Professional Education and Training - MA/PGDip/PGCert

This course provides a career development pathway for those wishing to specialise in professional education and training within their professional field in social work and social care. The course has an applied focus: all modules include practice elements and are research informed. Your choice of modules enables you to tailor the course to suit your professional interests. The course also acts as a springboard for those wishing to continue on to doctoral studies.

Tutorial support and guidance in professional development planning is offered to all students.

Established in 1995, this programme offers a unique pathway for graduates to change career direction and advance their careers as educators and trainers. Many graduates have obtained employment as lecturers in higher education in social work departments. Others have secured employment in training and development roles. Some have established their own training companies or work as freelance/ independent trainers and educators.

What will you study?

The course has a national and international focus. You will learn about latest developments and research in social work and social care education around the world and the global agenda for social work – an option module on international social work provides the opportunity to undertake a short international learning experience. In addition, you will develop the professional practice skills needed to work in professional education and training in social work and social care; eg educating, mentoring, supporting, assessing and managing others; teamwork and interprofessional practice; and leadership skills. There is a strong emphasis on developing your critical appraisal of research evidence and exploring ethical frameworks.

You will need to successfully complete two modules to gain the postgraduate certificate; four modules to gain the postgraduate diploma; and four modules plus a 'capstone' project and a related article suitable for publication to gain the MA.

Assessment

Reports, reviews, evaluations, posters, portfolio of practice, manuals, assessed practice, projects and a 'capstone' project.

Find out if this course suits you

This course is ideal if you are working in any of the following roles in the social work education sector:
-Teaching, practice teaching, mentoring and assessment of students, practitioners and senior practitioners
-Managing the contribution of other people in learning and assessment processes
-Working with groups or cohorts of learners
-Training officers and managers
-Contributing to professional teaching in universities and colleges
-Co-ordinating or managing work-based learning and assessment support systems or placements
-Delivering and quality-assuring training programmes, either across teams, within departments or between organisations and universities or colleges

It is also suitable for freelance trainers, educators and assessors.

Course structure

The course offers a wide range of option modules so you can tailor it to your own professional requirements. Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list.

-Postgraduate Certificate: two modules (each of 30 level 7 credits)
-Postgraduate Diploma: four modules (each of 30 level 7 credits)
-MA: four modules (each of 30 level 7 credits) plus a capstone project of 60 credits

At Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma level, you may select modules from the list below. To achieve the MA you must undertake a capstone research project and produce an article for suitable for publication.

Modules
-Practice Education Stage 1
-Practice Education Stage 2
-Planning and Delivery of Training
-Supervision of Professional Practice
-Mentoring, Coaching and Advanced Assessment of Professional Practice
-Psychology of Teaching and Learning International Social Work and Social Work Education
-Leading and Managing People in Social Work Practice
-Leading and Managing in Social Work and Social Care Organisations
-Final Capstone Project