Postgraduate studies in Children's Literature
Why Children's Literature?
Children’s Literature is central to childhood development beyond the traditional notions of literacy and learning. Children engage with stories in the form of books, films and new media, and from these texts they learn ways to interpret their world and develop models for participating in their culture. Understanding the messages and agendas in texts for children is essential if we are to help children navigate the complexities of the contemporary world.
Who should study Children's Literature?
The Children's Literature suite of postgraduate courses will equip a range of professionals who work with children, including writers, teachers, librarians and carers to effectively mediate between texts and children.
Course overview
Deakin's Children’s Literature courses will develop your understanding and further your knowledge of children's and young adults' book, film and media, while allowing you to extend your qualifications.
The course offers a unique opportunity to combine studies in Children's Literature with:
- Professional Writing
- Literary Studies
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Media and Communication
The courses can also bridge to Master and PhD higher degrees by research.
Course benefits
Improve your ability to work with children
The course will enable those working with Children to better understand and communicate with texts.Further your existing qualifications
Choose from the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature).Learn from internationally recognised lecturers
Prof Clare Bradford is an internationally renowned expert in Children's Literature. She has published eight books, five of which are fiction for children. Her book 'Reading Race: Aboriginality in Australian Children's Literature' (2001), won the two main awards in children's literature scholarship - the Children's Literature Association Book Award, and the International Research Society for Children's Literature (IRSCL) Award.Off-campus (distance education)
The Children's Literature courses are available through off-campus study (distance learning) allowing those in remote areas to benefit from Deakin's well established distance education programs and next-day library facilities.
Information about online and off-campus study.
Staff members:
Why Choose Deakin University?
Relevant knowledgeDeakin's Children's Literature courses offer teachers, librarians, writers and other professionals working with children the chance to advance their knowledge through an introduction to contemporary critical theory, and offer practising professionals the opportunity to improve their qualifications. Units of study are under constant review and are directly relevant to the professional lives of students and graduates. These courses are designed by scholars with international reputations in children's literature research: Professor Clare Bradford, Dr Elizabeth Parsons, Dr Elizabeth Bullen and Dr Leonie Rutherford. Throughout your studies you will engage with current techniques of critical analysis that are responsive to cultural shifts, generational changes and the globalised marketplace of texts for children.
Flexibility
We know that postgraduate study is a big commitment. Deakin's postgraduate courses are genuinely flexible, to help you fit your studies in with workplace and personal commitments. You can study from home, in your own time, using flexible online classrooms and mailed library resources. Regardless of where you live, resources can be posted to off-campus students, or accessed from the Library's comprehensive electronic collection.
Quality
At Deakin we pride ourselves on providing quality postgraduate courses for people working or aspiring to work in the area of children's literature. Quality is evident in all aspects of our courses, from the standard of study materials to the teaching staff, who are leaders in their field. Ranked among the best in the world, the Deakin Library service has set a benchmark for Australian universities.
Technology
As a Deakin postgraduate student you will have access to the best new technologies. Email, chat groups, podcasts and the internet are widely used and Deakin's lecture streaming service gives you online access to recorded lectures for many units. The University has produced its own Software Essentials DVD to support online communication. All units offer a dedicated teaching and learning site Deakin Studies Online.
