Education Studies (Joint Honours)

Three years full-time or flexible part-time.

Education Studies explores how education systems develop, how children and adults learn, and what the key issues, policies and debates are in education today. It examines the ways in which knowledge, skills and attitudes are passed on and developed in individuals, both overtly and also covertly (for example through the 'hidden' curriculum). Education Studies draws on a range of disciplines to examine teaching and learning. These disciplines include the psychology of education, sociology of education, philosophy of education, history of education, curriculum studies, comparative and international education, education politics and education policy. They provide the theoretical underpinning of the course. 

Education Studies also involves practical experiences that will enhance your understanding of how educational institutions work. There are opportunities for placements, researching educational settings and activities in schools and other educational contexts. These practical experiences are particularly valuable for those who have aspirations to enter teaching as a career.

You can undertake Education Studies as part of a joint award, where Education Studies is taken throughout the three years along with courses from another subject, allowing for a high level of flexibility in deciding your degree pathway.

The Education Studies Professional Strand modules (one in each year) are specifically designed for those who wish to enter teaching via the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) routes.

Education Studies is taught by an enthusiastic and experienced team which has substantial research and teaching experience in schools, colleges and higher education.

Stage one

Modules introduce a variety of approaches, perspectives and theoretical resources for understanding and explaining aspects of education.

Stage two

Modules take students into more detailed and developed areas, considering in depth some of the current issues and debates in education, education beyond the British Isles, the philosophical and theoretical bases for teaching and learning, and the psychology of education.

Stage three

Modules provide students with opportunities for specialised and intensive study on areas and aspects of education they are interested in. All major/joint students prepare, by supervised research, a dissertation that permits them to investigate an area of personal/career interest.

• Opportunities for placements
• Flexible learning pathway
• Enthusiastic and experienced teaching team

• Comparative and International Education
• Current Issues in Special Education
• Debates in Education
• Discovery through Educational Research
• Education for Sustainable Development
• Learners and Learning
• Psychology of Teaching and Learning
• Recent and Contemporary Issues in Education
• Social Class, 'Race', Gender and Education
• The European Dimension in Education

Joint Honours - Combinations with Education Studies

The social and education systems of many countries are in need of qualified graduates that have an understanding of the importance of teaching and learning in society, and how ICT enables and supports the development of educational approaches and learning infrastructure. Knowledge management and information systems are becoming increasingly important in educational contexts. This combination of subjects is ideal for anyone interested in both Education Studies and ICT, and wants flexible options appropriate to a range of possible career opportunities. The course is relevant to those aiming to gain qualified teacher status via further postgraduate training such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education route, but maintaining a focus on the ICT aspects of the national curriculum. Others successfully gain employment is a variety of fields linked to education and ICT, such as the management of learning and knowledge resources in organisations, corporate training roles, local government, teaching in further education and sixth-form colleges, and in vocations allied to content and information management (such as librarianship, through postgraduate training to standards set by The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals).

Studying Education Studies and Social Welfare together gives the student significant insights into key factors affecting educational performance beyond the school gate, such as poverty, family turbulence and various forms of social exclusion. In the future, teachers will need to have a much more grounded knowledge of health and social welfare issues. This combination of subjects would be particularly useful, therefore, for those wanting to go into primary school teaching or for those who wish to teach Personal, Social and Health Education studies in secondary schools, or finally those interested in working with educationally disaffected youth or in youth work. Issues such as social class, 'race' and ethnicity, and policy studies are areas relevant to both subjects. Understandings of social welfare and educational institutions can be informed through inter-professional comparisons. Indeed, a rising trend of inter-professional and inter-agency working (through organisations such as education action zones and the proposed school trusts as set out in the latest education White Paper) makes this combination of subjects relevant for the rapidly changing career fields of education and social welfare.

This course aims to provide students with the skills and competences to explore and exploit business opportunities, and is particularly useful for those who are interested in setting up their own small business. It also aims to provide students with insights into how education systems develop and change, how children and adults learn and what the key issues and debates are in education today. The course incorporates a number of interesting crossovers between Business Entrepreneurship and Education Studies. For example, the first year Education Studies module Recent and Contemporary Issues in Education includes the analysis of the commercialisation of schools, and pinpoints opportunities for setting up outsourcing businesses. Education Studies modules in subsequent years include exploring education markets, education products, issues of insurance and risk in education, the Private Finance Initiative and the international trade in education services - of relevance to those seeking business opportunities. Issues such as vocational education and training are other areas where the two subjects are closely linked. Joint and Honours graduates in Education Studies and Business Entrepreneurship enter a wide range of employment, such as management in industry and the public sector, arts administration and in areas where self-employment is the norm: for example in retailing, law, fashion and consultancy. There will be an increasing need for the small business sector to get involved in outsourcing educational services and running educational services (for example in ICT, catering, recruitment, procurement, and consultancy) to a contract as the private sector plays an increasing role in the daily life of primary and secondary schools. Education businesses in teacher supply, private tutoring and supplementary provision are another area where prospects are good. Small businesses interfacing and working with voluntary sector organisations involved in the provision of educational services will be another growth area for employment.

