English Education - MA

The English Education MA programme offers particpants a stimulating combination of both academic and professional development, including guidance on conducting small-scale research. It is particularly helpful in enhancing practising English/literacy teachers' promotional prospects and 'leadership capital', and is relevant to practitioners from across all phases of education.

Degree information

Updated annually, a carefully balanced programme of core and optional modules explores a wide range of contemporary topics relating to English as a curriculum subject; interactive seminars are designed to draw on particpants' own experiences and increase awareness of the richness and scope of English as a field of study (including media and drama).

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. The programme consists of two core modules (60 credits), two optional modules (60 credits), and a dissertation (60 credits) or a report (30 credits), plus a choice from a wide range of optional modules reflecting different interests within the field of English studies.

Core modules
-Contemporary Issues in English Education
-What is Education?

Optional modules - recommended optional modules include:
-Shakespeare in Education
-English in Diverse World Contexts
-Language Teacher Identity and Development
-Moving Image Production
-Inclusive Pedagogy
-Digital Games, Play and Creativity

Whilst students are normally expected to choose modules from the published list of recommended options, in exceptional circumstances individual students may choose from a wider range of options, subject to approval.

Dissertation/report
All students undertake an independent research project which either culminates in a dissertation of approximately 20,000 words (60 credits) or an investigative report of approximately 10,000 words (30 credits).

Teaching and learning
The MA is delivered through a combination of face-to-face seminars and online materials; sessions are always interactive, drawing on students' own interests and experiences. Most modules are assessed by means of written essays.

Careers

Graduates of this programme are currently working across a broad range of areas. Some are working as teachers of English (in the UK and internationally), while others have jobs as heads of English departments in UK schools. Graduates can also be found working as education advisers with cultural organisations.

Employability
The majority of our MA English Education students are already employed as practising teachers who are thinking about the next steps in their professional careers, for example as Heads of Department or taking up whole school literacy development posts.

Why study this degree at UCL?

This programme at UCL IOE is one of the few programmes in the country which offers a specialist Master's degree in English/media/drama as a curriculum subject.

Every year this well-established course attracts particpants from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds. For written assignments students are encouraged to investigate aspects of their own practice which are of particular interest to them.

The programme is taught by an experienced team of subject specialists, most of whom are qualified teachers themselves, and students on this programme are offered individualised tutorial support throughout the duration of the course.

Normally a minimum of a second-class UK Bachelor's degree in English or a related area (e.g. media or drama) or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Knowledge and experience of teaching English language/literature as a curriculum subject (primary, secondary or tertiary) is essential. NB. applicants do not have to be qualified teachers, but these applicants would need to demonstrate substantial relevant postgraduate work experience - for example, at least a year working as a Teaching Assistant or similar role in a school or college.