Masters Degrees in Careers Guidance

With placement opportunities available this programme, which achieved 100% overall satisfaction in the Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2015, qualifies you to work as a careers guidance practitioner.

MSc (online) up to 2 years; Diploma (full-time/part-time or online) 1 year/2 years; Certificate (part-time/online) up to 2 years

About the programme

Career guidance practitioners provide accurate and relevant advice on employment, education and training opportunities to an ever-widening client group. This programme focuses on professional practice, personal reflection and critical analysis of practice.

The Masters allows guidance practitioners to undertake research and work evaluation as part of their ongoing professional development.

Additional Entry Information

We welcome applications from a variety of backgrounds, including groups which have been underrepresented in the career guidance profession.

Applicants for the online learning Certificate and Diploma are expected to be employed for the whole duration of their programme in a career or educational guidance context, or in an organisation whose main function is to give educational or careers guidance to adults.

Overseas students must also meet UWS English language requirements.

Practical experience

Postgraduate Diploma students learning on-campus are provided with placements and practical opportunities for practice, with opportunities to experience how career guidance practitioners operate in organisations and as training providers.

Your learning

- Certificate and Diploma:
The Certificate consists of three modules and the Diploma six. The core module is Reflective Guidance Practice. Additional modules include Models of Professional Practice; Career Coaching and Development; Career Related Policy; Career Development Theory; Reflective Guidance Practice; and Labour Market Studies.

- MSc:
You can take up to two years of further part-time study towards a Masters award either by completing a dissertation, or by completing a literature review and associated article. Part-time and online learning Those already working in the sector can study part-time or online. You must have access to clients to undertake practical assessments, and to a mentor. If seeking professional accreditation beyond the Postgraduate Diploma award, you will undertake a two-week placement in another guidance organisation in Year 2.

Our Careers Adviser says

Graduates have a successful record of gaining employment as career guidance practitioners in the public, private and voluntary sectors within the UK.

Professional recognition

The Postgraduate Diploma can include completion of the Qualification in Career Guidance and Development (QCGD) which is professionally accredited by the Career Development Institute UK (CDIUK).

Financial support

In session 2015/16 the Postgraduate Diploma element of this programme carried SAAS postgraduate loan funding for eligible students. Check http://www.saas.gov.uk for 2016/17 loan info.

Research excellence

Research carried out by our staff underpins all of our teaching activity, which means you’ll directly benefit from our extensive expertise in a variety of fascinating, relevant areas. Our research outputs span academic publications and a range of contributions to official reports. Our research work is coordinated through a set of interdisciplinary research groups in Applied Psychology, Civil Society and Governance, Health Behaviours and Policy, and Social Work.

We would be interested to hear from anyone who might be interested in pursuing postgraduate studies linked to any aspect of our research work. In addition, we offer a range of research-based modules and short courses for continuing professional development. Our portfolio of research-led taught postgraduate programmes is now expanding across the full range of subject areas.

Read less

The MA enables the you to make a distinctive contribution to higher education careers work through independent research. It is approved by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) and designed and taught in partnership with this professional body. It is also approved by the Career Development Institute (CDI) as meeting the qualification requirement for the UK Register of Career Development Professionals.

Areas of Study

There are two pathways available within the MA in Career Education, Information and Guidance in Higher Education: Route A and Route B. It is not necessary to finalise preferred route at the time of application as this can be confirmed later. Both pathways enable direct entry to the MA.

Route A
Route A includes the 3 x core 20 credit modules (including the Research Project module), a choice of 3 x 20 credit optional modules from the table below and a 60 credit module completed via a 15,000 word Dissertation (A). All participants start with the core modules: Career Development Theories and the next available Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education module. These modules run twice a year (key dates) and further details are available in AGCAS events calendar).

Route B
Route B includes the 3 x core 20 credit modules detailed below (including the Research Project module), a choice of 1 x 20 credit module, and a 100 credit module completed via a 25,000 word Dissertation (B). This route is particularly suitable if you have a relevant prior qualification and experience.

Support and supervision

There is significant support available through the extended course team consisting of Phil McCash (Warwick), Gill Frigerio (Warwick), Sharon West (Warwick), Linda Byrne (AGCAS), Jan Cornish (AGCAS) and a large group of highly experienced AGCAS Trainers and Mentors. Dissertation students are allocated a dissertation supervisor. Supervision is provided to assist you with undertaking an initial literature review, constructing research questions and designing a methodology. There is considerable experience available within the course team and most topics connected with higher education careers work can be pursued.

Overseas applicants

Part-time international and EU applicants are welcomed. We have received successful applications from a range of countries including the UK, Ireland, Norway, France, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, USA, China and Australia. Full-time applicants are advised to consider our MA Career Development and Coaching Studies (PL 561).

HECSU Bursary

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) provides the HECSU Training Bursary Scheme to support participants on this joint AGCAS and University of Warwick course.

Progression

Former students have gone on to publish and disseminate their work in a range of academic and professional contexts. Our graduates occupy a range of roles in higher education careers work including management, education and career coaching. PhD opportunities are available at Warwick within the Centre for Lifelong Learning and the Warwick Institute for Employment Research.

Read less

The PG Certificate develops a foundation of knowledge and skills for all staff involved in higher education careers and employability work. The course is designed if you are new to the work and/or if you wish to enrol on a shorter course than the PG Diploma and MA. It is approved by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) and designed and taught in partnership with this professional body. It is also approved by the Career Development Institute (CDI) as meeting the qualification requirement for the UK Register of Career Development Professionals.

Teaching Methods

The PG Certificate consists of four modules: two core 20 credit modules and two 10 credit optional modules. All modules are taught via a blend of contact time and distance learning. The blend varies according to each module (see table). The course involves engaging in significant amounts of both independent study and group teaching. Its flexible nature means that you can plot an individual track through the course and use the virtual and physical learning environments to make contact with others. Everyone will start with the core modules: Career Development Theories and the next available Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education module. These modules run twice a year (see dates and further details in the AGCAS events calendar).

Support

There is significant individual support available through the extended course team consisting of Phil McCash (Warwick), Gill Frigerio (Warwick), Sharon West (Warwick), Linda Byrne (AGCAS), Jan Cornish (AGCAS) and highly experienced AGCAS Trainers and Mentors.

Overseas applicants

Part-time international and EU applicants are welcomed. We have received successful applications from a range of countries including the UK, Ireland, Norway, France, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, USA, China and Australia.

HECSU Bursary

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) provides the HECSU Training Bursary Scheme to support participants on this joint AGCAS & University of Warwick course.

Progression

Former students now occupy a range of roles in higher education careers work including management, education and career coaching. Many students progress from the PG Certificate CEIGHE to the PG Diploma or MA CEIGHE.

Read less

This course, combining academic study and professional training, is for you if you want to enter the career guidance sector in which you could work in a range of settings (e.g. careers service companies, youth guidance services, further education, higher education, adult guidance, the voluntary sector).

Visit the website: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/career-management.aspx

Course detail

You can opt to study only the PG Diploma (120 credits at Level 7) / Qualification in Career Guidance (QCG) or to continue on to complete the full MA.

The University and the Career Development Institute validate the QCG, which is widely recognised in the UK and overseas as the professional qualification for working in this sector, and provides a sound and comprehensive basis for entry into all aspects of careers work. The full MA provides both the professional and academic qualifications for a successful career in this sector.

Suitability

This course is for anyone who would like to work within the careers sector and who would like to become fully qualified to do so.

Applicants do not need previous experience although any experience working in a supporting capacity with adults or young people will be helpful.

Content

The QCG course meets all the learning outcomes laid down by the Career Development Institute and includes:

• Developing Career Management Skills and Processes
• Transforming Practice through Critical Reflection (or ‘Exploring Practice through Critical Reflection’ for those not registering for the QCG)
• Exploring Theories of Career Management
• Designing Career Learning and Development
• Promoting Equality and Diversity
• Engaging with Labour Markets.

All modules are compulsory. For the full MA you will also complete the Evaluation and Research Methods teaching and write a Dissertation

Format

A blend of academic study (lectures, seminars, e-learning and discussions) and professional application (placements, practical days in the University and role play) is offered on a full-time and part-time basis. Throughout the year there is engagement with theoretical aspects of careers work and also ongoing development of practical skills including individual guidance, coaching and counselling and also working with groups. The purpose built counselling suite is available for all students.

Assessment

All modules are assessed through written work and there are also practical assessments (interviews, group work, presentations) to be completed.

In order to achieve the full MA a dissertation of 18,000 words is required for which students are allocated individual

What can I do next?

Successful completion of this course provides you with the skills and knowledge to enter or continue within all sectors of the careers profession.

