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 structureTo complete this programme, you will take compulsory and option courses and complete a dissertation. Compulsory coursesThe Philosophy of Education (20 credits)Education Policy and the Politics of Education (20 credits)Pedagogy and Practice of Friedrich Froebel for the Early Years (20 credits)Froebel, Social Justice and the Early Years (20 credits)Involving Children and Young People: Research and Participation (20 credits)Option coursesYou will select two option courses offered by the School and the wider University. Option courses change each year, but in the past have included: Child and Adolescent Development (20 credits)Children and Technology (20 credits)Foundations of International Child Protection (20 credits)Global Childhoods and Human Rights (20 credits)Slow knowledge and the unhurried child (20 credits)Teachers as Agents of Change (20 credits)The Anthropology of Education and Learning (20 credits)The Curriculum: Context, Change and Development (20 credits)Youth Studies (20 credits)Course Descriptions (2024-25) HTML 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 DissertationOver 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 outcomesGraduates 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 usFor more information contact Pathway Co-ordinator Dr Lynn McNair OBE.Dr Lynn McNair OBEApply nowFind detailed entry requirements, fees and costs, and apply for this pathway via the Degree Finder. Apply now This article was published on 2024-10-07
HTML 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