The Department of Education will not be recruiting to the MA in Science Education for the academic year 2018/19, as we are undertaking a review of our provision. The text below is for information only.
The Department of Education offers a one-year (12 month) taught full time MA in Science Education. This programme will be attractive to all those who have an interest in science education, whether as teachers, researchers or policy makers. Applications are welcomed from both home and international students.
Applicants are strongly advised to ensure that they submit applications no later than 1st September if they wish to begin a course of study beginning in the same year. No guarantee can be offered that applications received after this date will be processed for a September start date.
The Department also welcomes applications from people interested in studying for a PhD in science education in its areas of expertise (see below).
The University of York Science Education Group (UYSEG) has an outstanding international reputation for the excellence of its work in research and curriculum development in science education. Our school science programmes such as Science: the Salters Approach, Salters Advanced Chemistry, Salters Horners Advanced Physics and, most recently, Salters Nuffield Advanced Biology and 21st Century Science are widely used in this country, and have received international acclaim. Science: the Salters Approach and Salters Advanced Chemistry have been adapted for use in many other countries, including Belgium, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland and the USA. If you come to York, you will have the opportunity to work with one of the leading groups in science education.
As members of the University of York Science Education Group, the science education staff in the Department of Education have made a significant contribution to the high profile of science education at York. Science specialist staff currently in the Department include Professor Robin Millar, Professor Judith Bennett, Martin Braund and Fred Lubben. All hold major grants for research and development in science education.
Areas of expertise include assessment, attitudes to science, the use of context-based approaches to the teaching of science, curriculum development (including international collaboration on projects), evaluation of curriculum interventions, gender issues in science education, practical work in science, scientific literacy, systematic reviews of research literature, and the transition from primary to secondary school. Current international work includes involvement in the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) project and a number of initiatives in Southern Africa.
The reputation of the University of York Science Education Group was a major contributory factor in York being chosen as the home of the new National Science Learning Centre, which opened in September 2005 and offers a programme of professional development courses for science teachers.
The programme offers specialist tuition within an established framework for MA provision in the Department. The aims of the programme are:
-To enhance knowledge and understanding in science education
-To develop educational research capabilities and skills in the fields of education and science education
-To contribute, where appropriate, to professional development by enhancing capacity to investigate aspects of one or more of educational theory, policy and practice
Term 1
-Science, Education and Society (20 credits)
-Research methods in education (20 credits)
One option module from a list of about 10 (20 credits). Options are likely to include:
-Bilingualism
-Citizenship education
-Cross-linguistic influences in second language acquisition
-Discourse Analysis
-Education and social justice
-Evaluating ESOL classroom practice
-Intercultural communication in education
-Learning and teaching second/foreign language reading
-Motivation in education
-Teaching and assessing speaking skills
-Teaching and assessing writing skills
-Teaching and learning in schools
-Teaching World English
-Topics in second language acquisition
Term 2
-Recent research and innovation in science education (20 credits)
One option module from a list of about 10 (20 credits). Options are likely to include:
-Approaches to English teaching
-Contemporary issues in teaching
-Cross-cultural perspectives on language and discourse
-Developmental Psycholinguistics
-Learning and teaching grammar in a second language
-Pragmatics: language, meaning and communication
-Psychology of language and language learning
-Qualitative and quantitative data analysis
-Teaching and learning citizenship and global education
-Teaching English for academic purposes
-The practice of English language teaching
-Testing and assessment in English language teaching
Term 3
Planning and Communicating Research (20 credits). Classes are spread over Terms 2 and 3.
The third term and the summer is also devoted to writing a dissertation (60 credits) based on a small-scale research study to be submitted by early September.
Students will also be able to attend the department series of research seminars for Masters students which includes talks by visiting speakers.
Students will complete:
-Four assessed coursework essay assignments (each 4,000 to 5,000 words in length)
-An exam in Research Methods in Education
-An assessed presentation + dissertation outline + ethics audit
-A dissertation of 12,000 words in length
Our graduates find employment in a wide range of sectors within education, but also in journalism, information management, human resources and other careers.
Our postgraduate courses can be used to complement teacher training/development programmes and voluntary or paid roles which focus on the more practical elements of teaching. However, other than our PGCE, our courses are not teacher training programmes in themselves.
Art Law is an exciting and fast-developing area of commercial, legal and academic research significance and the LLM in Art Law will provide you with opportunities to develop valuable skills used by those working in the art world, whether in such diverse areas as: Private Client legal practice, fine art insurance, the not-for-profit sector, galleries, museums or cultural heritage.
The LLM in Art Law is a unique collaborative and cross-disciplinary programme which will provide you with a deep understanding of the complex legal, artistic, social and ethical problems raised by the global trade in art, which was estimated at over $45 billion in 2017 (TEFAF Art Market Report 2017). Art law is broadly conceived and the main focus of the programme will be on the legal treatment of fine art and cultural heritage, although there will be opportunities to consider some of the problems surrounding definitions of ‘art’ which may be culturally, socially and historically contingent.
Exceptionally, the LLM in Art Law at the University of York is co-taught by academic specialists from both the research-active Department of History of Art and York Law School, thus providing you with a unique integrated and cross-disciplinary learning environment in which to explore legal, practical, commercial, ethical and financial issues arising in the art world, as well as their wider context and implications.
The LLM in Art Law uses a variety of postgraduate teaching methods including ‘Problem Based Learning’ (‘PBL’) which will provide you with opportunities to work collaboratively in a student ‘law firm’, and individually, on a variety of real-life simulations. These simulations provide you with exposure to the multi-faceted nature of art law disputes and will encourage you to develop and apply a broad range of legal skills including: research; document and case analysis; problem solving; negotiation and mediation; and advocacy. Additionally, you will have opportunities to develop your presentation and oral skills in debates and reading group sessions. You will undertake a specific History of Art module (chosen from a range of options) to gain subject-specific knowledge and exposure to this discipline, as well as inter-disciplinary insights. Your dissertation, on an art law topic of your choice and written under the supervision of a member of staff, completes the programme. There will be opportunities to enhance your know-how and networks by taking part in masterclass sessions led by guest speakers, and undertaking the course field trip.
The programme reflects the unique inter-disciplinary nature of the LLM in Art Law by ensuring that all students, whether or not you have an existing legal or art historical background, gain a fully-integrated appreciation of the complexities of art law.
The LLM in Art Law is a taught programme of one year. It runs from October to the following September. On the LLM you will study 180 credits. 100 credits are studied through a mix of compulsory and optional taught modules, with the remaining 80 credits being obtained by completing a 15,000 word dissertation on an art law topic of your choice. All students are required to take part in the programme Fieldtrip, which is an important element of the degree programme and which will develop your appreciation of the realities of working in this field.
The LLM modules are taught using a variety of different methods. Some modules will be taught as weekly lectures and seminars, others will involve ‘Problem Based Learning’ (‘PBL’). PBL sessions provide you with opportunities to work collaboratively in a student ‘law firm’, and individually, on a variety of real-life simulations. These simulations provide you with exposure to the multi-faceted nature of art law disputes and will encourage you to develop and apply a broad range of legal skills including: research; document and case analysis; problem solving; negotiation and mediation; and advocacy. Additionally, you will have opportunities to develop your presentation and oral skills in debates and reading group sessions, as well as written skills.
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability: