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Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (GDTL) - GradDipL&T
CRICOS code (International applicants): 055149B
| | On-campus* | Online* |
| Semester intake: | Semester 1 (March) Semester 2 (July) | Semester 1 (March) Semester 2 (July) |
| Campus: | Fraser Coast, Toowoomba | - |
| Fees: | Commonwealth supported place International full fee paying place
| Commonwealth supported place Domestic full fee paying place International full fee paying place
|
| Residential school: | Toowoomba campus or Fraser Coast campus (compulsory) | Toowoomba campus or Fraser Coast campus (compulsory) |
| Standard duration: | 1 year full-time, up to 4 years part-time |

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Program focus
This program is designed to enable degree-level graduates to
acquire a recognised teacher education qualification. This innovative
and flexible program develops knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary
for success in the work of contemporary educators.
The flexibility of the Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching
program allows students to balance the competing demands of work,
family and study.
There is a professional experience component within this program.
Students are able to choose from the following specialisations:
-
Early Years of School (Years Prep - 3)
-
Primary (Years Prep - 7)
-
Middle Years of Schooling (Years 5 - 9)
-
Secondary (Years 8 - 12)
-
Vocational Education and Training (Years 11, 12 and beyond).
Career opportunities
Students who complete the Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching
program will be well qualified for employment as teachers in schools
in Queensland, elsewhere in Australia and in many overseas jurisdictions,
as well as in a range of alternative education settings and in the
diverse and expanding post-compulsory sector.
Other career opportunities exist in the many emerging fields
where the teaching-related skills of communication and educational
management are critical, in conjunction with the appropriate specific
discipline knowledge. Examples of such careers include, for example,
sport and leisure centre management, personal training, life coaching,
human services and financial planning.
There are further career opportunities available in industry,
particularly in the roles and functions related to training.

Professional accreditation
Subject to meeting all other requirements for registration (including
a criminal history check, graduation from an appropriate first degree,
and the completion of a majority of professional experience in an
Australian school), graduates from this program will be eligible to
apply for teacher registration through the Queensland College of Teachers.

Program aims
The Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching program aims to
graduate students who demonstrate:
-
the knowledge, skills, practices and values inherent in the
Queensland College of Teachers' ten Professional Standards for
Queensland Teachers see http://www.qct.edu.au/standards/index.html
-
the qualities and skills required of a USQ graduate (see Section
4.2.5 of the University Calendar)
-
the attributes of a Faculty of Education graduate
-
high levels of facility with personal and professional literacies,
and
-
a particular awareness, understanding and positive orientation
towards redressing the educational disadvantages suffered by indigenous
students.

Admission requirements
Domestic Students
A minimum of a recognised three-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent)
in a discipline other than education is required.
Applicants for the Early Years and Primary pathways must demonstrate
adequate coverage across the P-7 Key Learning Areas in their first
degree or other studies, applicants for Middle Years and Secondary
pathways must demonstrate discipline knowledge in two defined teaching
areas in their first degree or other studies.
International Students
As for domestic students, above. Further, where an international
applicant's circumstances require an IELTS test, a score of 7.0 across
all categories is required for eligibility for admission.
International applicants must have met the University's
English language requirements or have completed the University's
ELICOS/UNIPREP program.

How to apply
Domestic students
Application for postgraduate programs may be made directly
to USQ. You should ensure you submit your application by the closing
dates.
International students
This program is offered to international students. An international
student is a person who is not an Australian or New Zealand citizen
and not an Australian permanent resident. Please refer to USQ International for information about entry requirements, visa arrangements and
how to apply.

Program fees
Commonwealth supported place
A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government
makes a contribution towards the cost of your higher education and
you as a student pay a student contribution
amount, which varies depending on the courses undertaken. You
are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their
fees through a Government loan called HECS-HELP.
Domestic full fee paying place
Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through
the full fees paid by the student. Full
fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. You are
able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.
Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their
fees through a Government loan called FEE-HELP.
International full fee paying place
International students pay full
fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken
and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online.
You are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the Course Fee Finder.

