About the course
This course is now closed to recruitment for 2023 and only recruiting for September 2024
This exciting course explores contemporary society and education, examining how social structures, organisations and cultures shape people’s lives and opportunities in Britain and across the world while exploring issues of inequality, social justice and children's rights. The degree is designed to open the door to a wide range of care ers in education or the social sciences.
In your first year, you build your knowledge and understanding of education and society, examining ideas about the workings of social class, race, gender and disability, and the mechanisms that give rise to inequality. You learn about contemporary childhood across family, school and community contexts, and examine children's rights and the part played by government and institutions in framing our lived experiences.
In your second and third years, you can choose optional subjects that align with your career goals including units that look at health; refugees and asylum seekers; global childhoods; developing teaching; families and communities; and children and the media.
Why choose this course?
- Benefit from a course that brings together the expertise and experience of academics from our School of Education and English and our School of Applied Social Sciences
- Our Education courses have a high student satisfaction rating for our teaching (91%) and academic support (90%) (NSS 2022)
- Learn to apply theory to real-life social and educational decision-making, policy and practice, with underpinning exploration of social inequality, mobility and justice
- Consolidate your understanding of theory through a range of creative assessments such as poster presentations, case studies, group debates, essays and a summer exhibition
- Take up opportunities to apply your knowledge to professional practice through work experience and volunteering
- Learn from research-active academics who are experts in their field, many of whom have published widely in their respective areas
- The course is situated at our Bedford campus, a small, thriving academic community where staff get to know you well and provide individual academic support
- On graduation, you have the choice to work in a number of different professional fields including education; healthcare; criminal justice; and welfare
Course Leader - Anna Graham
I trained as a primary teacher at Homerton College, University of Cambridge. After teaching in the UK and abroad I returned to Cambridge University to study for my MPhil and PhD degrees.
My MPhil thesis ‘Learners, Carers and Providers: The Problems and Perceptions of Low-Income Lone Mothers and Education’ explored the ways low income lone mothers reconciled their children’s education and welfare needs with the economic logic of paid employment and their own further education and training needs.
Why study in the School of Education and English?
- Broad spectrum of opportunities to study language and linguistics
- 92% satisfaction with English Language and TEFL, NSS 2020
Units
- Key Concepts In Education (EDC064-1) Compulsory
- Modern Political Thoughts And Governance (ASS104-1) Compulsory
- Narratives Of Childhood (EDC048-1) Compulsory
- The Inclusive Society (EDC053-1) Compulsory
- Understanding Societies, Identities And Structures (ASS069-1) Compulsory
- Comparative Education (EDC043-2) Compulsory
- Investigating The Social World (EDC021-2) Compulsory
- Power In Political Thought (ASS116-2) Compulsory
- Refugees, Displacement And The Politics Of Migration (ASS096-2) Compulsory
- Developing Teaching Practice (EDC063-2) Optional
- Families And Communities (EDC066-2) Optional
- Introduction To Educational Philosophy (EDC086-2) Optional
- Sociology Of Health And Illness (ASS045-2) Optional
- The Lifelong Curriculum (EDC067-2) Optional
- The Social Sciences At Work (ASS099-2) Optional
- Childhoods In Global Context (ASS023-3) Compulsory
- Dissertation (EDC207-3) Compulsory
- Education And Transformation: Debating Individual, Societal And Global Change In The 21st Century (EDC248-3) Compulsory
- Work And Welfare In The 21st Century (ASS145-3) Compulsory
- Children And Young PeopleS Wellbeing (EDC204-3) Optional
- Children, Young People And The Media (EDC212-3) Optional
- Human Rights And Global Governance (ASS147-3) Optional
- Perspectives On Pedagogy And Behaviour (EDC210-3) Optional
- Representations Of Disability (EDC209-3) Optional
How will this course improve my career prospects?
The course is developed to open a range of career options to graduates such as teaching or social work. However, the knowledge and skills learnt throughout the course will prepare you for other graduate careers in the public or private sector including the police; local government; social policy research and development; charity work; NGOs or the civil service; and officer roles in family/school liaison, probation or education welfare.
Some specific roles - such as those in social services - require articulate, knowledgeable graduates who are empathetic, able to evaluate individual needs, and collaborate with other professionals to support children, adults and families in often difficult situations.
As a graduate, you have the opportunity to progress on to Master’s-level study in a related field including a teaching course leading to Qualified Teacher Status or towards a professional social sciences-related qualification. Graduates would also be able to join graduate management-training schemes providing opportunities across a number of private and public organisations.
*international students are eligible of receiving the VS'S scholarship of 1000GBP
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