MA in Childhood Studies and Professional Practice

This Masters level interdisciplinary degree scheme; MA in Childhood Studies and Professional Practice, is intended to be a direct progression route from students with a Single Honours Childhood Studies degree, and Joint Honours Major / Minor degree schemes in Education. In addition, it has also been designed with a wider cohort of professionals working with children in mind, offering the opportunity for continuing professional development through a combination of academic study and reflective professional practice. 

As such, the programme offers a variety of core and optional modules, some based on content-led academic study, in addition to modules based on work- or placement-based study, which are supported by a ‘scaffolded’ approach to personal, intellectual and professional development. During Part two of the degree, students will be offered two ‘routes’ for their studies: a ‘traditional’ independent empirical research study, written up in the form of a dissertation; or the option of undertaking a work-based learning intervention, based on action research and practitioner-led enquiry methodologies, and written up in the form of professional development portfolio. Postgraduate employability and continuing professional development are, therefore, a key consideration in the design of this scheme. 

You have the option, should you wish, to specialise in the following courses:


Aims

  1. To offer postgraduate students an opportunity to study core concepts in childhood, policy and practice at an advanced level, employing a range of perspectives from education, psychology, sociology and law.
  2. To enable postgraduate students to specialise in an area of childhood studies and/or professional practice, through taught thematic study and independent learning.
  3. To provide students with a suitable foundation of theory and practice that can inform their future professional development and practice.
  4. To support students in acquiring the knowledge, understanding and technical skills required to undertake research with children, families and the professionals working with them.
  5. To support students in becoming independent, reflective learners in both research and work-based settings.
  6. To support students in developing the skills, behaviours, competencies, and personal qualities required to work with children, families and other professionals, whilst ensuring that the welfare and wellbeing of children is always paramount Modules

Modules

Part One: Students will take 120 M-Level (Level 7 NQF) credits during Part One, consisting of 4 x20 credit taught modules and 1 x 40 credit taught module. Three modules will be compulsory and core. In addition, students will choose two optional 20 credit modules which will fall under one of three thematic ‘strands’ of work (see the Options Tab). The modules for Part One are as follows:

 

Core Modules (Students pursue all)

  • EDM7140 Research Methods (Compulsory 40 credits).
  • EDM7220 Children, Global Citizenship and Sustainable Development: Policy and Practice (Compulsory 20 credits).
  • EDM7320 Childhood: Theory and Professional Practice (Compulsory 20 credits).

 

Optional Modules (Students choose two).

  • EDM7420 Additional Learning Needs (Optional 20 credits).
  • EDM7520 Children's Rights and Childhood Policy (Optional 20 credits).
  • EDM7620 The Creative World of the Child (Optional 20 credit’)
  • EDM7720 Creativity in Educational Practice (Optional 20 credits).
  • EDM7820 Health Promoting Schools - concept, models and global perspectives (Optional 20 credits).
  • EDM7920 Promoting and Safeguarding Children's Health & Wellbeing (Optional 20 credits).

Part Two: Students will take 60 credits, via one of two routes of independent study. This will consist of a research project or work-based learning project.

  • Research route: EDM8160 Dissertation
  • Professional Practice route: EDM8360 Professional Practice Portfolio

Options

This MA programme will also offer students the opportunity to pursue their course within a specific ‘thematic strand’ of study if they so wish, consisting of two optional Part One modules under one of three thematic strands and Part Two study which is also thematically consistent with Part One. The thematic strands identified are Children’s Welfare and Rights; Children and Creative Development; Children’s Health and Well-being.

Following a thematic strand may lead at the end of Part Two to a named award other than an MA in Childhood Studies and Professional Practice.

 

  • MA in Childhood Welfare and Rights – for students who have followed this thematic strand.
  • MA in Childhood and Creative Development – for students who have followed this thematic strand.
  • MA in Childhood Health and Well-being – for students who have followed this thematic strand.

Or conversely, students would also be free to choose their Part One modules across the three thematic strands if they so wished, progressing at the end of Part Two to the generic award: MA in Childhood Studies and Professional Practice. Also, students who do follow a thematic strand but who wish to be admitted to the generic award title of MA in Childhood Studies and Professional Practice would be allowed to do so.

Apply

You can apply offline for this course, see our pages for more information. 

Contacts

Please contact Andrew James Davies at the School of Education Lifelong Learning for informal enquiries.

Aberystwyth University, Penbryn 5, Penglais Campus, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3UX 
Tel: 01970 621580 Fax: 01970 622258 Email: learning@aber.ac.uk

Direct email: ajd2@aber.ac.uk