What is a Master of Education in Reading and Literacy?

A Master of Education (Reading and Literacy) is designed as a specialisation for four-year trained teachers, professional educators, education administrators and policy-makers, and other professionals involved in addressing reading and literacy, critical literacy and multiliteracies. It helps you respond to social and technological change in ways that make literacy teaching and learning relevant to students’ lives.

This master's in reading and literacy will provide you with a unique opportunity to undertake and publish reflective research in which you pursue ways to improve your practice, and to share your findings with the professional community. You will cover foundations of literacy education and elect to specialise in student age groups and learning difficulties. During this online teaching reading and literacy course, you will be given an option to attend three ‘touch-point’ weekends per year (one per trimester) in either Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne. This is not an accredited Australian Initial Teacher Education course and therefore does not qualify you to teach in Australia.

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Learning outcomes

Understand the changing learning environment and its impact on education.
Develop methods in teaching literacy to reach diverse audiences.
Understand the relationship between literacy education and effective assessment.
Develop skills in addressing and improving public policy on reading and literacy.

Download course guide Start online application

Study mode

Online

Campus locations*

Online

Student

Domestic

International

Course duration

1 year full time, 2 to 3 years part time

Start date

05 Jun 2023

18 Sep 2023

View all key dates

Fees

View Fees

This is an AQF Level 9 course delivered by Torrens University Australia Ltd.

*For more details on international student study options.

Work to achieve social change

As a qualified educator, you have a real opportunity to generate positive change and shape your local community.

A dedicated Success Coach

An ally to encourage, inspire and guide, your Success Coach will help you achieve your goals and create the right trajectory for your career.

Learn from specialists in their field

Our academics understand where the industry is heading and will guide you on your learning journey.

Discover Education at Torrens University Australia. Hear from our Program Director Jeannette Keser and Learning Facilitator Thu Dang as they take you through our postgraduate offerings in Education.

Career opportunities

This course is designed as a specialisation for four-year trained teachers, professional educators, education administrators and policy makers and other professionals involved in addressing reading and literacy, critical literacy and multiliteracies. You will gain the skills and expertise needed to be recognised and respected as a literacy educator or coach.

Potential career paths

Literacy Leader
Average salary: $116,823 - $184,462
Education Consultant
Average salary: $84,375 - $127,193
Industry Trainer
Average salary: $90,000 - $93,000

Learn more about careers in Education

Subjects and units

Each subject involves 10 hours of study per week, comprising 3 hours of facilitated study and 7 hours self-directed study.

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Core
Electives

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Requirements

These six core subjects must be completed. Additionally you're required to to select two electives from the electives tab.

Core subjects

Foundations of Reading and Literacy | EDUC6009

Unprecedented socio-technological changes have profound implications for literacy teaching and learning. This subject challenges educators to not only consider how the foundations of reading and literacy have changed; but also recognise that how literacy is enacted by students and teachers, also redefines the field and has implications for professional practice. Students examine and evaluate the role of new technologies for literacy teaching and learning, teaching literacy to speakers of English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D) and the literacy needs of Indigenous learners. Students also explore a wide range of literacy teaching and assessment strategies—including motivating reluctant readers, promoting comprehension, organising for effective literacy instruction, how to differentiate instruction and multi-literacies practices— with the goal of drawing on children and young people’s funds of knowledge to make teaching and learning relevant to their lifeworlds.
Assessment and Intervention in Early Literacy | EDUC6010

Effective literacy instruction derives, in part, from effective assessment. This subject presents the purposes, strengths and limitations of a wide variety of assessment instruments to effectively diagnose learners’ literacy difficulties and determine appropriate strategies and interventions. Students learn how to select and administer appropriate assessment tools for diagnosis and progress monitoring and how to interpret results related to individual learners, classes/groups and schools. These include a wide range of formal and informal assessments needed to grasp the complexity of young children’s literacy learning. Current or future education professionals learn how to use assessment data to plan intervention strategies and differentiated instruction for learners at different developmental stages and from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. In addition, they also learn how to choose teaching resources needed to implement appropriate interventions.
Teaching Literacy to Diverse Students | EDUC6013

This subject prepares students to design an inclusive classroom where all learners, especially those labelled 'at-risk', can acquire the literacy skills and practices needed for academic success and for participating effectively in society. Students are required to critically examine and apply strategies to scaffold and support learners at all levels of language acquisition, particularly for students who speak English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D). The subject explores critical pedagogy and critical literacy approaches to empower teachers and their students with the tools to participate in a democratic society regardless of their race, culture, class, gender, or sexual orientation. To this end, students practice selecting culturally sensitive and relevant instructional materials and literacy texts for all learners. Through an in-depth study of critical literacy practices, students are encouraged to view the literacies needed for reading, viewing, responding to and producing multimodal and digital texts—as tools to take action and bring about change—in the classroom and communities where they work.
Becoming a High Achieving Professional Educator | EDU6000

