MA Education

In this module, you will explore how humans learn by examining both pedagogical and andragogical theories, with a focus on lifelong learning. You will compare various approaches to developing and assessing learners’ knowledge and skills, and critically evaluate the theories that underpin these methods.

The aim is to challenge dominant educational practices in three key ways: by contrasting them with alternative approaches to both formal and informal education; by examining these practices through different theoretical lenses and paradigms; and by questioning the ideological foundations and evidence that support different educational practices.

This module adopts a sociological perspective to examine the role of education in reinforcing or challenging inequalities related to class and poverty, race, gender, sexuality, and disability. Using an interdisciplinary, intersectional lens, the module critically explores how multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage compound themselves and create obstacles for learners’ future success in education and in the labour market.

You will explore ways in which curricula content, national policies, school structures, and teachers’ classroom practices can mitigate stereotypical assumptions about learners’ future selves. A key component of the module will involve exploring how professional development and critical engagement with social justice can empower educators to promote equity, challenge stereotypes, and support all learners to prepare for their next steps effectively.

You will also be encouraged to think critically about how the convergence of stereotypes and socially constructed expectations might have played out in your own career aspirations, using reflexivity and self-awareness.

By the end of the module, you will understand how curricula can be designed to develop the skills and attitudes to effectively engage with future labour markets for all learners, as well as to provide agency and the love of learning needed for lifelong personal fulfilment.

In this module, you will engage in a critical examination of the knowledge, strategies, and skills required to effectively support learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). You will explore the various ways in which professionals and educational institutions can work together to create inclusive learning environments that enable learners with SEND to achieve their full potential.

You will also examine the moral and statutory imperatives for professional collaboration and inclusion, as well as the legal frameworks and policies that mandate inclusion and support for SEND learners. The module highlights the benefits of fostering inclusive practices in educational settings.

Furthermore, you will critically assess the specific challenges and barriers that may arise in the implementation of inclusive education for learners with SEND, including issues related to curriculum accessibility, navigating institutional limitations or resource constraints, teacher training, and attitudes towards disability.

Through case studies, real-world examples, and theoretical perspectives, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the importance of collaboration and inclusion in meeting the needs of learners with SEND, and how these challenges can be overcome.

By the end of this module, you will be equipped with a thorough understanding of the frameworks, practices, and challenges surrounding SEND education, and you will have developed the practical skills necessary to support the diverse needs of learners with SEND within inclusive educational environments.

In this module, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of research methodologies and methods relevant to education. You will learn to adopt a critical and reflective stance towards the design, analysis, and interpretation of educational research.

This will enable you to engage meaningfully with complex contemporary issues and to evaluate the strengths and limitations of diverse research approaches critically. The module will build your capacity to select and apply appropriate methodological frameworks, with particular attention to the ethical and practical considerations involved in research with children and other vulnerable groups.

Through critical engagement with educational literature and debates, you will strengthen your ability to conduct independent, ethically sound research. By the end of the module, you will be well-prepared to design and carry out your dissertation project, addressing significant issues in educational contexts.

In addition to academic development, you will gain transferable skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and evidence-based decision-making, essential for effective and reflective professional practice in education and related fields.

The dissertation module is the highlight of your postgraduate journey, offering you the chance to delve deep into a topic of your choice within education or broader educational contexts. With support from an experienced supervisor, you will take charge of your own research project.

You will choose a compelling research question, conduct a thorough literature review, select the methodologies that best suit your work, analyse your findings, and present your results. You will showcase your academic rigour, originality, and critical thinking skills, while exploring contemporary issues or practices in education or broader educational contexts that truly matter to you.

Through this module, you will also hone valuable transferable skills such as advanced research, project management, and academic writing, all of which will prepare you for doctoral study or enhance your professional career.

Your dissertation allows you to explore a topic in-depth, helping you become an expert in your area of interest and preparing you to confidently tackle complex educational challenges in the future.

Industry-focused and practice-led, these interdisciplinary modules invite you to work collaboratively, applying your advanced degree knowledge and skills to creatively tackle complex challenges that face our society today, to innovate, harness technology and become active change-makers in the workplace and beyond.

You will choose one of these modules. Click here to find out more and explore the full selection available.