Are you a teacher or adult educator, working in a school, Further Education College or community training provider? Have you been thinking about updating your skills and qualifications, by taking a flexible and relevant professional development programme? If so, then the Postgraduate Diploma/Master’s in Education (with specialisms) may be the course for you. This website has information on the course as well as views from past students which will assist you in making your choice. We do hope you will join us and that you will find this website helpful.
What is the course about?
The Master’s in Education is a professional development course for teachers and other adult educators, who wish to update their knowledge and qualifications. The award has been developed in conjunction with the teaching community and is designed to ensure you will have the opportunity to explore contemporary issues in education which impact upon your own professional practice. The full Master’s programme will normally take you up to 3 years to complete, but you can exit with the Postgraduate Certificate (normally after 1 year) or Postgraduate Diploma (normally after 2 years). Where can I find further information?
Please click on the link below to download an Enquiry Pack which will provide further information on this course
No. This is not a teaching qualification. It is a course for new and experienced teachers and other educational professionals who wish to continue their professional development.
How do the specialisms work?
We offer a number of specialisms which will lead to a named award (for example MEd (ICT) or MEd (TESOL)). You must take two or more modules from that specialist area and complete your dissertation/research project in the same area to qualify for the specialist designation.
A more general pathway can also be followed. If you select across specialisms your final award will be designated ‘Professional Practice’.
Exit points at Certificate or Diploma stages are also available, ensuring that the needs of busy professionals are fully catered for.
This module is designed for all students to help develop their abilities in critical reflection on their practice. It is concerned with the theory and practice of reflective analysis as well as the development and application of curriculum theory. Special emphasis is placed on the understanding, philosophy and application of these reforms in the curriculum. The module is designed to improve current practice in context, as well as preparing participants for later modules.
RESEARCH, DESIGN AND INITIATION – compulsory module.
The Research Design and Initiation module introduces students to the key ideas and issues that underpin educational research theory and practice. It provides a research methods course to guide them in commencing their own empirical research project. All students will have developed knowledge, insight and skills as reflective practitioners in the classroom or practice situation, and many will be very familiar with action research. This module is designed to widen their views of research enquiry, to help students organise, implement and progress an educational research project by dissertation encompassing good practice in primary and secondary research, methodological design, analytical insightfulness and piloting, and implementation planning including ethical enquiry.
DISSERTATION
This module gives candidates the opportunity to carry out an in-depth piece of independent research which could potentially lead to a PhD or more academically rigorous study. It will draw upon knowledge of research methodology and involve a synthesis of theory and practice of benefit to the student intellectually and to the workplace. This module lasts for 2 University semesters and will result in a 16 – 20,000 word document.
RESEARCH PROJECT
This module gives candidates the opportunity to carry out a small scale piece of research that will be academically rigorous yet manageable within the circumstances of professional life. It will draw upon knowledge of research methodology and involve a synthesis of theory and practice of benefit to the student intellectually and to the workplace within which he or she functions. This module lasts for 1 University semester and should result in an 8,000 word document which is potentially publishable.
[Students will select either a full Dissertation or a shorter Research Project plus 1 additional module]
STUDENT VIEW
Peter Wisener – former student
I found the research project module both challenging and rewarding. The most difficult part of the research project was choosing the topic and getting started. The advice and expertise of my project supervisor from the university was excellent in helping me choose a topic that was relevant, up to date and manageable. Although I had an idea of the broad topic, my supervisor helped narrow it down to choose a specific working title:- The impact of Short Message Service (SMS) on motivation, management and retention of learners.
One part of the research that did take time to complete was the application for approval by the ethics committee for the research to be carried out. It is important to allow some time for this process and again the advice of my supervisor was vital in ensuring my research could be carried out in time. Good time management is very important to study this module. With such a short time period for approval, research, and report writing it is vital to keep on schedule at all times.
I was very happy with the results of the research project and found that it not only benefited me but also my colleagues and the college in general. With the technology under investigation being used in the college much more widely now, it is useful for lecturers to understand how it should be used appropriately and why. I feel therefore that the process helped develop me and educator and inspired me carry out more research in the future.
If you are interested please contact Philippa Bell at p.bell@ulster.ac.uk for more details.
Postgraduate Certificate/Postgraduate Diploma/Master of Education (MEd)
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.
