Bachelor of Special Education

The Bachelor of Special Education is a graduate-entry program which requires one year of full-time study or part-time equivalent. It can be taken in internal or external mode.

The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities and Law.

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

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed one of the following:

• three-year Diploma of Teaching; or
• a Bachelor of Education degree; or
• one-year Graduate Diploma in Education or the equivalent.

However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for canditature.

Course aims

This course aims to:

• prepare teachers for special education support work in regular schools
• increase the knowledge and skills of regular classroom teachers to successfully include students with diverse learning needs in their classrooms
• prepare teachers for work in special classes, special schools and special educational centres, at all levels from preschools through to TAFE.

Learning outcomes

It is expected that graduates will be able to:

• understand the philosophical, sociological and psychological perspectives of disability and special learning needs
• critically examine the current literature relating to learning, disability and diversity in learning needs
• develop an increased ability to apply current knowledge in their practice as special educators or in other professions
• collaborate and consult with parents and professionals to provide services to individuals with special needs
• critically examine and debate issues relating to disability and special needs.
  

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 Bachelor of Special Education, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

If part-time students are teaching, the practical work required in some topics may be undertaken at their school. Full-time students are required to gain practical experience in particular settings.

36 units of topics selected from the following:

Option - Year 1 topics

 DSRS9060  Intellectual Disability  (4.5 units)
 DSRS9061  Management of Physical and Multiple Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 DSRS9062  Transition from School to Adult Life for Students with Disabilities  (4.5 units)
 DSRS9063  Autism Spectrum Disorder: Theory and Practice  (4.5 units)
 DSRS9064  Technology and Disability  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9129  Contemporary Issues in Special Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9307  Educational Planning and Assessment for Students with Special Needs  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9409  Intervention for Students with Numeracy Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9501  Understanding Behaviour in Educational Contexts  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9502  Assessment, Planning and Teaching in Behaviour  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9503  Supporting Behaviour Change  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9504  Supporting Positive Behaviour in Schools  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9511  Complex Communication Needs and Augmentative and Alternative Communication  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9512  Supporting Learners with Disability and Challenging Behaviour  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9513  Designing Individualised Functional Curriculum  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9521  Educating Children with Learning Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9522  Intervention for Students with Literacy Difficulties  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9531  Current Perspectives in Early Intervention  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9532  Early Intervention: Learning From and Through Play  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9541  Studies in Vision Impairment 1  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9542  Studies in Vision Impairment 2  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9543  Studies in Braille: Research and Practice  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9544  Studies in Orientation and Mobility: Research and Practice  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9551  Introduction to Sensory Impairment  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9552  Collaborative Consultation  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9720  Directed Study in Education  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9791  Gifted Education: Conceptions of Giftedness, Intelligence and Creativity  (4.5 units)
 EDUC9792  Gifted Education: Curriculum and Differentiation  (4.5 units)

Other topics may be selected with the permission of the Course Coordinator.