Master of Specialist Inclusive Education

Course summary for local students

Year

2024 course information

Award granted Master of Specialist Inclusive Education
OnlineYes
Length

Depending on your professional experience and previous qualifications, the Master of Specialist Inclusive Education is typically between

  • 1 year full-time (2 years part-time) - 8 credit points, and 1.5 years full-time (3 years part-time) - 12 credit points

Deakin courses can also be studied part-time over a longer period

CSP annual fee (indicative) - commencing 2024$4,445 for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
Faculty contacts

Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.

LevelHigher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
Deakin course code E734
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Note: This is not an initial teacher education qualification. Students wishing to enter the profession of teaching should instead consider one of our five Master of Teaching courses or E737 Master of Applied Learning and Teaching (Secondary)

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Master of Specialist Inclusive Education equips qualified primary or secondary teachers with advanced knowledge of contemporary education issues and inclusive education practices within school systems.

Are you passionate about enabling all students to reach their full potential through an equitable standard of education?

Deakin’s Master of Specialist Inclusive Education gives you the tools to instil positive teaching practices in the classroom and beyond. You’ll gain highly specialised knowledge and skills to ensure the accessibility, participation and success for students with diverse educational needs.

The course explores the implementation of social justice policy and addresses topics of gender, sexuality, social class, race, ethnicity, disability and the intersections between them. You’ll learn how to provide high-quality, inclusive education to students with disabilities and/or additional learning needs. Plus, you will graduate with advanced level, specialist skills that enable you to mentor other teachers and professionals involved in developing personalised, inclusive educational programs.

We maintain close links with the education sector – like the Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) and Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) – to ensure our courses are developed and reviewed with industry and professional input. You’ll be taught by staff with experience in the sector that are recognised as leaders and innovators in their fields – so you can be confident that what you learn at Deakin will be relevant to your teaching career.

Plus, our strong links to international universities, including the University of Sheffield (UK) and Aarhus University (Denmark), ensure you (and your career) benefit from a globally aligned approach to inclusive education.

Through a combination of theory, research and professional experience you will gain high-level critical thinking and evaluative research skills that are transferable across a variety of educational settings, including both mainstream and specialist schools. With increasingly diverse student populations driving the amalgamation of mainstream and specialist schools, this highly sought-after skill set will truly set you apart from your peers.

Professional recognition

The Master of Specialist Inclusive Education holds VIT program endorsement for specialist teaching in combination with an approved pre-service education qualification

International students and permanent residents

Graduates intending to apply for registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) will be required to demonstrate:

  • an IELTS average band score of 7.5 across all four skill areas (where there is no score below 7 in any of the four skills areas)
  • a score of no less than 8 in speaking and listening.

Read the VIT's Qualification for Teachers Registration policy for full details.

Fees and charges

The available fee places for this course are detailed above.

Tuition fees are determined by your enrolment:

  • If you are offered a full fee paying place, your tuition fees are calculated based on your course.
  • If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are calculated depending on the units you choose. A limited number of Commonwealth supported places are available for this course.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning.

One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.

You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.

Learn more about fees and available payment options.

Career opportunities

The contemporary need for teachers to successfully identify and address complex learning challenges in the classroom is growing.

As a graduate, you will be qualified to meet the Department of Education and Training (DET) requirements for employment related to special educational needs across a range of educational settings in Australia and overseas, including:

  • specialist schools
  • specialist developmental schools
  • mainstream primary and secondary schools.

You’ll be well prepared to take a critically reflective, research-oriented approach to your practice and better equipped to pursue leadership positions.

The course also presents a clear pathway for those looking to study a higher degree by research.

For more information go to 'DeakinTALENT'

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

Integrate, analyse, evaluate and critically review inclusive education theoretical foundations and practices, and create and apply specialist pedagogies, curriculum and assessments across a range of educational contexts.

Communication

Develop personal, professional and scholarly communication strategies for application to varied channels of communication (including oral, written, digital and/or augmented) that effectively supports partnerships between specialist and non-specialist stakeholders of inclusive learning in diverse contexts.

Digital literacy

Critically analyse, design, implement and evaluate high quality, credible, adaptive digital resources to support equitable access, participation and engagement in learning for all students.

Critical thinking

Analyse the interrelationship between philosophies, theories and practices of inclusive education to inform strategies that advance equitable access and positive learning outcomes for students and complex learning partnerships.

