The MA Education (Religious Education) takes an innovative approach to religious education issues, allowing students to develop strengths and interests by encouraging reflection and debate with like-minded professionals, supported by staff with experience and expertise in this area.
The route has been designed to cater for the interests of professional in all kinds of settings including primary, secondary and post-compulsory education; faith and non-faith schools and faith organisations.
This award could provide a progression route for those who have just completed their undergraduate degrees and intend to become teachers of Religious Education. Alternatively, it might also be taken by PGCE Primary and Secondary with a religious education specialism - who may have already gained 60 credits at Master's level. Currently qualified teachers may wish to engage with the programme to enhance existing subject knowledge and leadership skills.
The route is also available to graduates or teachers of other specialisms who are intending to apply for teaching programmes in Religious Education.
The award will provide opportunities to undertake master's level study and aspects of Religious Education that are of a direct interest and relevance to them underpinned with the most current and influential literature and practice with a keen awareness of rapid developments in Religious Education.
Studying for the award will require students to engage confidently with key debates in Religious Education in order to develop their personal philosophy through appropriate reflection, analysis, and research. A key aspect of the award is the flexibility to pursue individual interests, phase specialisms and other professional concerns. There will also be the opportunity to study alongside learning environment and drawing on a wide range of staff specialisms and expertise.
The varied combinations of modules available allow teachers, educators and others to critically analyse and respond to educational and social issues within the context of theory, research and practice.
The full Masters award requires you to gain 180 credits including 18,000 -20,000 word research dissertation in a specialised area of your choice, students will complete four 30 credit modules.
These are:
Religious Education - Context, Curriculum and Purposes *
This module incorporates contemporary issues in Religious Education linking research to current practice. Issues explored include-role of curriculum design in Religious Education; pedagogies for teaching world faiths; Religious Education and the wider curriculum and assessment.
Controversial Issues in Religious Education *
This module incorporates a study of a range of issues associated with the teaching and management of Religious Education. Issues include - representing world and minority religions accurately; challenging misconceptions and stereotypes; role of family and faith communities in pupil's learning; pedagogies for teaching sensitive issues.
A variety of delivery methods will be employed, for example, workshops, discussion forums, fieldwork, guest speakers, seminars, e-learning through VLE, tutorial support as appropriate.
Students complete a third specialist module from the wider MA Education modules on offer and the core research methods module.
The following MA Education modules may be particularly useful in creating a coherent and complimentary course for those students taking the Religious Education pathway.
* subject to validation in November 2012
Applicants should have a good honours degree in a relevant discipline or equivalent.
Please note that a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau is required for students where they are required to visit settings other than their own.
In addition, overseas students will normally be required to have an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent qualification that meets the UK Border Agency requirements.
Students should note that some modules are tailored to those working in educational contexts and access to these settings will be required to inform the completion of coursework assignments. Students applying to these modules will be required to draw on past and present organisational experience. Normally this requires a minimum of two years of employment, working at a responsible/supervisory level, in an organisation.
The Education Faculty has five research centres, which provide a focus and support for the research carried out in the faculty. They are:
Students on the MA Education (Religious Education) programme may find their work aligns with any or several of these centres, as the award is designed to allow individuals to study areas of education and teaching and learning in a wide variety of settings and contexts – including professional, cultural and international.
An MA Education (Religious Education) will allow you to enhance your personal interests, career specific opportunities and show potential for promotion to senior leadership. For practicing teachers it can be a good way to enhance your opportunities to move beyond threshold, or simply become an ‘outstanding’ practitioner.
Students completing the MA will also be well placed to go on to a doctorate (EdD or PhD) at Liverpool Hope.
Student Recruitment Team
Tel: 0151 291 3111
Email: enquiry@hope.ac.uk
Department: Education Studies
