Doctor of Education

The Doctor of Education is an advanced professional doctorate for experienced professionals with educational responsibilities. Carefully designed to parallel their regular work, the course enables experienced educators to carry out advanced academic and professional study which has direct relevance to their professional role. It is undertaken over three years on a full-time basis or six years on a part-time basis.

Students who have completed the Doctor of Education should have:

• advanced their knowledge in areas of special significance to their profession;
• achieved an advanced level of education and professional development in respect to the operation, design and development of Victorian, Australian and other systems of education;
• been involved effectively in a program of study and research directly related to their professional settings and educational responsibilities;
• have participated in high level and systematic analysis of practical problems related to education in their profession through the application of appropriate discipline analysis and research methodology in a manner which has strong potential for changing professional practice;
• made a contribution to the wider theoretical and/or professional debates in the relevant field of study.

The first stage of the program consists of coursework and preparatory studies for the thesis.

Full time students complete this stage in year 1, part time students in years 1 and 2.

During this period:

• Students complete 100 points of coursework: four compulsory subjects and 50 points of electives.
• Students must undertake the compulsory subjects in such an order that EDUC90320 Doctoral Research Seminar and EDUC90319 DEd Thesis Proposal are completed in the semester immediately prior to the commencement of the thesis (i.e. semester 2 of full-time enrolment or semester 4 of part-time enrolment).
• All students must gain at least an H2A average in the coursework component, including at least an H2A result in EDUC90319 DEd Thesis Proposal, to proceed to the thesis. Students who are not permitted to proceed to thesis but who have completed 100 points of coursework may take out a Master of Education degree if they wish, since they will have met the requirements of the 100-points coursework Masters.

The second stage of the program consists of a 55,000 word thesis.

Full time students complete this stage in years 2 and 3, part time students over years 3 - 6.

Furthermore:

• Full time students are expected to present a report on their research at the beginning of semester two in the second year of their studies. Part time students will be required to produce this report at the beginning of the fourth year of their studies.
• The report will normally be at least 4,000 words and present a detailed account of the implementation so far of the research proposal. The report will be considered by a panel consisting of at least three staff members. Students must also make a presentation speaking to the report, which, in normal circumstances, will be open to other members of the Graduate School, including other research students. If the panel deems the report unsatisfactory, they may: refer the student to the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee immediately; or permit the student up to three months to revise the report. If the report remains unsatisfactory, the student will be referred to the Unsatisfactory Progress Committee.
• Students must also publicly present a research paper in the last six months of their candidature.

Year 1 (Coursework Year) comprises 100 points

• EDUC90620 Reading Educational Research (12.5 points)
• EDUC90729 Conducting Educational Research (12.5 points)
• 50 points of coursework electives (see below for details)
• EDUC90320 Doctoral Research Seminar (12.5 points)
• EDUC90319 Doctor of Education Thesis Proposal (12.5 points)

When completing the coursework component of the Doctor of Education students must undertake the compulsory subjects EDUC90320 and EDUC90319 in the semester immediately prior to the commencement of the thesis (i.e. semester 2 of full-time enrolment, semester 4 of part-time enrolment).

Coursework subjects available

Students are able to undertake appropriate subjects from the Master of Education and the specialist Masters courses.

For a list of available subjects see the Master of Education handbook page: https://handbook.unimelb.edu.au/view/current/960-AC

For more information on subject areas see www.education.unimelb.edu.au/futurestudents/courses/areas.html

Years 2 and 3 (Thesis)

Credit points are not assigned to the research thesis subjects that are offered as part of graduate research courses. The load or weight varies according to the duration and structure of the course, enrolment status (ie. full-time or part-time), etc.

An applicant may be eligible for entry into the Doctor of Education if the applicant has:

• completed a Masters degree or equivalent in the discipline of Education or a cognate field relevant to the proposed area of study, with at least an H2A average over the course;
• a documented record of at least five full-time equivalent years of professional or teaching experience in a field relevant to the proposed area of study: and
• evidence of capacity to undertake research. Applicants are normally required to have completed a research project, component, subject or group of subjects that accounts for at least 25% of their work (i.e. Honours year), or 25% of one year accumulated over the length of a Masters course, and which has, or have, been conducted, and assessed, individually. Research carried out in groups should at least have been graded individually. This project, component, or subject(s) may include:

  (a) any obviously research oriented project, subject or sustained piece of scholarly writing conducted for assessment, such as small theses, research essays, long essays, or studios; AND/OR

  (b) any less-obviously research subjects, including practice-based subjects such as performance or fieldwork, where there is also scholastic rigor as documented in a sustained piece of writing analogous to (a); AND/OR

  (c) any subjects directed at the formation of research skills, such as methodology and reasoning, such as scientific reasoning, or legal reasoning, where a sustained piece of writing has also been produced.

The Melbourne Graduate School of Education welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Graduate School policy to take reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the Graduate School’s programs.
The core participation requirements for study in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education are:

In all courses

1. The ability to comprehend complex information related to education and the disciplines in which the student is teaching.
2. The ability to communicate clearly and independently in assessment tasks a knowledge of the content, principles and practices relating to education and other relevant disciplines.
3. Behavioural and social attributes that enable a student to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.
   
   In courses requiring students to undertake practicum placements
   
4. The ability to undertake professional practice placements independently, including:
   a. the ability based on personal maturity to establish a professional relationship with students and interact with them appropriately;
   b. the ability to communicate to students the subject matter being taught with clarity and in a way that is age-sensitive;
   c. the ability to model literacy and numeracy skills independently for students and in all their interactions meet community expectations of the literacy and numeracy skills teachers should have;
   d. the ability to demonstrate skilfully and safely activities required in particular discipline areas being taught (e.g. physical education activities, science laboratory techniques);
   e. the ability to create, monitor and maintain a safe physical environment, a stable and supportive psychological environment, and a productive learning environment in their classroom;
   f. the ability to establish effective relationships with all members of the school community, including colleagues, students, and caregivers;
   g. the ability based on mental and physical health to exercise sound judgment and respond promptly to the demands of classroom situations, and the personal resilience to cope and maintain their wellbeing under stress.

Students who feel a disability will prevent them from meeting the above academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit.

The University's general graduate attributes are located on the Office of the Provost's website: www.unimelb.edu.au/about/attributes.html

Thesis

See Melbourne Graduate School of Education website for further details on the DEd thesis: http://www.education.unimelb.edu.au/research/research_guide/index.html

It is recommended that this Guide be read in conjunction with the Melbourne School of Graduate Research's PhD Handbook: http://gradresearch.unimelb.edu.au/handbooks/phd/