Research indicates that excellence in teaching is the single most powerful influence on student achievement. In this subject, students explore what it means to be a high achieving professional educator in today's diverse and changing educational landscape. Students will critically examine the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership’s (AITSL) Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the lead teacher career stage. This assists them in developing a deeper understanding of their content area and articulating why their selected teaching practices and strategies are important in shaping learning in ways that are meaningful and valuable to diverse learners. The subject also assists students in articulating why they are expert pedagogues able to make appropriate professional judgments that successfully shape the manner in which they teach and respond to their students’ learning.
Education Major Project A | EMP603

The Education Major Project provides students with an opportunity to plan and carry out an innovation/change or research project over two trimesters. Project A introduces and explores methodology and encourages critical and systematic reflection on your professional context. Students design an innovation/change or research project around an issue or problem related to their current context. This project enables students to draw on previous course work and apply theories, concepts and practices to improve an identified aspect of their context.
Education Major Project B | EMP604

Education Major Project B requires students to engage in an innovation/change or research project previously planned to demonstrate competence in the implementation of innovation/change or research processes. There is also a focus in the subject on the interpretation and presentation of the findings of the project, and the implications of such work for future practice.
Prerequisite: EMP603

Requirements

Choose two elective subjects below.

Elective subjects

Literacy Learning in the Early Years | EDUC6007

This Subject prepares education students to understand the literacy experiences of children prior to school and in the early years of schooling. Students will examine the development of listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and designing print, digital and multimodal texts and their relationship to children's language acquisition and emergent literacy practices. Students will explore the interrelationship between early years literacy practices and a diversity of text types. This will assist them in extending children's literacy learning experiences through meaningful engagement with texts and literature that is relevant to their lifeworlds and family and community funds of knowledge. Additional topics include phonology, vocabulary and grammar related to early reading and writing; theories of reading comprehension; the development of children's writing; assessment strategies; and planning differentiated instruction.
Literacy Learning in the Middle Years | EDUC6011

This subject examines the development of successful strategies to teach the listening, speaking, reading, writing and designing of print, digital and multimodal texts in the middle years of schooling. Students engage with a diversity of literacy teaching and assessment strategies required to successfully engage learners in years 5 through 9 to assist them in learning how to encode and decode a diversity of text types to make meaning. The subject critically engages with approaches to plan effective teaching and learning that assists middle year learners in acquiring the complex literacy practices required to participate actively and successfully across diverse social and cultural contexts. Topics will also include; literacy teaching across discipline areas; genre; digital literacies; and multiliteracies.
Understanding Literacy Difficulties in Adolescences | EDUC6012

Acquiring a sound understanding of the diverse cultural, social, linguistic and emotional needs of adolescents assists students in developing critical strategies to connect adolescent literacy learners to the diversity of print, digital and multimodal texts they encounter in school and through their digitally mediated lifeworlds. In this subject, students analyse the sociocultural constructions of adolescence to develop strategies to improve struggling and ‘at-risk’ middle years and secondary students’ literacy skills. Students also acquire the tools needed to identify and support adolescents who struggle with literacy to equip them for a lifetime of learning. The subject builds students’ knowledge of literacy teaching strategies and interventions to foster adolescents’ creativity and resilience to overcome literacy difficulties and improve literacy outcomes.
Dyslexia | DYX402

This subject explores the concept of dyslexia, as a social construct, and considers the historical and political background of the concept. This exploration underpins the background of current practice in managing learners who experience specific learning difficulties of a dyslexic nature in a school setting. It presents dyslexia in terms of the problems it has resulted in for individuals during their lifetime when living with dyslexia, and incorporates a range of specific learning challenges that they have encountered. The subject then expands onto the understanding of dyslexia traits, comorbidity, or overlap, with other specific learning disorders, and the role of the parent/carer in the rise and range of dyslexia support. Understanding how this condition impacts aspirations in education and occupation choice creates the platform for students to apply this knowledge for a contemporary perspective of support needs in the classroom; and explore the impacts of the learning challenges, where students will be presented with perspectives from the individual and parents in various contexts and levels of support.

International students must not enrol in more than one-third (33%) of online subjects over their course, and must study at least one face-to-face subject each study period. Please note that due to COVID-19, authorities have provided exceptions to the usual face-to-face learning requirements until 30 June 2023 only. For more information, visit Study in Australia.

This course is only offered online. International students requiring a student visa to study in Australia should choose another course that offers campus-based/blended options. For the latest information on study locations, please check the entry requirements flyer.

Entry details

Domestic
International

Fees

Check the domestic course fee schedule for the cost of your course.

FEE-HELP

Eligible Australian students may choose to defer some, or all, of their tuition fees through FEE-HELP, a loan scheme repaid through the tax system based on income.

Learn more about fees and FEE-HELP

Scholarships

If you are truly passionate about education, we want to hear from you. We have a variety of education scholarships on offer to assist you in becoming a key part of the education industry:

Admission criteria

Before you begin your application to study as a domestic student, check that you meet the requirements listed below.

Australian bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent.

