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Education

Programme Overview
The Master of Education (M Ed) programme is designed for all those interested in enhancing their professional knowledge, understandings and skills. The course, which can be delivered on a full-time or part-time basis, covers theories, principles and practices in contemporary educational settings.

Key Features
The objectives of the programme are:
•To advance knowledge and understandings of educational theories, principles and practices
•To develop critical and enquiring skills through conversation-building and high quality writing
•To foster confident researchers and educational leaders on the cusp of renewal and reform in education

Lectures on the full-time programme will take place on Friday evenings and Saturdays; M Ed Year 1 lectures on the part-time programme will take place on Saturdays. M Ed Year 2 lectures on the part-time programme will take place on Friday evenings. Some additional Saturday workshops may be scheduled

Teaching and learning methods include lectures, workshops and presentations, visiting speakers and supervised research. Modules are assessed through a combination of continuous assessment and end-of-term assessment. The programme includes innovative techniques for mapping the research process; these techniques are folded into the modes of assessment. A cumulative grade point average system is used to recognise and reward work throughout the programme. The programme is predominantly delivered face-to-face with some lectures conducted online. Each module is strongly supported by an extremely active virtual learning environment.

Programme Content
Academic Programme Structure:
•Principles and Practice of Research in Education
•Ensuring Criticality and Reflexivity in Educational Research Design
•Theory and Practice in Education
•Curriculum design, Development and Evaluation
•National and International Trends and Current Issues in Education

Participants will also complete:
•An Applied Research Project which will be conducted as an introduction to engaging in research. It is intended that this project be completed within one semester.

•A Dissertation of 20,000 words.

Entry requirements

•Applicants will be considered for direct entry into the M Ed programme on the basis of possession of a Primary Degree in Education (Level 8 NFQ) at a minimum of Honours 2.2. Applicants who have a 2.2 Honours degree in other disciplines may be considered if they have substantial and relevant professional experience

•Applicants for the full-time programme must provide an outline of the dissertation proposal (500 words) as part of their application. For further information relating to this please contact the Course Coordinator.

•For direct entry into Year 2 of the part-time programme, applicants will hold a Professional Development Graduate Diploma in Education (Level 9 NFQ) at a minimum of Honours 2.1.

•In cases where the applicant does not meet normal entry requirements, the applicant can be assessed on prior learning in line with University policy and procedures on the Recognition of Prior Learning. The admission procedures will include an interview wherein the prior learning and experience of applicants in education will be assessed.

English Language Requirements
Applicants for whom English is not a first language must provide evidence of their proficiency level English in the form of an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) composite score of 6.5 – 7.0 with no less than 6.0 in any one component, or IELTS equivalent accepted by UL. Such applicants will also be required to undergo an interview through English.

Duration

1 year part-time
2 years full-time

Further enquiries

Dr Emmanuel O'Grady, Programme Coordinator
T: +353 61 204340
E: Emmanuel.OGrady@mic.ul.ie

Des Carswell, Programme Coordinator
T: +353 61 204961
E: Des.Carswell@mic.ul.ie

Subjects taught

Modules
The programme is comprised of the following modules:
•Theory to Practice in Education: This module aims to enable students to critically explore the teleology of contemporary educational policy and, using the foundation disciplines as analytical tools, to enable students to isolate and to analyse the theoretical, conceptual and methodological underpinnings that lie at the core of the contemporary vision of education. This module will assist students to critique and to question contemporary education practices.

•Applied Research Project: This module enables students to devise and complete an independent academic research project based on a question of their choice. This module aims to prepare students to structure, develop and interrogate a research question following critical exploration of contemporary research methods in education.

•Principles and Practice of Research in Education: The purpose of the module is to facilitate postgraduate student's acquisition of the skills of literature search and review and the skills of research design and proposal writing. Students will be introduced to how, and in what ways to do a literature search and write a literature review and conceptualise/write a research design.

•Ensuring Criticality and Reflexivity in Educational Research Design: This module aims to enable students critically and reflexively examine their initial research design and to justify the effectiveness of the chosen research paradigm, research methodology and selected methods of data collection for probing the research question.

•Curriculum Design, Development and Evaluation: This module will introduce various frameworks for studying curriculum as a socio-cultural construct and as a site of conflict and compromise between values, ideologies and cultures. The module introduces various models of curriculum planning and evaluation and also examines the theories of knowledge and of learning which inform these models. These models include a rational model of curriculum planning which can be traced to the use of taxonomies of educational objectives. Variants of this rational approach are examined including understanding by design and contrasted with an approach based more on curriculum as 'process.' The module explores curriculum change and innovation in schools and examines the role of the teacher as a researcher, engaged in ongoing curriculum development and evaluation.

•National and International Rends in Education: This module aims to enable students to analyse, discuss and debate policy-making, policy implementation and policy impact at all levels of education nationally and internationally. The module will be delivered by various staff members of MIC who will explore national and international trends and current issues in education in their area of expertise.

•Dissertation: This module will facilitate students' design and implementation of a piece of education research within a particular paradigm, their evaluation of the data and the production of an academic dissertation. Students will work under the close supervision of a member of the Faculty of Education who will encourage and monitor the research process and provide feedback when necessary.

Full-time Structure
Semester 1
Theory and Practice in Education
Applied Research Project
Principles and Practice of Research in Education
Ensuring Criticality and Reflexivity in Educational Research Design

Semester 2
Curriculum Design, Development and Evaluation
National and International Trends and Current Issues in Education
Dissertation 1

Summer
Dissertation 2

Part-time Structure
Semester 1 (Year 1)
Theory and Practice in Education
Applied Research Project

Semester 2 (Year 1)
Curriculum Design, Development and Evaluation
National and International Trends and Current Issues in Education

Semester 3 (Year 2)
Principles and Practice of Research in Education
Ensuring Criticality and Reflexivity in Educational Research Design
Dissertation 1

Semester 4 (Year 2)
Dissertation 2

Assessment method

The core modules will be assessed by a combination of continuous assessment and end-of-term assessment. A cumulative grade point average system is used to recognise and reward work throughout the programme.

Application date

Closing date for Applications: 31 May 2019.

Enrolment and start dates

How To Apply
Download and complete the application form from "Application Weblink" below.

•The application form must also include your university transcripts.
•In the case of non-native English speakers, a copy of IETLS is also required, or equivalent.

Pay the application fee* and return the application form by email to: Admissions@mic.ul.ie or by post to: Admissions Office, Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Road, Limerick, Ireland, V94 VN26.

*Pay your application fee (EU: €33; non-EU: €55) using Realex System. Please note down the payment reference number, make a screenshot or print a copy for your own records.