Master of TESOL (MC-TESOL) // Course structure

Course structure

The Capstone Professional Project must be taken in the final semester of study. The Research Pathway subjects must be taken in the final 50 points of the course.

Two Year Program (200 credit points)

Over two years full time study (or part time equivalent), students are required to complete 200 credit points.

The compulsory subjects completed in the first year of the course provide a foundation in education studies. Students can choose from a range of education and additional languages electives.

In the final semester of the course, students undertake a capstone professional project; or may choose to complete a research pathway option (conditional upon meeting the eligibility criteria).

In Year 1 (or the first 100 points of study), students must complete:

• 4 x compulsory subjects (50 points); and
• 4 x Education electives chosen from the MC-ED Master of Education (50 points)

In Year 2 (or the final 100 points), students have two options:

Capstone Professional Project option

• 6 x Additional Languages electives (75 points); and
• 1 x capstone project subject, taken in the final semester (25 points); or

Research Pathway option*

• 4 x Additional Languages electives (50 points); and
• 2 x research pathway subjects (50 points).

One Year Program (100 credit points)

Students with 100 points of advanced standing complete 100 points of study via one of the following options:

Capstone Professional Project option

• 6 x Additional Languages electives (75 points); and
• 1 x capstone project subject, taken in the final semester (25 points); or

Research Pathway option*

• 4 x Additional Languages electives (50 points); and
• 2 x research pathway subjects (50 points).

VIT Accredited Pathway - EAL Teaching specialisation

Students in the 100-point program, who are eligible for teacher registration with the VIT may select the VIT Accredited Pathway, and complete the EAL Teaching specialisation. The specialisation comprises 4 core subjects, and includes 22 days of supervised teaching placement at a school or similar setting during school hours.

VIT Accredited Pathway

• 4 x EAL Teaching specialisation core subjects (50 points); and either
• Capstone Professional Project option: 2 x Additional Languages electives, and 1 x capstone project subject (50 points); or
• Research Pathway option*: 2 x research pathway subjects (50 points)

Capstone Professional Project

Students complete an independent investigation of a topic that they regard as directly related to their own professional practice and/or within their area of specialisation in the 25-point Capstone Professional Project subject. The subject must be taken in the final semester of the course.

*Research Pathway subjects

This pathway is designed for students intending to pursue further research, such as a PhD. It provides a grounding in educational research methodology and design.

The two research pathway subjects must be undertaken in the final semester of the course, and the following eligibility criteria must be met to enrol into the subjects.

• Students in the 200-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in the first 150 points of the course;
• Students in the 100-point program must achieve an average of at least H2A (75%) in their first 50 points of their course.

Alternative Exit

Students in the 200-point program may exit this course early and apply to graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Educational Studies (GD-EDST), if they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master degree course (i.e. successfully completed the first 100 credit points of study of the 200-credit point master degree).

Students that complete the EAL Teaching specialisation may exit this course early and apply to graduate with a Graduate Certificate in TESOL, if they have satisfied the requirements for that award during their enrolment in this master degree course (i.e. successfully completed all four EAL Teaching specialisation subjects).

Subject options

200 Point Program Year 1 (First 100 Points)

Compulsory Subjects

4 x compulsory subjects.

Education Elective Subjects

Choose 4 x elective subjects from the MC-ED Master of Education (conditional to meeting subject pre-requisites).

200 Point Program Year 2 (Final 100 Points) / 100 Point Program Non-Accredited Pathway

Additional Languages Electives

Capstone Professional Project

Must be taken in the final semester of study.

Research Pathway Subjects

Must be taken in the final 50 points of study.

The research methodology (EDUC90419) and research design (either EDUC90558 or EDUC90931 & EDUC90932) subjects can be taken in order, or together.

100 Point Program Accredited Pathway

Take the 4 x EAL Teaching specialisation core subjects (see the Majors, Minors & Specialisations page), and either:

• Capstone project option: 2 x Additional Languages electives, and the capstone project subject; or
• Research Pathway option: the 2 x research pathway subjects.

Last updated: 10 February 2024