Course summary

The Graduate Certificate in Education (Professional Learning) is designed for registered teachers looking to enhance their professional practice or for teachers looking to move into more senior or leadership roles.

Students choose a specialisation to focus their studies from either: Teacher as Researcher; Effective Professional Learning; Pedagogical Knowledge; Indigenous Knowledge or Early Childhood Education. The course is also an ideal pathway to further study or research.

The Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University is dedicated to fostering excellence and supporting the development of outstanding teachers and education professionals.

Southern Cross is rated 5-stars for postgraduate overall experience, skills development, student support and teaching quality in Education (Good Universities Guide 2023).

The Graduate Certificate in Education (Professional Learning) is designed for registered teachers looking to enhance their professional practice or for teachers looking to move into more senior or leadership roles.

Students choose a specialisation to focus their studies from either: Teacher as Researcher; Effective Professional Learning; Pedagogical Knowledge; Indigenous Knowledge or Early Childhood Education. The course is also an ideal pathway to further study or research.

The Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University is dedicated to fostering excellence and supporting the development of outstanding teachers and education professionals.

Southern Cross is rated 5-stars for postgraduate overall experience, skills development, student support and teaching quality in Education (Good Universities Guide 2023).

Students choose one of the following specialisations:
  • Teacher as Researcher
  • Effective Professional Learning
  • Pedagogical Knowledge
  • Indigenous Knowledge
  • Early Childhood Education.

Each specialisation comprises a combination of core and elective units.

Course Learning Outcome

Demonstrate advanced cognitive, and technical skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise knowledge for ethical, innovative and creative responses to local and global challenges in an educational setting.

Exercise critical analysis, problem solving, and decision-making skills to realistic situations appropriate to cultural, inclusive and social contexts.

Demonstrate advanced cognitive, and technical skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise knowledge for ethical, innovative and creative responses to local and global challenges in an educational setting.

Demonstrate advanced cognitive, and technical skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise knowledge for ethical, innovative and creative responses to local and global challenges in an educational setting.

Apply academic knowledge and skills to develop deeper understanding, build professional identity and contribute to ongoing professional learning.

Evaluate, reflect and communicate evidence, research and theoretical understandings to inform and transform practice in a specialised area of education.

Exercise critical analysis, problem solving, and decision-making skills to realistic situations appropriate to cultural, inclusive and social contexts.


Course overview

Course code

1008002

Course abbreviation

GCEd (Prof Learn)

Credit points

48

Equivalent units

4

Duration

0.5 years full-time; 1 year part-time

Duration

0.5 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Online Term 1 N/A N/A

Fee information

Fee paying


International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Online Term 1 N/A N/A

Course requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Education (Professional Learning), students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising one of the following specialisations:
 
  • Teacher as Researcher,
    • 2 core units (24 credit points), and
    • 2 elective units (24 credit points)

OR

  • Effective Professional Learning,
    • 2 core units (24 credit points), and
    • 2 elective units (24 credit points)

OR

  • Pedagogical Knowledge,
    • 2 core units (24 credit points), and
    • 2 elective units (24 credit points)

OR

  • Indigenous Knowledge,
    • 3 core units (36 credit points), and
    • 1 elective unit (12 credit points)

OR

  • Early Childhood Education,
    • 3 core units (36 credit points), and
    • 1 elective unit (12 credit points).

Schedule of units

Title Note
Choose one option - Teacher as Researcher or Effective Professional Learning or Pedagogical Knowledge or Indigenous Knowledge or Early Childhood Education.

