Education Studies and Theology

BA (Hons) Education Studies and Theology
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.

Theology
Through an active programme of study of religions, thought and human experience Theology takes you places and brings you face to face with people and ideas. Our students are engaged on a course that provides many exciting opportunities. Including:

• the study of our six main faiths, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism;
• an extensive range of field trips and optional residential visits throughout the three year course, including destinations as near as Lincoln Cathedral and as far away as London, Turkey and India;
• access to expert tuition, as well as encounters with faith practioners, and places of worship. Plus the chance to talk, eat, dance and (if you wish) worship with various faith communities.

Aside from the full range of Theology modules students have the opportunity to choose options from other University College degree programmes in the first and second years.

Course modules (full-time route)
Year 1

• Christianity: The First 2,000 Years
• A Brief History of Thinking: The Ancients
• A Brief History of Thinking: The Moderns
• Living Religions*

Year 2

• Learning Through Religions*
• Religion, Race, Sexuality, Poverty and Our World
• Religion, War, Terrorism and Our World
• Opening the Bible

Year 3

• Investigating Scripture
• Contemporary Issues in RE
• Individual Study

*These modules contain issues relating to theology education.

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. By the end of the third year there are even opportunities for you to get your dissertation research work published if you wish to!

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 Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject;
• two A levels (CC), one to be in Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject;
• BTEC National Diploma (commenced pre-2003) (60% Merits) plus an A level in Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject (C);
• BTEC National Certificate (2003 onwards) MM plus an A level in Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject (C);
• BTEC National Diploma (2003 onwards) MPP plus an A level in Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject (C);
• GNVQ Advanced - Merit grade plus an A level in Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject (C);
• GNVQ Advanced (or 12 unit) in Health and Social Care (Merits) plus either GCSE (C) in Religious Studies, Theology or module unit in the
• GNVQ in Modern Beliefs and Religions;
• NNEB/CACHE Diploma plus an A level in Religious Studies, Theology or literary-related subject (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.