), including

• a minimum of 5 units of study (30 credit points) from this designation, comprising:
  - 2 units (12 credit points) of core units; and
  - a minimum of 3 units (18 credit points) of elective units from the table below; plus
• a maximum of 1 unit (6 credit points) of postgraduate Education units from any specialisation within the Master of Education program.

Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Special and Inclusive Education)
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Special and Inclusive Education) candidates must complete 4 units of study (24 credit points), including

• 2 units (12 credit points) of core units; and
• 2 units (12 credit points) of elective units from this specialisation in the table below.

Contact

Associate Professor David Evans
Phone: 02 9351 8463
Location: Room 707, Education Building, A35
Email: