The MA Education (Teaching and Learning) has been designed to cater for the interests and requirements of professionals in all kinds of educational settings, from early years to post-compulsory. This named award will provide opportunities for professionals and practitioners to undertake masters level study in aspects of education that are of direct interest and relevance to them, underpinned by engagement with the most current and influential literature and with a keen awareness of the rapidly transforming social and political contexts in which education is located.
Studying for the award will require you to engage confidently with the key debates in education, to become skilled readers of educational research, to design and evaluate research approaches and to present evidence and findings in appropriate forms. A key aspect of the award is the flexibility to pursue individual interests relevant to different career stages, subject and Phase specialisms and other professional concerns. There will also be the opportunity to study alongside students on the general or other named awards on particular modules, offering an enhanced learning environment and drawing on a wide range of staff specialisms and expertise.
The MA Education (Teaching and Learning) is adapted from the government-funded MTL (now no longer available to new students) and offers the same opportunities for practice-based research and professional development but in a modified structure.
The full Masters award requires you to gain 180 credits, including an 18,000-20,000 research dissertation in a specialised area of your choice. Prior to a dissertation, students will complete four 30 credit modules. These will include:
Learning, teaching and assessment (30 credits)
This module is designed to support students in developing their understanding of learning, teaching and assessment strategies with the aim of improving practice and enabling all learners to achieve their full potential. They will be helped to develop self-direction and originality in problem-solving in relation to the module content, and to act autonomously in planning and implementing change in their educational settings, taking account of current thinking and literature in related areas.
Curriculum theory and development (30 credits)
This module is designed to support the development of knowledge and understanding in the student's subject discipline or age phase specialism. It is intended to allow students to pursue their own professional and academic interests in these areas, including, where relevant, a focus on the priorities of their educational settings. Students will be guided in critiquing and drawing on a range of sources, both academic and policy related, and in locating their own research in relation to these.
Students complete a third specialist module from the wider MA Education modules on offer and the core research methods module.
Applicants require 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 workplace and involves access to children.
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.
The Education Faculty has five research centres, which provide a focus and support for the research carried out in the faculty. They are:
On the MA Education (Teaching and Learning) course you find your 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.
A Masters in 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.
