Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2008

Graduate and Postgraduate Diplomas

Graduate Diploma in Special Education and Human Services – Bendigo (RGSEHS)

The Graduate Diploma in Special Education and Human Services is a postgraduate qualification for professionals from a range of disciplines working with people with disabilities.

For three-year trained teachers the course is recognised by the Victorian Department of Education and Training and the Victorian Institute of Teaching as a fourth year of study for employment in government and non-government schools.

Admission requirements

The minimum admission requirement is a three-year qualification. Students who do not satisfy all the normal entry requirements may be considered for special entry. A limited number of places are available under this provision.

Course structure

This course has a total of 120 credit points. Some units will be offered during school vacations and at weekends and some off-campus, units of study may be undertaken. The course delivery is designed to be accessible to students in full-time employment and those who do not live in the Bendigo region.

The course consists of six semester units. Students may take the core unit - Issues in Special Education - plus five electives or the core unit plus Research in Integration plus three electives.

For students taking this course as a fourth year of their primary teaching qualification, the two practicum units must be completed for recognition by the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Core unit

Teaching period Unit title Unit code
TE-SEM-1 Issues in Special Education EDU4ISE
Elective units

These units are offered according to staff availability and student numbers.

Teaching period Unit title Unit code
TE-SEM-S ‘At Risk’ Students: critical considerations EDU5ARS
TE-SEM-1 Gifted Education EDU4GE
TE-SEM-2 Communication and Technology3 EDU4CAT
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2
Integrated Practicum EDU4IP
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2
Research in Integration2/3 EDU4RII
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2
Self Initiated Project3 EDU4SIP
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2
Special Setting Practicum EDU4SSP
TE-SEM-1
or
TE-SEM-2
Vision: ability and disability1 EDU4VAD
TE-SEM-2 Community Life1 EDU4CL
TE-SEM-2 Helping and Change EDU4HC
TE-SEM-2 Literacy and Diversity1 EDU5LAD
TE-SEM-2 Positive Behaviour Plans EDU4PBP
TE-SEM-2 Working with Families EDU4WWF
  • Key: 1 Not available in 2008.
  • 2 Equivalent to two elective units.
  • 3 Off-campus supervised reading private study program.

Note: Students can elect to graduate with a graduate certificate by completing the core unit, Issues in Special Education, plus two additional units selected from the list above.

A full description of units, including the unit name, unit code, credit points, campus/location, unit coordinator, class requirements, assessment, prerequisites, and readings, appears at the end of this chapter. For the most recent descriptions of units, students should access the unit database at www.latrobe.edu.au/udb_public