Education with Teaching Qualification (Primary)

You will study the role of education within society and the nature of learning within the primary curriculum, and you will choose a course of study for a period of two years from the School of Social & Political Sciences: Sociology, Politics, or Social & Public Policy.

If you intend to follow the Catholic Teacher’s Certificate in Religious Education, the University’s School of Education offers you the opportunity to study Theology.

Your studies will build on the knowledge and skills gleaned in year 1 of the MEduc, following a similar pattern of courses but offering different learning contexts and new challenges.

You will expand upon your understanding of teaching and its connection with theory, your knowledge and understanding of the primary curriculum and your ability to reflect and improve on your own practice. You will also begin to enquire systematically into your own practice and choose an area of study from a number of electives.

You will develop and link the ideas of how education impacts on society, what the most effective practices within the classroom are, and how you can enquire into your own teaching and improve it by using evidence-based approaches. You will be able to take another elective in this year.

This is a Masters degree qualification with undergraduate entry. You will graduate after year 4 qualified to teach with a Masters Diploma in Education (a higher qualification than a BEd degree). At any stage in the subsequent five years you will be able to complete the remaining credits in fulfilment of your Masters degree. This can be done on a part-time basis while in full-time work as a teacher. Studies will continue to blend theoretical and research approaches with classroom practice.

Students who do not wish to proceed to Masters will have the option of qualifying after four years of study with an MA (Hons) in Education with Teaching Qualification (Primary).

In your third year of study you may be able to apply to study abroad, either for a short visit (eg three weeks) or for a longer period (eg one semester or a year). At present, students in the School of Education enjoy opportunities to study in the USA, Australia and various locations across Europe. See: Study abroad.