Program structure
The one-year Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching requires
8 units at undergraduate level. A minimum of two semesters of study
must be undertaken.Students will need to be available for three
residential schools and 80 days of school–based activities.
Note: Minimum enrolment numbers apply to all courses.
Should enrolments not meet the minimum number required, students may
be transferred to a different mode or offering and advised of this
change prior to semester start.
| Duration and mode of offer |
One year full-time, or equivalent, either ONC or WEB |
| Mode of delivery |
Fleximode |
| Units |
8 units, including 80 days of professional experience. Professional
experience placements may be scheduled outside usual University teaching
weeks. Travel to locations away from the areas local to the student's
home campus may be necessary in order to complete the professional
experience requirements. |

Program completion requirements
In order to complete the Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching
a student must complete 8 units of study:
Students must also attend and complete all requirements associated
with an initial 5-day Residential School prior to the first semester
of study.
Please consult the Residential School Schedule for the dates.

Required time limits
Students have a maximum of 4 years to complete this program.
Requirements to Complete the Program
Professional Experience All students, domestic and international,
must complete the majority of their supervised professional experience
in Australian schools.
Language Proficiency All students, domestic and international.
must demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS
7.0 to successfully complete program requirements.

Major studies
All students must select one of five available areas of specialisation
in the form of an identified sector of education/schooling, as follows:
-
Early Years of School (understood, in Queensland, as the school
years Prep – 3)
-
Primary (understood, in Queensland, as the school years Prep
– 7)
-
Middle Years of School (understood, in Queensland, as the school
years 5 – 9)
-
Secondary (understood, in Queensland, as the school years 8
– 12)
-
Vocational Education and Training (understood, in Queensland,
as the post-compulsory school years, involving working with students
under 20 years of age).
Within each of the program’s eight courses, there are
sector-specific modules for students and the professional experience
placements must match the student’s specialisation sector.

Major studies objectives
Early years of school
In addition to the whole-of-program aims and objectives described
above, the Early Years of School specialisation aims to prepare graduates
with sound levels of knowledge and understanding appropriate to working
as educators with children from five to eight years of age.
Primary
In addition to the whole-of-program aims described above, the
Primary specialisation aims to prepare graduates with sound levels
of knowledge and understanding appropriate to working as educators
with children from five to twelve years of age.
Middle years of school
In addition to the whole-of-program aims described above, the
Middle Years of School specialisation aims to prepare graduates with
sound levels of discipline and pedagogic content knowledge in their
nominated teaching areas and across the Key learning Areas and who
will thus be able to apply a range of teaching and learning approaches
to support the development of students from ten to fourteen years
of age within a variety of school structures.
Secondary
In addition to the whole-of-program aims described above, the
Secondary specialisation aims to prepare graduates with sound levels
of discipline and pedagogic content knowledge in their nominated teaching
areas and who will thus be able to apply a range of teaching and learning
approaches to support the development of knowledge, understanding
and skills that will help students from thirteen to eighteen years
of age to reach their full potential through secondary schooling.
Vocational education and training
In addition to the whole-of-program aims described above, the
Vocational Education and Training specialisation aims to prepare graduates
with expertise in their nominated vocational area/s who are able to
apply a range of teaching and learning approaches to support the development
of vocational and technical knowledge, understanding and skills that
will help learners up to the age of 20 to effectively transition from
school to work, and develop into self-directed, lifelong learners.

Practical experience
The Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching program complies
with all requirements of the Queensland College of Teachers in terms
of the minimum number of supervised days mandated (55) and exceeds
the College’s minimum requirements for the total number of days
of professional experience overall (80, rather than 75).
The professional experience components of the program are all
tied to three courses, so that students undertake a professional experience
placement in both semesters of full-time enrolment.
In order to undertake the two courses to which professional
experience placements are attached in the second half of the program
it is a requirement that students will have satisfactorily completed
the professional experience course in the first semester of the full-time
enrolment pattern. For EDC4200 Internship for Educators
there is the additional requirement that students undertaking
the placement in a Queensland school will need to have been granted
an Internship Authority by the Queensland College of Teachers.
The Faculty of Education appoints a specific liaison staff member
for every student and host school/site for every placement, with the
critical role of being the key source of information, advice and support
for all parties involved in the placement
For further information, see http://www.usq.edu.au/education/profexp/default.htm

Other program requirements
There are no program requirements other than the satisfactory
completion of 8 specified units and 80 days of approved professional
experience. However, in order to undertake the professional experience,
and certain other activities with young people identified in various
course specifications, it is required that Queensland-based students
hold a current positive notice indicating that they are deemed suitable
for working with children and young people. Further information about
the “Blue Card” suitability process is available from
the Commission for Children and Young People.

