Education with Specialisms - Online

This programme 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.

We offer modules in a range of named specialisms or you can select modules depending on your area of interest and availability.
The named specialisms are:
• Education Management
• Information and Communication Technology
• Inclusion and Special Education
• International and Comparative Education

If you take one module in a named specialism and complete the research project or dissertation in a cognate area, your final award will include that named specialism e.g. MEd (ICT). For choices across specialisms, the award will include the term “Professional Practice” e.g. MEd (Professional Practice).

For further course details please see "Course Web Page".

Year one
Optional Modules
• Collaborative learning online
• Building Teams and Managing Resources
• The Reflective Professional
• Inclusive and Special Education: Developing and Analysing Practice

Year two
• Research Design and Initiation
• Research Project

Optional Modules
• Leadership for learning
• Strategic Development Planning
• Children's Learning and Assessment

Year: 3
Optional Modules
• International and Comparative Education
• Dissertation

Standard entry conditions
To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

Entry Requirements
Applicants must normally:
(a) have gained
(i) a degree from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or

(ii) an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma or an approved alternative qualification, e.g. a professional qualification; and

(b) be currently working in a teaching or training environment
(please note: the PGDip/MEd with Specialisms does not qualify you as a teacher).

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink").

Start Date: September 2024

Career options
In addition to improving your career portfolio, this course will allow you to develop higher level skills of argument and critical thinking as well as developing academic writing skills and research capability. Having a Masters level qualification should enhance potential career advancement, and is a useful preparation for Doctoral level study.

Past students who have taken the specialisms Learning and Teaching, Inclusive and Special Education and ICT have used the qualifications for career advancement, while several of those studying or having completed the Leadership and Management modules have been successful in gaining Vice-Principal and Principal posts both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Other pathways have also led to enhanced professional practice and career advancement.