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Master of Science by Coursework in Education

  1. The course shall be under the supervision of the Academic Committee of the Department of Education.
  2. Candidates will specialise in one of the following pathways:  
    1. Comparative and International Education  
    2. Higher Education  
    3. Digital and Social Change 
    4. Child Development and Education 
    5. Research Design and Methodology 
  3. Candidates must follow a course of instruction for three terms full-time or for the Research and Design Methodology pathway either three terms full-time or six terms part-time. 
  4. For each pathway candidates will take a combination of six one term papers as set out in the Schedule below. Details of the option papers available will be published by Friday of week 0 of Michaelmas Term. For part-time students, four papers will be taken in year 1, and two papers in year 2.
  5. Each paper will be assessed by course work as set out in the Course Handbook.
  6. Exceptionally, candidates may offer one paper from a relevant Master's degree in another department in the University, in place of one option paper, subject to permission from the relevant pathway convenor, the Course Director and the owning department. Applications to take such a paper must normally be made by Thursday of week 5 of Michaelmas Term.  In such cases, the method of assessment shall be as described for the owning department. Further details are set out in the Course Handbook.
  7. Candidates are also required to submit a dissertation of 15,000−20,000 words on a topic relevant to the pathway being followed. The dissertation must be submitted by no later than noon on the second Thursday in August. For part-time students, this will be during the second year of the course.
  8. All assessments must be submitted using the University approved online submission system.  Technical information on the requirements for online submissions is provided in the Course Handbook.  
  9. Candidates may also be required to attend an oral examination. The oral examination will normally be on the candidate’s dissertation.
  10. If a candidate receives a failing mark for any of the summative assessments, they may resubmit the assessment on one further occasion, normally either by a date for resubmission which will be published by the Course Director when the results are released, and will be no sooner than 6 weeks from the release of the results, or when the assessment is next examined the following year. If a candidate fails the dissertation, they may resubmit the dissertation one further time on the next occasion when this is examined, or at an earlier date as agreed with the Course Director. Candidates who fail any modules or the dissertation at the first attempt cannot normally be awarded more than 50 at resubmission.

Schedule 

Child Development and Education 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Foundations Learning and Wellbeing 
  3. Introduction to Quantitative Research 
  4. Cognitive Development and Educational Attainment 
  5. Two option papers as set out in the Course Handbook 

Comparative and International Education 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Comparative and International Education: An overview of the field 
  3. Systems Thinking in Comparative and International Education 
  4. Foundations of Educational Research II:  Strategies and Methods 
  5. The Implementation of the Rights of Children 
  6. One option paper as set out in the Course Handbook 

Digital and Social Change 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Key Concepts in Digital Education 
  3. Social Justice and Technology 
  4. EITHER Foundations of Education Research II: Strategies and Methods, OR Perspectives and Debates on Qualitative Research, OR Intermediate Quantitative Research 
  5. EITHER Critical Digital Innovation OR Education, the Internet and Society 
  6. EITHER Critical Digital Innovation OR Education, the Internet and Society (if not already taken), OR one option paper as set out in the Course Handbook 

Higher Education 

  1. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  2. Higher Education: Systems, Structures and Institutions 
  3. Higher Education in the Economy and Society 
  4. Foundations of Education Research II: Strategies and Methods 
  5. Global Higher Education 
  6. One option paper as set out in the Course Handbook  

Research Design and Methodology 

  1. Introduction to Quantitative Research 
  2. Foundations of Educational Research I: Concepts and Design 
  3. Philosophy of Educational Research 
  4. Foundations of Education Research II: Strategies and Methods  
  5. EITHER Intermediate Quantitative Research, OR Perspective and Debates on Qualitative Research 
  6. One option paper as set out in the Course Handbook