Education
Single and Joint Honours degrees available:
- BA Education (including BPS route) (X300)
- BSc Econ Education and Criminology (XM39)
- BSc Econ Education and Sociology (LX33)
- BSc Econ Education and Social Policy (XL34)
- BA Education and Welsh (QX53)
Education is an exciting and challenging social science subject, which explores human development, social relations and government policy. Although the degree is not a teacher-training qualification, many of our graduates go on to study on Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programmes, using their knowledge of education systems and policies as a foundation for training to be a practising teacher. The degree therefore provides an excellent basis for a career in a wide variety of occupations, including teaching, educational psychology, youth and community work and counselling. The teaching on this degree scheme has been rated as 'excellent' by the most recent National Teaching Quality Audit. The school has close links with local schools, colleges and other educational organisations.
We put an emphasis on three perspectives: first, the psychological and social development of children from their birth through into their adolescence and later adult life; second, a study of national and international policy developments in education as they affect educational institutions, economic performance and social justice; and third, practical issues related to teaching, learning, and the organisation and management of schools, colleges and education in the wider community.
Education can be studied either on its own or in combination with a range of other subjects. This allows students to put together a programme of modules suited to their own needs and interests.
The School is one of the largest centres of social science research in the UK, with over half of all its research activity rated as either "world leading"or "internationally excellent" in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise. The School was ranked by the RAE at the top of UK universities for ‘Research Power’. This is a measure which combines research excellence and research capacity.
BA (H) Education BPS Route
You may follow the British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited pathway through this degree. This programme is accredited as conferring eligibility for graduate membership of the BPS and Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) with the BPS, provided that the accredited psychology pathway is undertaken and the minimum qualification of Second Class Honours is achieved. This is the first step to becoming a chartered psychologist. This accreditation is essential to work in psychology professions, such as educational or clinical psychology. The advantage of our pathway is that you study psychology as well as other social sciences and adopt a social approach to psychology. This is a good route to consider if you are interested in education or want to follow a career in psychology in education, such as being an educational psychologist.
The majority of modules studied on the BPS pathway are compulsory, so students enrolled on this route have less module choice than those following the non-BPS pathway. The BPS pathway is also recommended for students who have studied A Level psychology.