Honours program structure

Year 1

Semester Two: honours preparation

In the second semester of Year 1 of the MTeach/BTeach program, honours candidates will be enrolled in Honours 1 (EDBT5538). For BTeach/MTeach(Secondary) candidates, this unit replaces Professional Studies 2 (Options) (EDBT5600). For BTeach/MTeach(Primary) students, it replaces Special Interest Unit 1 (EDBT5537).

Honours 1 will address the nature and methodology of research in education, and students will make some progress in identifying a research issue and begin work on preparing a specific proposal and an ethics-approval application.

Students who wish to complete the honours program must apply at the end of Semester One of Year 1. Applications must address specific criteria, and applicants must have a good academic record (credit average or better) in their previous qualifications as well as in Year 1 of the MTeach/BTeach (see below).

Year 2

Semester One: honours coursework and Special Study proposal

MTeach(Hons) candidates will be permitted to enrol in Honours 2 (EDBT6119)

and continue coursework in honours in Semester One of Year 2 provided they have achieved a credit or better grade in the preliminary honours assessment tasks in Year 1; have had performed satisfactorily in all other units of study; and have a research proposal that is accepted by the faculty.

Honours 2 coursework aims to provide an overview of the skills and methods of data gathering and data analysis that are essential to successful completion of the next stage of the course, Honours Special Study (EDMT6202).

All candidates are required to submit a proposal for their research-based Special Study, including ethics approval, where relevant, at the beginning of Semester One in order to enable approval to be finalised by mid-semester at the latest for conducting the research during Semester Two.

Semester Two: Special Study investigation and report

Provided they satisfy all coursework requirements for the award of the BTeach, honours candidates will be enrolled in Honours Special Study (EDMT6202).

Students whose Special Study involves conducting empirical research in schools are expected to undertake this work either during the second Professional Experiences practicum (in Semester One of Year 2) or during the Internship (in Semester Two of Year 2).

Candidates are required to give a seminar presentation of about 30 minutes at the Post-Internship Conference, and submit their 10,000 word Special Study report towards the end of the semester (late October/early November).