Summary
- Duration
- Full Time: 2 years
- Fees
- Full Time: €4,290 per year
International Students: €9,250 International
Overview
The MA Education programme offers four named routes designed to meet the needs of teachers, lecturers and trainers. These are:
- PgCert/PgDip/MA in Education
- PgCert/PgDip/MA in Education Management and Leadership
- PgCert/PgDip/MA in Higher Education
- PgCert/PgDip/MA in Research in Education Practice
You will be able to discuss which route is most suitable for your professional needs at the interview stage. It will take you a period of two to five years to gain your Master's qualification, depending upon the time available to you to attend sessions and to study.
Course Structure:
The MA Education course provides a flexible and relevant programme of study in areas within education and training.
It is designed to appeal to teachers, lecturers and trainers who are keen to extend and enhance their professional qualifications and expertise.
Professionals within the education and training sector are increasingly being called upon to operate at the analytical and intellectual level required of Master's level work and the structure of the course reflects those stringent professional needs.
The MA Education programme enables students to work towards the award of MA through the accumulation of credits over a period of up to five years. There are three stages to complete and students are required to attain 60 credits from a combination of 15, 30 and 60 credit modules at each stage.
A Postgraduate Certificate is available for successful completion of 60 credits at Stage 1 and a Postgraduate Diploma for successful completion of a further 60 credits at Stage 2. These are exit awards which are made should withdrawal take place following the successful completion of a stage.
The Master of Arts is awarded once the first two stages have been completed and after successful completion of a 60-credit dissertation. This provides a recognised professional development qualification and a degree if you do not have one.
Key Facts
This flexible part-time programme is intended for those working in all education sectors, including early years, primary, secondary, further education and higher education.
It is also relevant to those in work-based training environments or those with a general interest in education. The programme is open to those without a Bachelor's degree providing they have relevant professional experience.
The MA Education at CMU offers a recognised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) qualification which may be used towards meeting certain professional CPD requirements.
Several programmes are offered in collaborations with partner organisations such as the Centre for Research in Early Childhood (CREC), the Design and Technology Association (DATA) and Birmingham Advisory and Support Service (BASS). Please contact the Course Director for further information on these partnerships.
It is possible to use evidence from any previous study relevant to the subject to claim for Accreditation of Prior Experience and Learning (APEL). The APEL process involves mapping evidence against the learning outcomes for specific modules. Examples could include project work, other professional qualifications such as the National Professional Qualification for Headship, or Level 7 credits gained during a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Contact the Course Director in the first instance for advice.
It is possible to take up to five years to complete the course, but it can be completed in two years. The only stipulation is that 60 credits must be successfully completed in order to enrol on the final dissertation stage.
Course Outline
Modes of Study
One group of modules will be offered between October and January each year and a further programme will be offered between February and June.
Bespoke programmes can be provided for groups. These may be offered on or off-campus, subject to an appropriate number of participants. We also welcome the partnership arrangements with other professional organisations. Please contact the Course Director.
Modules will be delivered in a variety of ways: students can enrol either on afternoon sessions, evening sessions, individual programmes of study or intensive study courses, some of which may be organised through your institution or local authority. Modules will include online learning support through our virtual learning environment 'Model'.
The MA Education programme aims to provide learners with enhanced knowledge, skills and understanding for their area of work.
The faculty staff are committed to creating a learning environment in which students will be both challenged and supported in the task of analysing, evaluating, modifying and reordering academic knowledge and understanding and/or professional practice.
Students will be engaged in both theoretical and practical issues and be encouraged to incorporate as much original research into their work. Students are also encouraged to identify and reflect on their own needs to achieve their academic goal. In order to facilitate this, students negotiate an individual learning plan designed to record the journey through the Master's programme and provide a coherent plan for learning.
The following topic areas can be studied:
- Introduction to Master's level study
- A research-based individualised programme of study
- Research methods
- Management and leadership
- Mentoring and coaching
- The NQT induction year in association with BASS
- Early years management and leadership (including NPQICL), assessment and music in association with CREC
- Design and Technology in association with DATA
- Further Education
- Mathematics
- Science
- Teaching and learning in higher education
Assessments
Assessment is by coursework only and students are required to demonstrate an ability to carry out in-depth critical analysis, effective research skills, critically evaluate research methodologies, have an enhanced knowledge and understanding of education and training and be able to critically evaluate their findings in relation to the wider academic context.
Some modules offer a choice of assessment methods, including a written account, a portfolio plus a written account and the opportunity to develop materials to disseminate findings.
