Overview about DipEd

1. Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Education is a one-year full-time course for graduates that qualifies them for registration and employment as secondary school teachers. The course provides studies in curriculum, education policy, information technology, language and literacy, and two learning area studies. Students also undertake supervised teaching practice during school placements.

All academic subjects are taught in conjunction with subjects in the Bachelor of Teaching degree.

Please note that part-time studies are not available.

2. Course objectives

On completion of the Graduate Diploma in Education graduates should be able to:

• demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills to perform competently as a beginning teacher;

• comprehend the intellectual, social and psychological aspects of their work with learners and synthesise theory and practice;

• understand the key concepts of curriculum policy formation and curriculum development;

• sustain positive professional relationships with students, other teachers and, where appropriate, parents;

• evaluate and use constructive criticism of their own work and of the institutions in which they will teach; and

• develop theoretical understandings of schooling and education and implement an ongoing program of self-education appropriate to their personal and professional needs.

This qualification is recognised by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

3. Entry requirements

Applicants must have an approved undergraduate degree or equivalent, such as a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science.

Within this undergraduate degree applicants need to have undertaken certain discipline studies, as follows.

• One 'major' study. A major study is defined as a sequence of study from first- to third-year level in which the student has undertaken a major proportion of their workload at each level (ie. at least one-quarter of the first year workload, one-third of the second year workload and one-third of the third year workload), and

• One 'sub-major' study. A sub-major study is defined as a sequence of study from first- to second-year level (ie. at least one-quarter of the first year workload and one third-year of the second year workload)

Applicants must also be eligible for two separate learning area studies. Applicants must satisfy learning area studies requirements within their undergraduate degree, as set out here.