If you are interested in further pursuing your academic potential you will be able to apply for a place on the doctoral programme (MPhil/PhD) at Canterbury Christ Church University.

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow this link: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/how-to-apply/how-to-apply.aspx

Funding

-Masters Loans-

From 2016/17 government loans of up to £10,000 are available for postgraduate Masters study. The loans will be paid directly to students by the Student Loans Company and will be subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.

For more information available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/funding-your-postgraduate-degree.aspx

-2017/18 Entry Financial Support-

Information on alternative funding sources is available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/2017-18-entry-financial-support.aspx

Read less

Areas of study

The course consists of six 20 credit modules: two core and four optional. Each module is taught via a blend of contact time and distance learning. The blend varies according to each module (see module table).

Teaching methods

The course involves both independent study, tutorials and group teaching. Its flexible nature means that you can plot an individual track through the course and use the virtual and physical learning environments to make contact with others. Everyone will start with the core modules: Career Development Theories and the next available Challenges of Careers Work in Higher Education module. These modules run twice a year (see dates and further details in AGCAS events calendar).

Support

There is significant individual support available through the extended course team consisting of Phil McCash (Warwick), Gill Frigerio (Warwick), Sharon West (Warwick), Linda Byrne (AGCAS), Jan Cornish (AGCAS) and a large group of highly experienced AGCAS Trainers and Mentors.

Overseas applicants

Part-time international and EU applicants are welcomed. We have received successful applications from a range of countries including the UK, Ireland, Norway, France, Germany, Romania, Slovenia, USA, China and Australia.

HECSU Bursary

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit (HECSU) provides the HECSU Training Bursary Scheme to support participants on this joint AGCAS and University of Warwick course.

Progression

Former students now occupy a range of roles in higher education careers work including management, education and career coaching. Many students progress from the PG Diploma CEIGHE to the MA CEIGHE.

Read less

Put into practice the latest counselling techniques with work placement opportunities on this practical professionally accredited course with excellent employment rates.

As a careers guidance professional, you’ll be working with young people, adults, parents, teachers, employers and training providers.

This course equips you with the knowledge to successfully support clients on navigating the confusing maze of pathways in employment and education.

This one year full-time course is recognised by the profession throughout the UK and is accredited by the Career Development Institute.

What you'll learn

With an excellent employment rate for graduates, our postgraduate diploma combines academic study with practical professional training, including seven weeks of work placement. Teaching staff on the programme are qualified and experienced career advisers and bring additional specialist expertise to the course.

You’ll acquire effective interpersonal communication skills for one-to-one career guidance, working with groups and via online media. You’ll learn and put into practice the latest counselling techniques, while developing the necessary research and teamwork skills to carry you into your own successful career.

The skills taught are transferable to many other roles in employment, education and training. Former students have gone on to work in education-industry liaison, and projects promoting mentoring or equality and diversity.

Modules

• Career counselling and coaching
• Theories of career choice and development
• Career and educational information
• Labour market studies
• Public policy and the professional context for practice
• Equality, diversity and social inclusion

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

How to apply

http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/how-to-apply

SAAS Funding

Nothing should get in the way of furthering your education. Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) awards funding for postgraduate courses, and could provide the help you need to continue your studies. Find out more: http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/saas-funded-courses

Read less

Why choose the MA / PG Cert Career Development?

- NTU has successfully been teaching career guidance courses since 1973, and has established a strong national reputation in this field. You’ll benefit from a broad spectrum of contemporary thinking and debate on careers education, information, advice, guidance and coaching, and you’ll develop the skills to make a positive impact on the sector and the profession.
- The curriculum offers flexibility – you have the choice of studying full-time or by blended learning, and there are module options to help you develop specialisms.
- This course is ideal if you’re looking to find employment in the sector, or are already employed in a career development or related role and seek Continuing Professional Development opportunities (CPD).
- The CDI has commended the course’s excellent teaching team and blended learning innovations, recognising them with the 2015 CDI Career Development Award for Best Practice in the Use of Technology in Career Development.

Modules

Core modules (for both the PG Cert and MA) may include:
- Ethical Stances and Professional Practices
- Frameworks for Professional Practice

Additional MA Career Guidance modules may include:
- Optional module: Qualification in Career Development Professional Standards (QCD) - Career Development Institute (CDI) accredited
- Optional module: Labour Market Information (LMI)
- Core module: Research Methods and Dissertation / Service Evaluation
For more information on the modules you may study on this course please visit our website.