Course Director Sam McGuinness
Are you a teacher or adult educator, working in a school, Further Education College or community training provider? Have you been thinking about updating your skills and qualifications, by taking a flexible and relevant professional development programme? If so, then the Postgraduate Diploma/Master’s in Education (with specialisms) may be the course for you. This website has information on the course as well as views from past students which will assist you in making your choice. We do hope you will join us and that you will find this website helpful.
What is the course about?
The Master’s in Education is a professional development course for teachers and other adult educators, who wish to update their knowledge and qualifications. The award has been developed in conjunction with the teaching community and is designed to ensure you will have the opportunity to explore contemporary issues in education which impact upon your own professional practice. The full Master’s programme will normally take you up to 3 years to complete, but you can exit with the Postgraduate Certificate (normally after 1 year) or Postgraduate Diploma (normally after 2 years).
Where can I find further information?
Please click on the link below to download an Enquiry Pack which will provide further information on this course
Will this course qualify me to teach?
No. This is not a teaching qualification. It is a course for new and experienced teachers and other educational professionals who wish to continue their professional development.
How do the specialisms work?
We offer a number of specialisms which will lead to a named award (for example MEd (ICT) or MEd (TESOL)). You must take two or more modules from that specialist area and complete your dissertation/research project in the same area to qualify for the specialist designation.
A more general pathway can also be followed. If you select across specialisms your final award will be designated ‘Professional Practice’.
Exit points at Certificate or Diploma stages are also available, ensuring that the needs of busy professionals are fully catered for.
Please see information below on the specialisms
Contemporary Society
Educational Leadership & Management
ICT
Inclusive & Special Education
Teaching & Learning
TESOL
Additional Modules
THE REFLECTIVE PROFESSIONAL
This module is designed for all students to help develop their abilities in critical reflection on their practice. It is concerned with the theory and practice of reflective analysis as well as the development and application of curriculum theory. Special emphasis is placed on the understanding, philosophy and application of these reforms in the curriculum. The module is designed to improve current practice in context, as well as preparing participants for later modules.
RESEARCH, DESIGN AND INITIATION – compulsory module.
The Research Design and Initiation module introduces students to the key ideas and issues that underpin educational research theory and practice. It provides a research methods course to guide them in commencing their own empirical research project. All students will have developed knowledge, insight and skills as reflective practitioners in the classroom or practice situation, and many will be very familiar with action research. This module is designed to widen their views of research enquiry, to help students organise, implement and progress an educational research project by dissertation encompassing good practice in primary and secondary research, methodological design, analytical insightfulness and piloting, and implementation planning including ethical enquiry.
DISSERTATION
This module gives candidates the opportunity to carry out an in-depth piece of independent research which could potentially lead to a PhD or more academically rigorous study. It will draw upon knowledge of research methodology and involve a synthesis of theory and practice of benefit to the student intellectually and to the workplace. This module lasts for 2 University semesters and will result in a 16 – 20,000 word document.
RESEARCH PROJECT
This module gives candidates the opportunity to carry out a small scale piece of research that will be academically rigorous yet manageable within the circumstances of professional life. It will draw upon knowledge of research methodology and involve a synthesis of theory and practice of benefit to the student intellectually and to the workplace within which he or she functions. This module lasts for 1 University semester and should result in an 8,000 word document which is potentially publishable.
[Students will select either a full Dissertation or a shorter Research Project plus 1 additional module]
STUDENT VIEW
Peter Wisener – former student
I found the research project module both challenging and rewarding. The most difficult part of the research project was choosing the topic and getting started. The advice and expertise of my project supervisor from the university was excellent in helping me choose a topic that was relevant, up to date and manageable. Although I had an idea of the broad topic, my supervisor helped narrow it down to choose a specific working title:- The impact of Short Message Service (SMS) on motivation, management and retention of learners.
One part of the research that did take time to complete was the application for approval by the ethics committee for the research to be carried out. It is important to allow some time for this process and again the advice of my supervisor was vital in ensuring my research could be carried out in time. Good time management is very important to study this module. With such a short time period for approval, research, and report writing it is vital to keep on schedule at all times.
I was very happy with the results of the research project and found that it not only benefited me but also my colleagues and the college in general. With the technology under investigation being used in the college much more widely now, it is useful for lecturers to understand how it should be used appropriately and why. I feel therefore that the process helped develop me and educator and inspired me carry out more research in the future.
If you are interested please contact Philippa Bell at p.bell@ulster.ac.uk for more details.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.