Residential schools
A five-day residential school, compulsory for all students regardless
of location or mode of enrolment/study is held prior to commencing
formal studies in the first semester of enrolment. For semester 1
intake each year this residential school is held at the Toowoomba
campus in February. For the Semester 2 intake each year the equivalent
residential school is held at the Fraser Coast campus in late June/early
July.
Students attend a second residential school of four days duration
once they have completed the first four courses (including the first
professional experience placement of 30 days) before embarking on
their studies in the second half of the program. This "mid-program"
residential school is held twice per year: in July at the Toowoomba
campus and in November at the Fraser Coast campus.
Students participate in a final residential school of one day
after the completion of EDC4200 Internship for Educators
. This activity takes the form of a synchronous on-campus/on-line
student conference and is held twice per year: in December at the
Toowoomba campus and in July at the Fraser Coast campus.

Exemptions
Students may seek exemption from courses on the basis of documented
prior study at University level or equivalent qualifications and experience.
Such applications will be considered on their merits in relation to
the extent to which the documentation supplied by the student demonstrates
a clear match with the objectives of the course for which the exemption
is sought. A maximum of four units of credit may be allowable.
There are no exemptions available from courses completed in
the degree that formed the basis for the student’s admission
to the program, but students who have completed degrees or diplomas
in addition to the degree that formed the basis of their admission
to the program may apply for any credit that may be applicable from
that source.
Students who have documented evidence of satisfactory work in
the role of teacher (or similar) may be eligible to seek credit for
some of the required days of professional experience on the basis
of recognition of current competence. Such applications must be supported
by formal documentation from a school principal on school letterhead.
The maximum credit available in such circumstances shall not exceed
30 days.
In this section:

Recommended enrolment pattern
The one-year Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching requires
8 units at undergraduate level. A minimum of two semesters of study
must be undertaken.
Students following a non-standard enrolment pattern should consult
the course
synopses section to ascertain if a course is offered in another
term.
Note: Minimum enrolment numbers apply to all courses.
Should enrolments not meet the minimum number required, students may
be transferred to a different mode or offering and advised of this
change prior to semester start.
| Course | Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied | Enrolment requirements | Comments |
|---|
On-campus (ONC) | Distance education (EXT) | Online (WEB) |
|---|
| Year | Sem | Year | Sem | Year | Sem |
|---|
| GDE3001 Learners and Learning* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | |
| GDE3002 Contexts and Environments* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | |
| GDE3003 Planning and Teaching* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | 30 days Professional Experience |
| GDE3004 Guiding and Managing* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | OE | |
| GDE4005 Assessing and Reporting# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | OE | |
| GDE4006 Relating and Collaborating# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | 25 days Professional Experience |
| EDC4100 The Emergent Professional# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | OE | |
| EDC4200 Internship for Educators# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | Co-requisite: EDC4100 or GDE4007 OE | 25 days Unsupervised Professional Experience |

Recommended enrolment pattern - part-time (two courses per
semester)
| Course | Year of program and semester in which course is normally studied | Enrolment requirements | Comments |
|---|
On-campus (ONC) | Distance education (EXT) | Online (WEB) |
|---|
| Year | Sem | Year | Sem | Year | Sem |
|---|
|
First semester of study
|
| GDE3001 Learners and Learning* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | |
| GDE3003 Planning and Teaching* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | 30 days Professional Experience |
|
Second semester of study
|
| GDE3002 Contexts and Environments* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | |
| GDE3004 Guiding and Managing* | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | OE | |
|
Third semester of study
|
| GDE4005 Assessing and Reporting# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | OE | |
| GDE4006 Relating and Collaborating# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | | 25 days Professional Experience |
|
Final semester of study
|
| EDC4100 The Emergent Professional# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | OE | |
| EDC4200 Internship for Educators# | 1 | 1, 2 | | | 1 | 1, 2 | Co-requisite: EDC4100 or GDE4007 OE | 25 days Unsupervised Professional Experience |