Delivery and assessment

A blended learning approach is taken towards the delivery of both the PG Cert and the MA, comprising of online teaching and learning activities and face-to-face workshop days.
- For the PG Cert, face-to-face input will take place at workshop days (six in total).
- For the MA, there is initially a greater proportion of face-to-face input supported by online teaching and learning activities.
For both qualifications, you’ll engage in a range of teaching and learning methods. These will include lectures, online activities, case study investigations, simulation exercises or role plays, interactive or group learning, and real-life practice and application of skills through University links and school partners.
Assessment methods are varied and accommodate a variety of learning styles and preferences. These include written assignments such as case studies or enquiry-based reports, and reflective and skills-based assessments including one-to-one guidance sessions and group work.

Your future career

The course aims to equip you with attributes that are highly sought after by employers within the career development and employability sector. On completion, you should be able to reflect upon practice and performance, and to identify continuing professional development (CPD) and personal development needs, allowing you to adapt and respond to the contextual needs of clients, employers, and the sector.

Scholarships

The School of Social Sciences offers a number of competitive scholarships for our full-time and part-time Masters courses. for more information please visit http://www.ntu.ac.uk/s3scholarships
Want to find out more? Come along to one of our postgraduate Open Evenings. For further details please visit: http://www.ntu.ac.uk/s3events

Read less

This course is for those seeking a professional qualification in Youth and Community Work that is validated by the National Youth Agency and recognised by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community Work.

You'll explore informal education and community development with young people and communities and you will build your knowledge of social policies and practices, including those surrounding discrimination and the promotion of equality. A significant amount of your learning also takes place whilst on placement. This course helps you progress into a diverse range of youth and community settings including youth and community work, youth offending, substance misuse, housing and alternative education.For those successfully completing the PgDip, you can progress to complete the full MA qualification.

You'll be taught by an outstanding team of teachers; in fact we've been ranked in the top five in the Guardian Guide for Education for the sixth year running. The course is supported by a team of senior lecturers who are also JNC recognised and who have extensive experience of youth and community work practice in the field.

Read less

Kent's MA in Social Work offers you the opportunity to gain a professional qualification in social work alongside a Master’s degree. Successful graduates are eligible for professional registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), the regulatory body for social work.

Social Work is based at our Medway campus:https://www.kent.ac.uk/locations/medway/

Course detail

The programme meets the Professional Capabilities Framework as required by the HCPC. You gain the knowledge and skills needed by professional social workers. The programme provides extensive work in practice learning settings that meet Government requirements. The MA is a full-time, two-year programme running from September each year.

Purpose

The MA invites you to think coherently and systematically about the context, nature and aims of social work in the UK.

The changes taking place in social work nationally make this an exciting and challenging time to join us. Our team includes qualified practitioners with experience in a range of services and management settings who are constantly examining change and its implications on the future of social work.

Format and assessment

The programme incorporates critical analysis and practice-based skills. This includes a two-day observational practice learning opportunity and a 70-day practice learning opportunity in Stage 1, with a further 100-day placement in Stage 2.

In addition to assessed work, linked to both taught modules and practice learning, you also complete a dissertation in a specific area of research in your second year.

Modules

You study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation:

• Social Work theories, interventions and skills
• The individual, family and society
• Law, rights and justice
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Social work: mental health and adult service users
• Values, ethics and diversity
• Social work with children and families

https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/124/social-work#structure

Careers

Social work jobs exist in local authority and health settings (eg social services departments, hospital settings), voluntary organisations (Barnardo's, NSPCC) and private agencies such as private fostering agencies and care homes. Some graduates choose to undertake agency work.

Our graduates obtain a range of transferable skills and report high levels of being in employment or further study within six months of graduation across all of our degree programmes.

Over 98% of Kent's postgraduate students who graduated in 2016 were in work or further study within six months. Recent graduates from our School have pursued careers in academia, journalism, local and central government, charities and NGOs.

How to apply: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/124/social-work#overview

Why study at the University of Kent

We offer inspirational teaching and supervision alongside first-class library and IT facilities. You also benefit from our high-impact research in all subjects. Whatever you are looking to study, Kent provides a dynamic and challenging environment for your postgraduate studies.

