Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (GDTL) - GradDipL&T

CRICOS code (International applicants): 055149B

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Program focus

This program is designed to enable degree-level graduates to acquire a recognised teacher education qualification, enabling those who may apply to demonstrate that they have fulfilled the academic requirements for registration as a teacher, in Queensland. Overseas and interstate students who intend to seek registration as a teacher in Queensland on the basis of this qualification should note the current Queensland College of Teachers requirement that "normally at least one major supervised professional experience should be conducted in a Queensland school.".

We are currently redeveloping our programs for 2009. This area of study will remain available, with greater flexibility.

Program aims

There is a continuing demand for, and from, graduates from other disciplines to become professional educators. The Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching is designed to enable degree-level graduates to acquire a recognised teacher education qualification, enabling those who may apply to demonstrate that they have fulfilled the Queensland academic requirements for registration as a teacher. The context-oriented and problem-based program design focuses on the knowledge, skills, attitudes and ways of thinking and acting, necessary for teachers and other professional educators to develop their planning, teaching, assessment, evaluation and professional practice capabilities to a high standard.

Within the single award (Grad. Dip. L and T) students must specialize in their chosen sector of education – Early Years of School, Primary, Middle Years of Schooling, Secondary or Further Education and Training.

Program objectives

On the successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, within the student’s particular teaching areas and in the context of an identified sector of education, the student will be able to:

• identify and understand the educational needs of the range of learners

• select, plan, teach and evaluate appropriate learning and teaching programs which meet the needs of the range of learners

• assess learners’ progress towards identified educational outcomes, and to report the products of such assessments to learners, parents and other key stakeholders in education

• establish and maintain supportive learning environments

• contribute collaboratively to partnerships with parents and to teamwork in professional learning communities

• understand and articulate a framework of ethics underpinning professional practice in education

• engage in self evaluation processes and formulate plans of action for continuous improvement in all areas of professional practice

• construct an evidence-based personal professional portfolio to demonstrate competencies in, and commitment to continuous improvement in teaching and learning

• demonstrate such understandings, knowledge, skills and attitudes through presentations in a range of genre to peers and others involved in the student’s program.

Admission requirements

Initial Admission

To be eligible for enrolment in this program, an applicant must hold a recognised undergraduate university degree, or equivalent post-compulsory qualifications, in a field other than education.

International applicants must satisfy all the University of Southern Queensland’s requirements for enrolment in a graduate entry program and, in particular, the requirements for demonstrated levels of competence in English. For further information, potential international students should consult the relevant details at http://www.usq.edu.au/international/apply/entry.htm

Confirmation of Enrolment

Following initial admission, confirmation of acceptance into the program will be dependent on students satisfying two further requirements: access to a school attachment site and approval to work with children. Students in different locations may need to meet differing requirements, but the following should be used as a guide:

• students who enrol in WEB mode are required to identify a school, college, or other educational setting appropriate to their identified sector, that will agree to be the main attachment site for the student’s program. After initial admission, the Faculty of Education will supply students with an information pack and guidelines for this process. Prospective students should not contact potential host schools before initial admission. All in-school supervision arrangements at the attachment site are subject to the approval of the University of Southern Queensland

• students who intend to undertake the program in Queensland must be deemed 'suitable for working with children' by the Commission for Children and Young People. As evidence of this, students must hold, and provide for recording by USQ, a current suitability card issued by the Commission before commencing any school-based elements of the program. Students who do not apply for a Suitability Card, or who are deemed unsuitable by the Commission, will be ineligible for continuing enrolment in the program. Interstate and international students must provide evidence that they have satisfied all equivalent requirements in the local jurisdiction before commencing any school-based elements of the program. Interstate and international students who fail to supply such evidence to USQ will be ineligible for continuing enrolment in the program.

Intending students should note that all the requirements in this section apply to admission to the program only. Completion of the program does not imply that graduates will satisfy all the requirements that employers may have of prospective beginning teachers. In this regard, students are strongly advised to seek specific details of requirements for employment direct from potential employers. In particular, students considering entry to the secondary specialisation should obtain details of employers’ requirements in terms of designated “teaching areas”.

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 2008

Application for postgraduate programs may be made directly to USQ. You should ensure you submit your application by the closing dates.

International students 2008

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

Student contribution amount

For domestic students who are offered Commonwealth supported places, the Government pays some money directly to the University, but students are also required to make a contribution. This contribution is called the ‘student contribution’. For more information about student contribution amounts, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ fees.

Tuition fee

Domestic fee-paying places are funded entirely through the tuition/direct fees paid by the student. Tuition/direct fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. For more information about Tuition Fees, including the calculation of fees for a particular program of study, refer to USQ Fees.

International fees

International students pay tuition fees. For details about international student fees, refer to the International Fee Schedule provided by USQ International.

Program structure

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, a student must have completed a total of eight units of credit: four units of credit at level 3 and four units of credit at level 4.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure correct enrolment in the program structure to meet graduation requirements. The program consists of eight units – all of which must be completed by all students. There is no provision for electives. Students are required to complete the pattern of study detailed in the table below.

Notes:

• Courses in this program are offered via a mixture of on-campus activities, context-based experiences, print materials and web-based activities and resources. Access to the Internet, to USQConnect and an email address are required to study all courses. A username and a password are required for access to the study materials.

• It is not possible to complete this program without access to the Internet and an email address. Study materials for the program’s course are available at the commencement of the relevant semester and can be accessed via http://usqconnect.usq.edu.au/webct.aspx

• It is not possible to complete this program without access to a school which will host the attachment and internship.

• It is not possible to complete this program without a current suitability card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People (or local equivalent in jurisdictions outside Queensland).

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 4 years to complete this program.

Residential schools

All Students must complete

1. An initial residential school prior to the first semester of study;

2. A mid-program residential school before progressing to the second half of the program;

3. A final residential school at the end of the final semester of study.

Part-time students should note that the second and third residential schools may be held at a campus other than the campus at which they commenced the program.

In this section:

• Recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus full-time students
• Recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus part-time students (two courses per semester)
• Recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus part-time students (one course per semester)
• Recommended enrolment pattern - Fraser Coast campus full-time students mid-year intake
• Recommended enrolment pattern - Fraser Coast campus part-time students (two courses per semester) mid-year intake

Recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus full-time students

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, a student must have completed a total of eight units of credit: four units of credit at level 3 and four units of credit at level 4.

Notes

Full-time students need to enrol in all level four courses prior to the last day to add courses for semester 2, even though progression to stage 3 is dependent upon success in stage 2.

Recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus part-time students (two courses per semester)

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, a student must have completed a total of eight units of credit: four units of credit at level 3 and four units of credit at level 4.

Recommended enrolment pattern - Toowoomba campus part-time students (one course per semester)

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, a student must have completed a total of eight units of credit: four units of credit at level 3 and four units of credit at level 4.

Recommended enrolment pattern - Fraser Coast campus full-time students mid-year intake

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, a student must have completed a total of eight units of credit: four units of credit at level 3 and four units of credit at level 4.

Notes

Full-time students need to enrol in all level four courses prior to the last day to add courses for semester 2, even though progression to stage 3 is dependent upon success in stage 2.

Recommended enrolment pattern - Fraser Coast campus part-time students (two courses per semester) mid-year intake

To be awarded a Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching, a student must have completed a total of eight units of credit: four units of credit at level 3 and four units of credit at level 4.