This course is concerned with understanding human experience and behaviour with particular reference to learning and teaching. The Psychology part of the course aims to provide a broad understanding of all aspects of psychology, plus a balanced appreciation of the more controversial areas of the subject. The Education Studies dimension focuses on how education systems develop and change, how children and adults learn and what the key issues and debates are in education today. The course incorporates a number of crossovers between Psychology and Education Studies. For example, in one of the compulsory first year modules in Education Studies - Introduction to Education Studies - there is a block of lectures that provides an introduction to the psychology of education. In the second year, one module - The Psychology of Learning and Teaching in Educational Settings - has a strong focus on the psychology of education and is part of the Professional Strand. Joint Honours graduates in Education Studies and Psychology enter a wide range of employment, such as management in industry and the public sector, arts administration, retailing, the media and journalism, coaching, leisure management, librarianship and teaching. For those wishing to become teachers via the PGCE route, a course involving a combination of Education Studies and Psychology would prove beneficial. However, students wishing to teach in secondary schools are advised strongly to do a Joint Honours degree where the National Curriculum subject of choice is taken with Education Studies. An understanding of learning theory and behaviour, for example, is a useful tool for grasping how children and adults learn in educational settings. For those interested in teaching Psychology in sixth-form colleges or in further education (for example A level Psychology) this degree would also be a very useful qualification. Education Studies runs a Professional Strand of one module per year for those interested in seeking a career in teaching, in either primary, secondary or further education. The Professional Strand modules incorporate a range of visits, observations and research exercises based in educational settings. The Professional Strand module for the second year of study is based on the psychology of education. The Professional Strand allows students to explore career options and possibilities in teaching through gaining relevant experience of educational settings.

This course aims to provide students with knowledge of literature in English from the early Renaissance to the present day, along with the opportunity to study English Language and Creative Writing. It also aims to provide students with insights into how education systems develop and change, how children and adults learn and what the key issues and debates are in education today. The course incorporates a number of crossovers between English and Education Studies. For example, The Great Educators module for Education Studies in the first year includes reference to the Renaissance, the Romantic Movement and the Industrial Revolution, providing contextual information for understanding developments in English literature and the lives and times of specific writers. A number of students go on to produce a Joint Education Studies/English Dissertation in their final year of study, focusing on topics such as how special educational needs figure in novels, or how education is represented in the Victorian novel (for example Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë). Joint Honours graduates in Education Studies and English enter a wide range of employment, such as management in industry and the public sector, arts administration, retailing, the media and journalism, librarianship and teaching. For those wishing to become secondary school teachers in English, it is essential that a substantial part of your degree in is English studies to gain access to a PGCE course. An Education Studies/English combination would be suitable for those seeking to teach English in secondary schools via the PGCE route. For those interested in teaching English in sixth-form colleges or in further education (for example A level English) this degree would also be a very useful qualification, since it offers modules in the major areas of English Studies. Education Studies runs a Professional Strand of one module per year for those interested in seeking a career in teaching, in either primary, secondary or further education. The Professional Strand modules incorporate a range of visits, observations and research exercises based in educational settings. They also provide students with opportunities for advanced study in the psychology of education, sociology of education and curriculum studies, building on the introductory work in the compulsory first year module, Introduction to Education Studies.

There are no written examinations for Education Studies, assessment formats are various across the course and modules , including essays, portfolios, presentations and placement observation analysis and reflection.

The Education Studies Professional Strand modules (one in each year) are specifically designed for those who wish to enter teaching via the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) routes.

Please note additional entry requirements for teacher training routes apply, please contact admissions@northampton.ac.uk for more details.

Education Studies also involves a range of practical experiences that will enhance your understanding of how educational institutions work. There are opportunities for placements, researching educational settings and group and individual work in schools and other educational contexts. These practical experiences are particularly valuable for those who have aspirations to teach in schools or colleges