Master of Online Education (8 Units) (MOE1) - MOEd

This program is offered only to continuing students. No new admissions will be accepted. Students who are interested in this study area should contact us.

Notes

This program does not qualify you for teacher registration with relevant teaching authorities. If you are interested in a program that enables you to qualify for teacher registration, please refer to the Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching.

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Program focus

The program is designed to meet the professional and continuing education needs of a wide range of professionals in a variety of online education settings. It caters for those in both formal education settings and off-campus services – specifically teachers and educational designers moving to a more sophisticated application of online education. Similarly, it caters for those working in corporate environments: these include, but are not limited to, training and organisational development units of businesses and those industries operating online or other distributed learning networks. The main focus of the teaching and learning will be to develop critical thinking, intellectual engagement and the students’ ability to design, develop, facilitate and evaluate programs in online and blended learning environments. Students are encouraged to become engaged professionals and collaborative members of a learning community.

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

Program aims

The program is designed to meet the professional and continuing education needs of a wide range of professionals in a variety of online education settings. It caters for those in both formal education settings and off-campus services - specifically teachers and educational designers moving to a more sophisticated application of online education. Similarly it caters for those working in corporate environments: these include, but are not limited to, training and organisational development units of businesses and those industries operating online or other distributed learning networks. The main focus of the teaching and learning will be to develop critical thinking, intellectual engagement and the students’ ability to design, develop, facilitate and evaluate programs in online and blended learning environments. A key feature of the program is that it prepares graduates who value diversity and inclusiveness, who are innovators and navigators of sustainable change. Students are encouraged to become engaged professionals and collaborative members of a learning community.

Program objectives

Graduates of the Program will:

• apply contextually relevant contemporary teaching/learning theories in the design, facilitation and development of online education programs

• develop their capacity to evaluate the effectiveness of online education programs in specific teaching and learning contexts

• analyse critical issues that influence the emergence of online education in all sectors of education and training across a wide range of educational settings

• critique, develop and apply pedagogical techniques which enhance teaching online (collaborative learning, engagement, interactivity, social presence)

• undertake, independently and with a high level of academic competence, project/research work in the area of online education.

Admission requirements

To be considered eligible for admission to the Master of Online Education, applicants must normally have:

• completed a three-year undergraduate degree or equivalent from a recognised university

• access to an educational environment, e.g. formal education setting, workplace training in business and industry, distributed learning networks

• appropriate resources to facilitate ready access to the Internet

• ready access to a personal email address

• the skills required to access and manipulate materials delivered electronically.

International applicants must meet the University's requirements for English proficiency.

Alternative entry

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements may apply for alternative entry if they believe that they can demonstrate that they have qualifications and/or experience that might be considered equivalent to those required for normal entry.

Other applicants should apply for a postgraduate certificate.

International applicants must have met the University's English language requirements or have completed the University's ELICOS/UNIPREP program.

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 Masters degree in the Faculty of Education, a student must have completed eight education-related units at postgraduate level, of which at least four must be at level 8. Courses awarded as 'unspecified electives' through exemptions are classified as level 5 only.

It is the students’ responsibility to ensure correct enrolment in the program structure to meet graduation requirements. While this program is offered with 2 possible pathways, it is classified by DEST as a course work Masters degree (refer to Table 1). Both pathways comprise foundation studies, professional studies, research/evaluation and projects. The coursework pathway offers the possibility for additional electives. Please consult the details for each pathway below. The program will be taken over a minimum period of two years of part-time external study or one year of full-time external study.

Table 1: Structure for the Coursework and Research Pathways

Note: Some courses have assessment work that requires collaborative activities and/or collaboration to develop a single assessment response. These workgroups rely on timely participation by all members.

Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 5 years to complete this program.

Recommended enrolment pattern

To be awarded a Masters degree in the Faculty of Education, a student must have completed eight education-related units at postgraduate level, of which at least four must be at level 8. Courses awarded as 'unspecified electives' through exemptions are classified as level 5 only.

To Best Position Yourself for Higher Studies, (e.g. Doctoral) the Research Path is Recommended

Notes:

• It is recommended that the program of study commence with one of the courses in the Foundation Studies section of the table.

• It is recommended that courses listed as Year 1 be completed before courses listed as Year 2 in the table below.

• It is recommended that course FET5601 Learning Design for Flexible Contexts, be studied prior to courses FET8601, FET8603, or FET8604.

• It is recommended that course FET5602 Theories for Learning Futures, be studied prior to course FET8603 or FET8605.

• FET8660 and FET8661 are only available for the research pathway and should be taken after four other Online Education courses have been completed.