• Kent was awarded gold, the highest rating, in the UK Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework
• Kent is ranked 21st in the Times Higher Education (THE) ‘Table of Tables’ 2017
• Kent is ranked 25th in the Complete University Guide 2018
• Kent is ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018
• 42% of our academics are from overseas and we have students representing 158 nationalities
• In the most recent research rankings, 97% of research at Kent was found to be of international quality (REF 2014)
• Kent is ranked 17th in the UK* for research intensity and research output (REF 2014)
• Find out more: https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/why-kent/

* of 122 universities, not including specialist institutions

Postgraduate scholarships and funding

We have a scholarship fund of over £9 million to support our taught and research students with their tuition fees and living costs. Find out more: https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/

English language learning

If you need to improve your English before and during your postgraduate studies, Kent offers a range of modules and programmes in English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Find out more here: https://www.kent.ac.uk/international-pathways/

Read less

We are redeveloping our MA to make it more flexible and accessible and plan to introduce a new structure to our coaching qualifications in 2018. To do these we have decided not to recruit an MA cohort for October 2017 start. If you would like to be notified about new developments when applications open, please join our mailing list https://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/cll/about/mailinglist/

This MA is aimed at experienced internal and independent coaches, and will develop your skills, knowledge and professional standing. The course takes an action-learning approach to explore issues in coaching practice.

Supervisors will work with you to deepen your research and practical skills, while peer-based learning enables you to share your own professional practice. The course structure gives you scope to focus on the coaching priorities and interests most relevant to your own working contexts. Modules cover ethical, organisational and personal perspectives, with separate research project and dissertation components. All our postgraduates benefit from a blended learning approach, which includes at least 72 hours of applied coaching with actual or practice clients.

You should have an appropriate level of coaching experience to engage in supportive and challenging conversations with other participants. Although our standard entrance requirement is a 2:ii undergraduate degree, you’ll still be considered if you can offer considerable coaching experience.

Unique features of the course

This action learning and supervision driven MA has several unique features designed to enrich your learning experience:
-Your internationally recognised course director and facilitators will supervise your development throughout the course.
-Time to focus and reflect on your own priorities within your working practice.
-Opportunity to grow your skills through your research specialism.
-Designed specifically for internal and independent coaches.
-Offered via blended learning to fit around your work and other commitments.
-Work in action learning sets, where your ideas and working practice will be supported and challenged by your peers.

Areas of study

You will study one module per term, with a theme to each module, and you will explore your individual interests within that theme. You will then provide a reflection of your practice and of the relevant literature in a 5,000 word essay at the end of the term. In addition, you will write a final 15,000 word dissertation on your specialist area of research, after completing the research project module.

The modules (2015-16 and 2016-17) to be taken are:
-The Practice of Coaching
-Approaches to Coaching
-Ethical and Organisational Issues in Coaching
-Research Project
-Applications of Coaching
-Use of the Self in Creating Effective Coaching Relationships
-Dissertation

You will also be required to complete 72 hours of coaching practice during the MA, with actual or practice clients, and to collect structured feedback from those clients. You will receive one-to-one supervision of your coaching practice from one of the course team through a 90 minute supervision session every three months during the course.

Read less

This MA meets international and national quality benchmarks and is suitable for you if you have either a personal or professional interest in career development/coaching. We offer the MA full-time, or you can choose to complete the programme part-time at different levels.

You’ll be encouraged to directly connect your learning to your personal and continuing professional development. Each module on the course is taught through a mix of workshopbased (usually two days) and distance learning. You can choose from two to six workshops a year, depending on your preferred study route.

While our academic admissions criteria ask for a 2:ii undergraduate degree, we would welcome and encourage you to apply if you have alternative qualifications or experience. The skills you develop on the course will support current or future employment in career coaching and talent management, among other vocational roles.

Areas of Study

There are two pathways available for both full and part-time students within the MA in Career Development and Coaching Studies: Route A and Route B. It is not necessary to finalise preferred route at the time of application as this can be confirmed later.

Route A
Route A consists of 6 x 20 credit modules and a 60 credit Dissertation module (15,000 words). It provides a full training for working as a career development professional.

Route B
Route B consists of 3 x 20 credit modules, a 100 credit Dissertation module (25,000 words) and 1 x 20 credit module from the list of Route B options below. It is designed for individuals with some experience of career development support or those wishing to pursue independent research in the field of career development and coaching studies.

