Qualification Regulations
Part I
These regulations are to be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates.
Part II
Admission
1. Admission to the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching requires that the candidate will meet the University admission requirements; and shall have:
(a) been awarded or qualified for a Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent; and
(b) been awarded or qualified for a relevant professional qualification; and
(c) have completed at least two years of relevant professional experience.
2. For entry into the Te Korowai Mokopuna endorsement candidates shall have:
(a) been awarded or qualified for the professional qualification Te Tohu Mātauranga Whakapakari Tino Rangatiratanga o Te Kōhanga Reo; and
(b) have completed at least two years of relevant professional experience in Kōhanga Reo; and
(c) hold a current letter of endorsement from Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust.
3. In all cases candidates will be required to:
(a) be selected on the basis of a selection process which may include written application, interview, referee reports and practical exercises; and
(b) meet requirements equivalent to those set down by the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand for registration as a teacher in terms of values, fitness and disposition to teach; and will:
(c) hold current relevant New Zealand Professional Registration; or
(d) be required to undergo police vetting prior to gaining entry to the programme.
4. All candidates whose first language is not English or Te Reo Māori who have not gained a New Zealand university entrance qualification, or an overseas entrance qualification in a country where the main language is English, will be required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English in the form of an academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 (or the equivalent TOEFL score) or other evidence that is acceptable to Academic Board.
Qualification requirements
5. Candidates for the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching shall follow a flexible programme of study, which shall consist of courses totalling at least 120 credits, comprising:
(a) two core courses as listed in Schedule A for the qualification (60 credits);
(b) two courses for one endorsement as listed in Schedule B for the qualification (60 credits).
Specialisations
6. Candidates must complete one endorsement by completing the requirements for that endorsement as set out in Part B of the Schedule for the Qualification.
7. The endorsements available for the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching are Blind and Low Vision, Complex Educational Needs, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Early Intervention, Gifted Education, Te Korowai Mokopuna, Learning and Behaviour.
Completion requirements
8. The timeframes for completion as outlined in the General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas, and Postgraduate Certificates will apply.
9. Any candidate who has previously been awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Teaching may be permitted to cross-credit the courses into the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching. Time limits for completion and for the award of distinction will apply from the time that the candidate first enrolled in a course credited towards the diploma.
10. In order to graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching endorsed in Blind and Low Vision a candidate must pass the Trans-Tasman Braille Proficiency Examination.
11. Candidates may be graduated when they meet the Admission, Qualification and Academic requirements within the prescribed timeframes; candidates who do not meet the requirements for graduation may, subject to the approval of Academic Board, be awarded the Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Teaching should they meet the relevant Qualification requirements.
Unsatisfactory academic progress
12. The general Unsatisfactory Academic Progress regulations will apply.
13. For candidates enrolled in the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching failure to complete a course in two successive attempts will lead to exclusion from the qualification.
Transitional provisions
14. Subject to the Maximum Time to Completion and Abandonment of Study provisions specified in the Part I regulations to the degree, candidates who commenced study towards the Gifted and Talented Education subject prior to 01 January 2022 may elect to be awarded this specialisation title rather than the title ‘Gifted Education’ on completion of the subject. These transition arrangements expire 31 December 2024.
15. Subject to any Maximum Time to Completion and the Abandonment of Studies provisions specified in the Part I regulations for the degree, candidates enrolled in Gifted Education prior to 01 January 2025 who have successfully completed 262751 may substitute this for 262760.
16. This transition arrangement expires 31 December 2027.
Schedule for the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Key terms for course planning
- Courses
- Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.
- Course code
- Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course 219206, the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).
- Credits
- Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.
- Specialisations
- Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.
Part A: Core courses
Course code: 254766 Professional Learning Pathways credits 30
Bespoke learning modules for professional educational practice
View full course detailsCourse code: 254767 Community-based Practice credits 30
Theory and practice of culturally responsive and relational engagement in local learning communities
View full course detailsPart B: Endorsements
Autism Spectrum Disorder (90 credits)
No new enrolments
This qualification is not accepting new enrolments.
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249745 Theory and Foundations of Autism Spectrum Disorder credits 30
An advanced study of theoretical and research-based foundations of specialist teaching relating to understanding, recognising, assessing and providing for learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249749 Evidence-based Interprofessional Practice in Autism Spectrum Disorder credits 30
An examination of evidence-based practices in the education of learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder, including common professional practices of specialist teachers and other educational and health professionals involved in special and inclusive education.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249750 Practicum Autism Spectrum Disorder credits 30
A supervised practicum working with learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
View full course detailsBlind and Low Vision (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249700 Braille Proficiency credits 0
In order to complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Teaching (Blind and Low Vision), evidence that the candidate has successfully completed the Trans-Tasman Braille Proficiency Examination (Unified English Braille) must be submitted.
View full course details30 credits from
Course code: 249710 Theory and Practice of Blind and Low Vision (Developmental Orientation & Mobility) credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of Blind and Low Vision, with a specific focus on Developmental Orientation & Mobility.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249746 Theory and Practice of Blind and Low Vision Education credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of blind and low vision
View full course details30 credits from
Course code: 249711 Practicum of Blind & Low Vision (Developmental Orientation & Mobility) credits 30
A professional and field-based practicum in the area of Blind and Low Vision, with a specific focus on Developmental Orientation & Mobility.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249752 Practicum in Blind and Low Vision Education credits 30
A professional and field-based practicum in the area of blind and low vision
View full course detailsComplex Educational Needs (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249760 Theory and Practice of Complex Educational Needs credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of complex educational needs
View full course detailsCourse code: 249763 Practicum in Complex Educational Needs credits 30
Professional and field-based practice in the area of complex educational needs
View full course detailsDeaf and Hard of Hearing (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249740 Theory and Practice of Deaf and Hard of Hearing credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249743 Practicum in Deaf and Hard of Hearing credits 30
Professional and field-based practice in the area of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
View full course detailsCourse code: 249772 New Zealand Sign Language 1 credits 0
The practice of communicating through New Zealand Sign Language 1
View full course detailsCourse code: 249773 New Zealand Sign Language 2 credits 0
The practice of communicating through New Zealand Sign Language 2
View full course detailsEarly Intervention (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249747 Theory and Practice of Early Intervention credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of Early Intervention.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249748 Practicum in Early Intervention credits 30
Professional and field-based practice in the area of Early Intervention
View full course detailsGifted Education (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 262753 Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education credits 30
Professional and field-based practice in the area of gifted and talented
View full course detailsCourse code: 262760 Theory and Practice of Gifted Education credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of gifted education.
View full course detailsLearning and Behaviour (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249753 Theory and Practice of Learning and Behaviour Diversity credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of specialist teachers in the area of learning and behaviour diversity
View full course detailsCourse code: 249755 Practicum in Learning and Behaviour Diversity credits 30
Professional and field-based practice in the area of learning and behaviour diversity
View full course detailsTe Korowai Mokopuna (60 credits)
Endorsement courses
Course code: 249758 Theory and Practice of Te Kaupapa o Te Kōhanga Reo credits 30
An advanced study of the theory and practice of Kaihāpai in the area of Te Kaupapa o Te Kōhanga Reo.
View full course detailsCourse code: 249759 Practicum in Te Kaupapa o Te Kōhanga Reo credits 30
Professional and field-based practice in the area of Te Kōhanga Reo.
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