Problem solving

Critically analyse, reflect and use professional and ethical judgement to realise creative, positive and inclusive solutions to complex teaching and learning problems across a range of learning partnerships.

Self-management

Actively engage in critical reflective practice and ongoing professional learning and support the development of inclusive communities of practice, cross-disciplinary dialogue and scholarship.

Teamwork

Collaborate, build, contribute to and lead learning partnerships and multidisciplinary teams across a range of diverse contexts to advance the inclusive learning and development of all learners.

Global citizenship

Analyse national and international practice and theory of inclusive education in relation to legal, ethical and policy frameworks to address issues of equity and social justice across diverse communities in a global context.

Approved by Faculty Board July 2017

Course rules

The Master of Specialist Inclusive Education is typically 12 credit points.

The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money.

To be awarded a Master of Specialist Inclusive Education, students are required to successfully complete the following:

  • DAI001 Academic Integrity (0 credit point compulsory unit)
  • 3 credit points of compulsory core units
  • 2 credit points of professional experience units
  • 7 credit points of study that combine research and course elective units (list A) in one of the following three options:

Option 1

2 credit points of research units (EDX701 and EDX707)

And

5 credit points of course elective units selected from ESP701, ECP711, ECP703, EIE704, ECM720, ECM723, IND720

[ECM720 replaces ECM712]

Option 2

4 credit points of research units including a 2 credit point research paper (EDX701, EDX712, EDX703, EDX704)

And

3 credit points of course elective units selected from ESP701, ECP711, ECP703, EIE704, ECM720, ECM723, IND720

Option 3

6 credit points of research units which include a minor thesis (EDX701, EDX712, EDX705 and EDX706)

And

1 credit point of Course Elective from List A

Research information

Students are able to undertake one of three options for research training and research in the course. Each option has a common foundation that is based on an introductory unit of one credit point in research design & method. This research study is then further supported by one of the three research options:

Option 1: application of the research training through a one credit point research based project for professional practice;

Option 2: advanced research training of one credit point of either quantitative or qualitative research methods; and Research Paper (2 credit points);

Option 3: advanced research training of one credit point of either quantitative or qualitative research methods; and Minor Thesis (4 credit points).

Course structure

Core units

EIE702Teaching and Learning in the Inclusive Classroom

EXE732Social Justice and Difference

EEI715Effective Classroom Management: Positive Learning Environments

Professional experience units

EEI704Advanced Inclusive Practice

EEI705Practicum: Specialist Inclusive Education

EEI703 Personalised Program Planning [No longer available for enrolment]

Research Options

Option 1

2 credit points of research units

EDX701Research Design Development and Method

EDX707Independent Research Project for Professional Practice

Plus

5 credit points of electives

Option 2

4 credit points of research units including a 2 credit point research paper

EDX701Research Design Development and Method

EDX712Theory and Methodology in Education Research

EDX703Research Paper A

EDX704Research Paper B

Plus

3 credit points of electives

Option 3

6 credit points of research units which include a minor thesis

EDX701Research Design Development and Method

EDX712Theory and Methodology in Education Research

EDX705Minor Thesis A (2 credit points)

EDX706Minor Thesis B (2 credit points)

Plus

1 credit point of Course Elective from List A below

Course Electives List A

ESP701Education and Development of Exceptional Learners

ECP711Creativity and the Arts

ECP703Child Protection

EIE704Supporting Communication in Inclusive Classrooms

ECM720Educational Context, Policy and Leadership in Challenging Times

ECM723Leading and Managing Innovation, Change and Improvement

IND720Decolonising Teaching and Learning: Recognition, Relationships, and Reconciliation On Unceded Land

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • completion of a bachelor degree or masters in the field of Education that is a recognised initial teacher qualification for the purposes of registration as a primary or secondary teacher in Australia

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

  • IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0) speaking and listening 7.5
  • TOEFL iBT: minimum overall score of 102 (with minimum score of 24 in reading and speaking, 27 in listening and writing)
  • PTE Academic: minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65) speaking and listening 73

English-speaking education:

  • completion of a bachelor or master degree in a recognised English-speaking country or completion of DUELI English for Teaching program, with a WAM of 60

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

Credit for prior learning - general

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.


Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.