Read less

The PGCert award offers the opportunity of postgraduate study for practitioners in social work and social care in settings beyond specialist child care, adult and mental health teams, for example: YOT, homeless services, domestic violence, learning disabilities and substance misuse specialisms. For social workers this will provide evidence of their learning in order to meet HCPC requirements for renewing their registration. However, we would expect this course to be attractive to non-social work qualified staff as part of their continuing professional development (CPD) and career development. The core module aims to support practitioners to extend their knowledge and analytical skills in relation to their own CPD and to reflect on their capability in relation to their evolving scope of practice.

Candidates can enhance their academic qualification by progressing from one of the Centre for CPD PGCerts to complete a PGDiploma and then further with the MA. This is a generic route and provides a flexible and wide choice of modules. For the PGDiploma the candidate will complete a research module and choose 2 other modules from a broad range. The MA will involve a dissertation in an area of their specialist practice.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION

The University has been endorsed by the College of Social Work as a provider of CPD training.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSMENT

Keynote lectures, seminars, tutorials, material for self-directed learning, e-learning, workshops will form part of university based learning provision.

Students will be required to link formal learning to their practice and will be encouraged to build on existing skills/develop new skills to consolidate their learning across the academic and practice fields.

Skills, values and knowledge will be developed through group discussions, group tutorials, presentations and practice learning opportunities.

The overarching teaching and learning strategy will enable students to develop cognitive skills which are appropriate to independent learning and postgraduate study.

A range of assessment methods will include essays, presentations, case studies, practice observation, reflective writing, practice portfolios, and personal development files.

OPPORTUNITIES

Students who are enrolled with the School of Social Work, Care and Community may be eligible for international travel opportunities relevant to their study.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Aims of the course include:
-Enable students to critically reflect on and review their professional development to facilitate enhanced performance and service delivery
-Provide learning opportunities for students to critical reflect on complex challenges, current issues and new evidence-based practice research
-Develop and enhance students’ capacity for critically evaluating key theoretical knowledge, law and policy in relation social work and social care practice
-Provide learning opportunities for students to develop and to enhance decision-making skills in complex situations in social work and social care practice
-Enable students to demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level
-Enable students to recognise the contribution, and begin to make use, of research to inform practice
-Provide an opportunity for students to undertake a research project in their specialist area of practice

Read less

The MA in Community Leadership is a unique course developed and inspired by individuals who work within communities as activists and change makers. The course is based upon the concept of a learning community, whereby learners come together to share experiences and best practice. It works on the belief that within the context of community leadership, individuals learn best from a peer led programme.

The course is grounded in the educational philosophy of Paulo Freire, and uses action reflection praxis as a basis for learning, allowing students to take new theoretical concepts and critically challenge them within their own communities. It also utilises and explores the management concepts of the community educator Mary Parker Follett (1868 to 1933); a woman recognised as ahead of her time in management science and whose ideas are hugely pertinent to the community sector today. The staff engaged in the delivery of the programme are all practitioners and internationally recognised in their fields. Their role is to share their knowledge on a peer to peer basis and support learners in developing new and innovative solutions to current issues.

INDUSTRY LINKS

An academic qualification in community leadership provides an excellent and recognised foundation for a career in the field. The course is designed to prepare the student for senior positions of community leadership within the third sector, the public sector, governance and politics, and also to play a leading role on the international stage. The course provides excellent opportunities for international, national, regional, and local networking and the development of personal social capital which will serve to effectively enhance employability prospects.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSMENT

The course is available part time and includes a flexible teaching pattern. Some modules are taught in short intensive blocks of five days. Other modules adopt a blended teaching approach where lectures are delivered once per month.

This makes it possible for students that are working or live at a distance to be able to take individual modules without regular weekly attendance at the University. However, the ethos of a strong peer learning community is central to all modes of learning, regardless of being either classroom or web based.

A range of assessment methods will be used during your course. Your skills, knowledge and understanding will be formally and informally assessed through written assignments, oral presentations and through practical tasks. The requirements and the marking criteria for all course assessments are clearly set out for you in this handbook and module handbooks. Tutors may provide additional supportive material to you.

Opportunities will also be provided throughout the course for informal, formative assessment of your skills, knowledge and understanding. You will be invited to present seminar papers, contribute to class and online discussions, apply your learning informally in the workplace and take part in tutorials.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The MA in Community Leadership is a unique course developed and inspired by individuals who work within communities as activists and change makers. The course is based upon the concept of a learning community, whereby learners come together to share experiences and best practice. It works on the belief that within the context of community leadership, individuals learn best from a peer led programme.

