Education Studies and Music

BA (Hons) Education Studies and Music
Mode: full-time

Education Studies
Education Studies is an innovative, exciting and challenging subject that looks at education from sociological, psychological, cultural, historical and political perspectives. You will critically debate education policy and practice to get beneath the skin of the ever-changing face of modern education.

This flexible strand of the course offers a wide range of contemporary core and optional modules, so you can choose the modules you study to suit your individual career plans and interests. Apart from work placements, a typical week usually involves three days on campus. Dynamic, research-informed teaching is delivered by enthusiastic, knowledgeable and experienced tutors. We use a wide range of teaching styles, including lectures, interactive seminars, workshops and tutorials.

Placements
We believe that you can't study Education out of context and so we make sure that you have plenty of time in schools or, if you want, other educational settings.

Currently this is about 15 weeks over your whole course, 12 of these in Education Studies. Crucially, this means that you have the experience you need to help you make up your mind about what you want to do when you graduate. You can choose from placements in primary or secondary schools as well as colleges and a wide variety of other educational organisations currently including outdoor pursuit centres, heritage sites, centres for learning disabled adults and art galleries.

Modules
We offer a wide choice of modules in Education Studies. Each year there are some 'core' modules that everyone studies, including:

• Learning and development, including the psychology of learning and teaching;
• Effective classroom practice;
• Ideologies in education;
• Education beyond the classroom;
• Inclusive education and diversity;
• The curriculum.

In your second and third year you can begin to tailor your course according to your interests by choosing from our popular portfolio of optional modules. Current optional Education modules include:

• Education and the media;
• Disaffection, Society and Education;
• Gender;
• Sustainability;
• Gifted and talented education;
• Children's spirituality.

Music
The study of Music is carefully combined with your work in Education Studies. For example, there are at least fifteen work-placement days undertaken as part of your time in Music. Visits are undertaken in a variety of contexts including music and special needs, primary and secondary education, adult education and specialist music education. Students will plan for and participate in taught sessions as well as observing good practice from a variety of sources. These experiences will impact directly on the development of ideas and thinking, support theories behind teaching and learning in Music enabling students to make informed decision about structures, systems, methodology and management, based on observation and practical preparation in addition to supporting assessed work. In addition Subject specific Master Class days provide an excellent opportunity to observe and participate in high quality professional practice with a variety of visiting speakers and performers. Students are strongly encouraged to be proactive in their course of study informing future career plans and choices.

We welcome all types of musician; no two musicians are the same. The course is designed to support a variety of approaches. We encourage diversity amongst musicians, share in the investigation of music, develop strengths and discover new experiences which will support your development as an individual.

Modules
Current Music core modules include:

• Contemporary Issues in Music Education;
• Individual and Ensemble Performance;
• Understanding Music;
• Individual Study.

In the third year you will undertake a research study on an aspect of Music that interests you. The choice is yours; staff will support you in the initial decision making, structure and methodology entailed. Students enjoy this work as an independent musician and researcher, investigating theory and applying practice.

Alongside your Music course, you also have the opportunity to choose options from other disciplines. Music students may be particularly interested in modules from other arts subjects e.g. English, Drama or Art but you can choose from any of our other subjects, such as Geography, History, Maths, Religious Education, Science or Sport. This may be useful if you are considering primary education.

Instrumental/Vocal Study
All students are entitled to free tuition in one instrument or voice. A team of professional practitioners work with students on an individual basis. In collaboration with your tutor, you direct the course of study which best suits your needs as a performer. For some students, this is an opportunity to rise to challenges of additional qualifications and recital and master class experience, whilst for others, we appreciate that performance may not necessarily be a priority and strengths and interests lie in other areas of study. Taught sessions average out at 1 hour per fortnight allowing students to consolidate work independently at their individual pace and level of achievement between lessons.

Assessment

Your first year is important. We know that you will need time to settle in to University and build up your academic skills and so, although you have to pass all of your first year modules to progress to the second year, your first year work doesn't count towards your degree. Instead, we give you detailed feedback on how you are doing and set you targets to improve your work. We use a wide range of different types of assessment throughout the degree including coursework portfolios, group discussions, multi-media technology presentations and individual projects as well as essays and exams.

Entry Requirements
You will normally need a minimum of:

• Five GCSEs at grade C or above (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics.
• A Science GCSE at grade C or above (or equivalent) is preferred. However, if you apply for a Primary PGCE/GTP route, grade C or above is required at the time of application.

PLUS, one of the following:

• 160 UCAS tariff points, 80 of which need to be in Music;
• Two A levels (CC), one to be in Music;
• BTEC National Diploma (commenced pre-2003) (60% Merits) plus an A level in Music (C);
• BTEC National Certificate (2003 onwards) MM plus an A level in Music (C);
• BTEC National Diploma (2003 onwards) MPP plus an A level in Music (C);
• GNVQ Advanced - Merit grade plus an A level in Music (C);
• NNEB/CACHE Diploma plus an A level in Music (C);
• OU credits (30 credits) in a relevant subject;
• International Baccalaureate - minimum diploma score of 60% or above with subject relevance;
• CCCCC in Scottish Certificate of Education (three must be Highers), one with subject relevance;
• Access Programme (in a relevant subject).

In addition all students will need a successful Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau and register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA). This is arranged by the University College.

Students will be legally required to register with the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) which is administered by the ISA. The ISA has recently been established as a single agency to monitor all individuals who want to work or volunteer with vulnerable people. Following successful registration you will be issued with an ISA Registration Number which will stay with you for the rest of your career. We will send you further instructions on registering with the VBS as part of the admissions process.