Education - Professional Studies in Education

This professional postgraduate qualification introduces the field of education. It offers you the opportunity to explore one specialism from a choice of modules covering a range of areas, all of which encourage you to draw on your own experiences and undertake enquiry in your own context. This certificate is also the first stage of a study programme that progresses to a postgraduate diploma and a masters degree. This gives you the choice to step off at any point, with the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education, or continue studying the whole programme towards the MA or MEd in Education.

Key features of the course

Offers a rich diversity of specialisms to choose from to suit your professional requirements and interests.

Has an emphasis on professional development through optional collaborative learning.

Develops and consolidates advanced scholarship and independent learning in the context of your own practice.

Is a stepping stone towards a postgraduate diploma or MA/MEd in Education.

Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits from the following:

60 credits from:

Optional modules Credits
Addressing inequality and difference in educational practice (EE814)
60
Educational leadership: agency, professional learning and change (EE811) 60
Applied linguistics and English language (EE817) 60
Learning and teaching: educating the next generation (EE830) 60

You should note that the University's unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

To study for this postgraduate certificate, you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at equivalent level.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

In order to study this qualification you do not need to be employed in an educational setting. However, it is important that you have some experience of engaging or working with learners, children or young people as our pathway disciplines (Learning & Teaching, Inclusive Practice, Applied Linguistics and Leadership and Management) are all explored through the lens of education. Therefore you will need to be able to apply your learning to a relevant context or learning environment.

This can be through employment or other means such as volunteering and/or special arrangements undertaken for the purposes of your study. Apart from schools and colleges, other organisations providing educational services – such as health and care education environments, youth, play, or early years work, armed forces, business and commercial environments – all could provide suitable settings to apply your learning and later carry out your dissertation should you decide to continue towards a full masters degree. The various activities embedded in the study guide and supporting examples and literature will help you develop skills of independent study and enquiry.

If you are not sure whether your qualifications and experience are suitable, please contact us for advice.

Minimum - 1 year.

How long it takes
The minimum time to complete is 1 year.

Career relevance
Throughout the world there is an increasing demand for creative, innovative education professionals who have highly developed skills and a deep understanding of learning. In many countries a masters degree is becoming essential for career advancement in education, training and professional development settings.

This qualification is designed to enrich your knowledge and improve your professional practice. On completing your studies, you should be able to:

demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems at a professional or equivalent level

reflect critically and constructively, in the light of ideas and frameworks presented in the modules and how these apply to your
practice and organisational context

be ready to continue your studies and complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education (E88) and progress to the Masters in Education (F70) with The Open University.

You will also acquire qualities and transferable skills that are highly prized by employers within education and related fields, such as:

exercising initiative and personal responsibility

the ability to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations

the ability to draw on appropriate research and ethical understanding

the production of reports/outputs for academic and professional purposes.

You will be guided through the materials on how you can recognise and acknowledge these additional skills.

Please note that this postgraduate qualification does not qualify you for teacher registration in any country.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.