The course can be taken at either MA, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate level. Students who successfully complete three taught modules are eligible for the award of PG Certificate.

The course focuses on core themes relating to politics and governance, faith, gender, global society, and community resilience. In addition to the MA, students will also be eligible for an optional exit award in Strategic Leadership at Level 7 from the Institute of Leadership and Management. Through the Interfaith Dialogue route, he course offers an annual field visit to an international destination, usually Cordoba in Spain, but this varies according to availability. Further international visits and collaborations are available at the discretion of the course tutor and subject to numbers.

Read less

Master of Social Work (MSW) programs prepare graduates for advanced professional practice in an area of concentration. The MSW program will prepare UAEU graduates to enter the job force as specialized practitioners, accepting leadership roles within the areas of health/mental health, criminal justice, applied research, policy analysis, community education, schools and in the planning and provision of social services in other areas. The Master of Social Work consists of 30 credit hours of specialized course-work and practicum for students with a Bachelor degree in Social Work (BSW). The MSW program also welcomes students with a bachelor degree in disciplines other than social work. However, for these students, the program of study will consist of foundation courses (30 credit hours) in year 1 and specialization courses (30 credit hours) in year 2 for a total of 60 credits hours.

Program Objectives

‌•Practice in accordance with social work values and ethics that acknowledge the history and laws of UAE society.
‌•Practice in a culturally competent manner that promotes quality of life and well-being, human rights and social and economic justice, with diverse Arab, Muslim and expatriate populations of the UAE and GCC.
‌•Use, produce and apply research knowledge to enhance their skills for practice with the diverse Arab/Muslim families, children, individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and societies of the UAE and GCC.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
‌•Use communication/facilitation skills ethically in building empowering relationships with the diverse populations in the UAE, the Arab Gulf and internationally.
‌•Employ skills for influencing policy formulation and change in communities that advance social and economic justice.
‌•Apply knowledge and leadership skills in managing projects, and working with community groups and/or organizations to address populations at risk and engage in community resource development
‌•Demonstrate skills in quantitative/qualitative research design, data analysis, program evaluation, practice evaluation, community needs assessments, and knowledge dissemination.
‌•Apply the knowledge, values, ethical principles, and skills of a generalist social work perspective to practice with diverse social systems in the UAE, the Arab Gulf and internationally.
‌•Analyze social policies at a local, regional, national, and international level.
‌•Evaluate existing research studies and one’s own practice interventions.
‌•Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems and seek necessary organizational change.

Program Structure

Required Courses (21.00 hours)

‌•Models and Methods of Social Work Practice
‌•Leadership & Supervision
‌•Intermediate Social Work Research
‌•Field Practicum II
‌•Directed Readings

Elective Courses - 9CH (3 courses) from a specialization track

‌•Health/Mental Health
‌•Social Work Practice with At Risk Students
‌•Social Work & Traditional Help Seeking Behavior
‌•Social Work in Behavioral Health Settings

‌•Criminal Justice/Substance Abuse
‌•Social Work in Criminal Justice Settings
‌•Social Work & Addictions
‌•Techniques in Rehabilitation Counseling

Bridge Program

For Students without the BSW degree (30.00 hours)
‌•Social Welfare Policy and Services: A worldview
‌•Human Behavior and Social Environments I
‌•Human Behavior and Social Environments II
‌•Research Methods for Social Work Practice
‌•Integrative Seminar
‌•Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
‌•Social Work Practice with Groups
‌•Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations
‌•Field Education I

Read less

Our MPhil/PhD research degree programme offers you:

Wide variety of research interests
The Institute of Health and Society has a strong mix of academics with a high degree of professional and personal experience, enabling you to get the most out of your programme. Our staff have expertise in social policy, social justice, race and identity, public health, safeguarding, social work, coproduction.

Excellent supervision
Benefit from a professional and challenging relationship with your supervisory team, drawn from experienced academics working at the forefront of their disciplines.

Resources
Access to the University of Worcester’s virtual resources and its state of the art library facilities. The Social Work and Social Policy team at Worcester have an excellent range of resources available to support your learning and your research project, including; extensive regional networks of social work partners able to support research activity. The University has a vibrant Service User and Carer Group, IMPACT, whose members are happy to be involved in research, advise on research or participate as subjects..

Projects being undertaken by current Social Work and Social Policy research students include: social worker influence and perceptions of power; the promotion of social worker resilience in education and practice and child sexual exploitation.

Read less