This degree explores how people develop and learn throughout their lives. It will examine social, cultural, and political aspects of education while considering questions such as: what is education; who is education for; and is education socially just?

You will explore education in its broadest sense with modules focused on international education, economic relationships, the effects of globalization and the role of education in human rights and ecological issues. You’ll examine in-depth the nature of knowledge, our desire to know and understand, and the ways that education contributes to society. You will learn how to analyze educational policies, processes, systems, and approaches, and critically examine their impact on society, politics, culture, history and economic contexts.

Each year provides a key focus that will lend to you thinking as an educationalist. In Year One, the course provides a solid grounding for understanding the multi and interdisciplinary nature of education. Multidisciplinary in the way that it draws from Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy and Politics, and interdisciplinary in the way that it includes specialized educational fields of study.

In Year Two, the course will cement your theoretical knowledge as you think about how your own research could contribute to the field of education. Year Two is dedicated to placement activity. Placements can be in a wide range of educational settings, locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.

In Year Three, you’ll conduct research for your dissertation and continue to gain experience and develop a portfolio. This will be completed alongside a review of contemporary issues facing education.

  • Year One

    Academic and Reflective Practices

    The module is skills-rich and will enable you to gather, interpret and reflect on information, through writing, reviewing, editing and referencing.

    What is Education?

    You will develop an understanding of education in its broadest sense.  This module will help you consider the following: does education promote social mobility, what is knowledge, how is it developed and how can we establish whether education achieves its purpose?

    Developing Learning in Education

    Should students be passive recipients or active agents in their learning space? You will examine the role of the teacher, considering teacher-centered didactic teaching approaches and alternative student-centered approach to teaching.

    Learning in the Outdoors

    You will investigate how learning in the outdoors supports the holistic nature of children’s learning and development, with a particular view on their developing sense of self.

    Including all Learners

    Explore changing attitudes and approaches to learners with a range of diverse needs – this module will increase your understanding of differing perspectives on inclusion and identify how these have influenced educational practice and provision for learners with special educational needs and disabilities.

    Comparative Education

    You will explore alternative approaches to formal education such as Steiner Schools, Montessori Schools, and Radical Education, as well as looking at formal education systems in other countries.

  • Year Two

    Professional Placement

    You’ll develop professional skills through work-based learning in a placement setting relevant to your career goals. Whilst on your placement, you will be expected to reflect critically upon your own individual placement experiences.

    Research Methods in Education

    You’ll be introduced to researching within and about education and develop the skills to design and justify a piece of research.

    Sociology of Education

    You’ll explore Functionalist, Marxist and Social Interactionist perspectives on education. Developing a deeper sociological insight into feminist theory, social class theory and critical race theory, you’ll identify different groups of learners within the education system.

    The Business of Education

    Using a critical social policy lens, you’ll develop an appreciation of the relationships between political ideologies, social policy initiatives, social policy implementation and, ultimately, educational practice.

    Language and Literacies

    You’ll explore the ways in which language and literacies are shaped by the social world, while you think about language in a range of mediums from a social and cultural perspective.

    Identity and Power

    You will investigate how individuals navigate daily life and negotiate identity. Barriers which limit options and choice in education – the power dynamics of social class, gender, race, sexuality – will be examined.

  • Year Three

    Capstone Project: Dissertation in Education

    You’ll research and write a dissertation in an area of your own academic interest, in relation to education.

    Radical Education

    You will examine how non-traditional educationalists and community activists educate people within their communities and reach those who don’t engage in formal education. For example, African Caribbean supplementary Saturday schools, church groups, and community arts organizations that reach out to vulnerable young people.

    Enhancing Motivation through the Arts

    You’ll explore elements of the theory, policy and practices regarding motivation to learn and consider the arts in education, mainly debates surrounding the delivery of arts in the statutory curriculums.

    You’ll choose two modules from the below optional modules, one from Set A and one from Set B:

    Set A

    Race, Culture and Education

    You’ll study minoritized students and staff in education, and the ways that mainstream education currently serves to marginalize a wide range of learners and potential learners by perpetuating Eurocentrism, elitism, and sexism.

    The Social Context of Post-Compulsory Education & Training

    This module looks at the societal context of post-compulsory education and training, including general further education, higher education and the broad concepts of ‘lifelong learning’, ‘skills’, ‘widening participation’ and ‘the student experience’.

    Set B

    Education in a Globalised World

    Explore how technological, political and economic globalizing processes influence education policy and provision in the global South.

    Social Justice and Morality

    You’ll engage with global issues of social justice and discourses around morality. The module will ask you to consider and analyse the question