4 years of formal teacher training from an Australian institution or equivalent.

Three years relevant professional work experience, or a completed postgraduate qualification in an education related field.

View full course admission information

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have already completed a qualification you may be able to credit this against your degree with us, even if it’s from another institution. This is called Recognition of Prior Learning. We also offer pathway opportunities to further your learning.

Learn more about study pathways

Fees

Check the international course fee schedule for the cost of your course. Onshore international students requiring a student visa should choose campus-based / blended options.

Fee payment

Course fees can be paid across three study periods. Each instalment to be paid before the beginning of the academic stage census date.

Scholarships

We want you to have the best possible chance to succeed, which is why we offer a range of financial scholarships to support our international students during their study journey.

Admission criteria

Before you begin your application to study as an international student, check that you meet the requirements listed below.

Australian bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study or equivalent.

4 years of formal teacher training from an Australian institution or equivalent.

Academic IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.

OR alternative entry requirement may be available. Contact the International Admissions team for more information.

View full course admission information

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have already completed a qualification you may be able to credit this against your degree with us, even if it’s from another institution. This is called Recognition of Prior Learning. We also offer pathway opportunities to further your learning.

Learn more about study pathways

Frequently asked questions

What are Torrens University Australia’s ATAR requirements for domestic students?

Torrens University Australia no longer considers ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) as our primary entry requirement. We have removed ATAR as the key admissions criteria for applicants aiming to study at Torrens University Australia. We strongly believed an alternative to the ATAR system should be found, which more broadly assesses students, especially when soft skills are emerging as important employability attributes. So, students with a recent secondary school education are now considered for admission if they have a Year 12 (Australian secondary school) certificate. Exceptions may apply to some courses.
What if  I don’t meet the entry criteria for a degree?

Torrens University Australia has a range of application pathways to help you gain entry into our degrees based on different criteria.

To find out more, visit Study Pathways or contact our Future Student Advisors.
Am I eligible for FEE-HELP?
If you are a domestic student attending university or an approved higher education provider, you can get a FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of your tuition fees.

You are eligible for FEE-HELP assistance for a unit of study (i.e. subject) if you:

Undertake study with an approved provider.

Meet the citizenship and residency requirements:

An Australian citizen or a New Zealand Special Category Visa holder who meets the long-term residency criteria and who will undertake, in Australia, at least one unit of study contributing to your course; OR

A permanent humanitarian visa holder who will be a resident in Australia for the duration of your unit; OR

Are a permanent visa holder who is undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals, and will be a resident in Australia for the duration of the study.

Enrolled in an eligible unit of study by the census date for the unit.

Have not exceeded the FEE-HELP limit.

For full details, visit the Australian Government website Study Assist.

If you are still unsure, please contact our Future Student Advisors who can talk you through the information.

Can I get course credit for previous experience?

Yes, course credit is available for most courses upon application and academic approval (excluding Higher Degree by Research programs). 

If you have already completed a qualification or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for credit towards your course. This credit can take the form of credit transfer, block credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Review our Course Credits page or chat to our Future Student Advisors.
What are Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT)? How do I apply?

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that recognises experience, previous study and qualifications, and other forms of informal and non-formal learning, to determine if you meet course requirements.

If you have relevant qualifications or experience, you may be eligible for credit towards your course and a reduction in tuition costs.

Please speak to our Future Student Advisors to discuss your prior learning experiences.

For more information, please visit Course credits.
How do I apply for a scholarship?

Torrens University has a wide range of scholarship options to support new, returning, international and Australian students. They all include a reduction in tuition fees, and some scholarships include a mentoring component with our industry partners.

Domestic students

When you speak to our Future Student Advisors, let them know you wish to be considered for a scholarship in your application form. They will show you how to apply for a scholarship.

International students

Please contact your Education Agent for further information. Alternatively, you can call us on 1300 575 803 or by email.

For more details, explore our range of scholarships.

View all FAQs

Master of Education (Reading and Literacy)

What is a Master of Education in Reading and Literacy?

Learning outcomes

Career opportunities

Potential career paths

Subjects and units

Requirements

Core subjects

Requirements

Elective subjects

Entry details

Fees

FEE-HELP

Scholarships

Admission criteria

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

Fees

Fee payment

Scholarships

Admission criteria

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

Frequently asked questions

Master of Education (Innovation and Change)

Master of Education (Special Education)

Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching

Want to find out more?

Study

Students

International students

Torrens University Australia

Study

Students

International students

Torrens University Australia

Master of Education (Reading and Literacy)

What is a Master of Education in Reading and Literacy?

Learning outcomes

Career opportunities

Potential career paths

Subjects and units

Requirements

Core subjects

Requirements

Elective subjects

Entry details

Fees

FEE-HELP

Scholarships

Admission criteria

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

Fees

Fee payment

Scholarships

Admission criteria

Guaranteed pathway and Recognition of Prior Learning

How to apply

Get started

Apply

Offer

Frequently asked questions

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Master of Education (Innovation and Change)

Master of Education (Special Education)

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