Programme Specification and Regulations 2011-2012 - Citizenship & History Education

Table of Contents

1. Programme Specification and Regulations for the MA degree, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate in Citizenship Education, History Education and Citizenship and History Education (including provision of individual modules)
2. Important information regarding the Programme Specification and Regulations
3. Programme Specification
   1. Title and name of awards
   2. Level of the programmes
   3. Relevant QAA subject benchmarks group(s)
   4. Awarding body
   5. Registering body
   6. Lead College
   7. Accreditation by professional or statutory body
   8. Language of study and assessment
   9. Mode of study
   10. Programme structures
   11. Credit value of modules
   12. Entrance requirements
   13. Educational aims and learning outcomes of the programmes
   14. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
   15. Quality evaluation and enhancement
4. Detailed Regulations
5. Summary of provision for individual modules
6. Detailed regulations for the provision of individual modules
7. Annex A: Structures
8. Annex B Module Outlines
9. Annex C Accreditation of prior learning
10. Annex D Assessment Criteria
11. Glossary of terms
12. Related documents and other sources of information

Educational aims and learning outcomes of the programmes

The main educational aims of these programmes are to offer a challenging, flexible scheme of study invigorated by research, which takes an intercultural approach adapted to any national and international context of civics, citizenship, social studies or history education. The title of the final given award depends on which modules are chosen and completed.

The programmes are aimed at professionals working in or associated with formal, informal and non-formal education who wish to improve their understanding and make an impact in history education, democratic citizenship, human rights education and intercultural education. Successful students are likely to further their careers in teaching, educational consultancy, leadership, schools inspection and advisory work or related professions including the not-for-profit sector and International Organisations. Students who successfully complete the MA may be able to progress to postgraduate research in the degree field or a related area.

The programmes aim to:

• ensure that those involved in history and citizenship education (including social studies, human rights education and civic education) are able to access the most recent and relevant research and scholarship from around the world in order to inform their practice;
• explore key political, philosophical and pedagogic debates that have influenced and shaped the specific subject areas of citizenship and/ or history nationally and internationally;
• explore the interrelationship of citizenship and history subjects and to consider approaches to interdisciplinary learning and teaching

The learning outcomes of the programmes are as follows:

Knowledge and understanding

Depending on the modules studied a students will be able to:

• understand how different education systems produce different interpretations of history and citizenship;
• understand how democracy and human rights underpin citizenship education;
• understand how legislation guides policy on the teaching of key aspects of citizenship and history;
• understand the importance of culture and heritage in teaching citizenship and history;
• understand the importance of interpreting research findings in the field and the implications of these for classroom practice

Intellectual and cognitive

A student will be able to:

• communicate effectively in online discussion groups;
• critically analyse arguments;
• assimilate and lucidly evaluate alternative views;
• research issues and conduct detailed analysis in an educational environment (MA only)
• produce a thoughtful and well structured research project (MA only)

Transferable skills:

A student will be able to:

• use fluent and effective on-line communication and discussion skills;
• be open minded and have a capacity to handle ideas and scrutinize information in critical, evaluative and analytical ways;
• manage their own learning, including working effectively to deadlines;
• organise information, and to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments.

Students take optional modules which give a common grounding in theoretical approaches and practical applications. The choice of modules allows students to specialise in either History or Citizenship Education. Those studying at Postgraduate Diploma and MA level will build a deeper understanding of the subject and will be expected to demonstrate a greater depth of critical analysis. MA students apply the skills they have learnt to a relevant problem and produce a Project report or dissertation.