Course summary

Our MA Education provides a thorough grounding in educational research and practice, encompassing teaching, mentoring, training and management. You'll receive high-quality research and career training, preparing you for doctoral study or new challenges in your professional career – with the ultimate focus of improving the life chances of children in your care. Choose from a wide range of modules spanning topics which explore current educational research, led by research-active lecturers. Throughout your studies, we'll support your development of academic literacies, helping you become more fluent and knowledgeable in the way you learn to read, write and talk about academic ideas. Develop your critical thinking as you explore theoretical perspectives, ideas and concepts in education, investigating the foundations that shape how you were educated, and how you educate others. You'll reflect on your own professional experience and explore how research informs practice in settings that you already know – and those that you don’t – such as educational systems in other countries, new trends, and ideas in education. All students enrol on the MA Education programme and take the core modules. You can then choose from a range of optional modules and, if you wish, pick modules to follow a specialism, which would be included on your degree certificate. SPECIALISMS The specialisms we offer are Early Years, Inclusive Education, Leadership and Management, Music Education, Second Language Learning and Teaching, and Research Methods. Early Years Explore research in child development and examine the wider context of families, communities and educational settings in which young children learn. This pathway offers progression from the PG Certificate in Early Years Practice and is suitable for anyone with an interest in this phase of education. Inclusive Education Investigate what diversity means for education, and how to make teaching more inclusive by investigating inclusive teaching and learning for all pupils. The pathway is for both mainstream and specialist school practitioners and leaders, so it will suit anyone who works in education. It is also a progression from the PGCert National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination (PGCert SENCo), which we also offer; see page XX. Leadership and Management Develop your leadership skills by critically examining research-based models of leadership for change in education. This pathway will be particularly useful for those who wish to take on a leadership role in education in the future. Music Education Advance your practice as a creative music teacher by developing your creativity, musicianship and leadership through practical activities and music education research. This pathway will suit those who: work in music education; teach music in the early years, primary or secondary settings; work as an instrumental and vocal teacher, or wish to include music in their teaching practice. Second Language Learning and Teaching Examine key issues related to the teaching and learning of second and foreign languages, and investigate how research influences classroom teaching and learning. Research Methods Study the qualitative and quantitative research methods used in education research. This specialism is only available for students on the SeNSS Social Sciences Studentships funded Doctoral Training Partnership. For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/education-pg/ma-education