MSc Education: Early Childhood Practice and Froebel pathway

This pathway is for those interested in early childhood education who want to gain an advanced, critical understanding of Froebelian principles and other contemporary early years pedagogies.

This pathway celebrates and responds to an international trend of recognising the importance of the early years, an increased focus on policy and research in this field and a growing worldwide professionalisation of the sector. 

Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from childhood practice, pedagogy, sociology, education, social policy and law, you will address questions such as: 

  • What does a Froebelian principled approach to working with young children entail? 

  • How can early years practice and policy recognize the integrity of childhood and the holistic nature of children’s development? 

  • What does effective leadership and management in the early years look like? 

  • How can early childhood education promote social justice and inclusion? 

  • What is the role of play and creativity in early childhood education? 

  • How do we promote young children’s human rights? 

If you are interested in early childhood practice, particularly the work of Friedrich Froebel and other contemporary early years teaching and social justice approaches, this pathway is for you. Froebelian pedagogy promotes a principled approach to working with young children that resonates strongly with the field of childhood studies and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.  

We designed this pathway to help students think about current developments in early childhood education. It will appeal to those who want to make a positive contribution to practice, policy and research on children’s learning, development and rights, play, outdoor learning, equitable practices, participation and integrated working. 

Pathway structure

To complete this programme, you will take compulsory and option courses and complete a dissertation.  

Compulsory courses

Option courses

You will select two option courses offered by the School and the wider University. Option courses change each year, but in the past have included: 

Course Descriptions (2024-25) 

The course is really eye-opening and exciting for students who are adjusting to MSc Education study in the first semester.

Education Policy and the Politics of Education was nominated for Outstanding Course in the EUSA Teaching Awards 2021

Dissertation

Over the course of semesters one and two, our staff will support you to become more independent in your studies. This helps prepare you for your dissertation project. Once you successfully complete your compulsory and option courses, you will produce a dissertation. This is a piece of independent, original research of 12,000 words. 

Once you reach the dissertation stage, you will have a series of small-group and one-to-one meetings with your supervisor, who will work closely with you during the project. One of the benefits of being in a large department is that there is a wide range of staff skills to draw upon, so dissertation supervisors are more likely to be specialists in your chosen area of research. 

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this pathway will:  

  • develop a critical understanding of Froebelian principles and adopt a holistic approach to working with young children through research, practice and policy in the field of early years 

  • gain a critical understanding of a variety of contrasting academic writings on childhood, including Scottish, European and international ideas 

  • analyse and reflect on social justice practices and approaches in early childhood, including children’s rights and anti-discriminatory approaches 

  • be reflexive about their own practice and/or their understanding of early childhood. 

Contact us

For more information contact Pathway Co-ordinator Dr Lynn McNair OBE.

Dr Lynn McNair OBE

Apply now

Find detailed entry requirements, fees and costs, and apply for this pathway via the Degree Finder.  

Apply now

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