Note 1

Note 1
Note 1

Title Note
EDUC5001 - Education and Change: The Lifelong Learner
EDUC5013 - Inclusive and Special Education: The Responsive Teacher
EDUC6009 - Education and Indigenous Australians: Ways of Knowing and Being
EDUC6018 - Teachers as Researchers I
EDUC6019 - Teachers as Researchers II
TCHR5001 - Play and Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education
TCHR5003 - Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education
TCHR5010 - Theory to Practice: Competency and Capability of Preschoolers
TCHR2003 - Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood
TCHR5009 - Theory to practice: Education and Care for Infants and Toddlers
TCHR3001 - Early Childhood Matters
TCHR6007 - Creative Arts for Early Childhood Education
TCHR6006 - Health, Wellbeing and the Environment in Early Childhood Education
TCHR2002 - Children, Families and Communities
TCHR3004 - Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood
EDUC3024 - Education and the Environment: More than Human
EDUC2011 - Creative Arts Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC2012 - English Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2013 - Human Society and its Environments: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC2014 - Mathematics Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2015 - Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC3013 - Science and Technology Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC5012 - Education and Practice: Ways of Teaching and Learning
EDUC5011 - Education and ICT: Digital Disruptions
EDUC5003 - Teaching and Learning Literacy and Numeracy in Context
ENGL1004 - English: Literature, Language and Literacy
EDUC1006 - Interdisciplinary Studies: Crossing the Line
EDUC5007 - Music: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2002 - PDHPE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2003 - Mathematics: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2004 - Science: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2006 - Technologies and Design: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2019 - HSIE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
TCHR2001 - English: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC5008 - Visual Arts: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC5009 - Performing Arts: Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC3005 - PDHPE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3004 - Science: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC6014 - Music: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3003 - Mathematics: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3020 - Technologies and Design: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3019 - HSIE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
TCHR3002 - English: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC6015 - Visual Arts: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC6016 - Performing Arts: Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC2016 - Advanced Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC3014 - Advanced Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1

Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors

Title Note

Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

Option Units
Option Units
EDUC6018 - Teachers as Researchers I
EDUC6019 - Teachers as Researchers II

Notes

Note 1: Curriculum and Pedagogy units are only available to students who hold an Australian undergraduate teaching qualification, or equivalent.

Unit groups

Option Units

Title Note
EDUC5001 - Education and Change: The Lifelong Learner
EDUC5013 - Inclusive and Special Education: The Responsive Teacher
EDUC6009 - Education and Indigenous Australians: Ways of Knowing and Being
EDUC6018 - Teachers as Researchers I
EDUC6019 - Teachers as Researchers II
TCHR5001 - Play and Pedagogies in Early Childhood Education
TCHR5003 - Principles and Practices in Early Childhood Education
TCHR5010 - Theory to Practice: Competency and Capability of Preschoolers
TCHR2003 - Curriculum Studies in Early Childhood
TCHR5009 - Theory to practice: Education and Care for Infants and Toddlers
TCHR3001 - Early Childhood Matters
TCHR6007 - Creative Arts for Early Childhood Education
TCHR6006 - Health, Wellbeing and the Environment in Early Childhood Education
TCHR2002 - Children, Families and Communities
TCHR3004 - Leadership and Advocacy in Early Childhood
EDUC3024 - Education and the Environment: More than Human
EDUC2011 - Creative Arts Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC2012 - English Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2013 - Human Society and its Environments: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC2014 - Mathematics Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2015 - Personal Development, Health and Physical Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC3013 - Science and Technology Education: Curriculum and Pedagogy Note 1
EDUC5012 - Education and Practice: Ways of Teaching and Learning
EDUC5011 - Education and ICT: Digital Disruptions
EDUC5003 - Teaching and Learning Literacy and Numeracy in Context
ENGL1004 - English: Literature, Language and Literacy
EDUC1006 - Interdisciplinary Studies: Crossing the Line
EDUC5007 - Music: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2002 - PDHPE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2003 - Mathematics: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2004 - Science: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2006 - Technologies and Design: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC2019 - HSIE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
TCHR2001 - English: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC5008 - Visual Arts: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC5009 - Performing Arts: Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC3005 - PDHPE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3004 - Science: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC6014 - Music: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3003 - Mathematics: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3020 - Technologies and Design: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC3019 - HSIE: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
TCHR3002 - English: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC6015 - Visual Arts: Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC6016 - Performing Arts: Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1
EDUC2016 - Advanced Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy I Note 1
EDUC3014 - Advanced Secondary Curriculum and Pedagogy II Note 1