The special education specialisation of the Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies is designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge and values needed to specialise in the teaching of children with special-education needs, or to qualify for appointments as leaders.

You will tackle the challenges of students with special education needs, early language and learning issues, preventing disruptive behaviour, and teaching students with learning difficulties. The Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education) is recognised by the NSW Department of Education and Training as a formal qualification in special education. Subject to meeting progression requirements in the graduate diploma, you may apply to transfer to the Master of Education (Special and Inclusive Education).

Designed to advance your educational knowledge and expertise to enable local and global educational change, the Master of Education provides you with the opportunity to engage with critical disciplinary issues and contemporary debates to develop the capacity to have impact. Selecting from a choice of specialisations and unique pathways that will suit educators from a range of sectors including early childhood, schools, higher education, workplaces and the community, you will have the opportunity to tailor your learning experience to best facilitate your learning objectives and needs.  

Intended to cultivate critical thinking, analytical and creative problem-solving capabilities, you will learn in a supportive environment where you will work with your peers and leading experts in Education. In this context, you will be challenged to apply your new knowledge and skills to real world problems. By selecting a pre-defined specialisation in early childhood education, digital learning, inclusive and special education, STEM education, social justice or mathematics leadership*, you will focus on the concepts, issues and learnings particular to that specialisation. While the general education specialisation will provide you with an opportunity to engage with a range of contemporary educational areas.

The course is mindful of the busy professional lives and diverse needs and expertise of our learners. Consequently, you will have access to a range of flexibly taught units, while undertaking the course either full-time or part-time.

This course also offers the opportunity to expand your learning into a higher degree by research.

The Master of Teaching is an innovative and progressive qualification. The course includes educational and curriculum studies to complement content knowledge obtained from your previous qualification. You will undertake professional experience in school, kindergarten and childcare settings which will give you the confidence and expertise to be ready to teach.