What Makes This Course So Special?
The introduction of the Foundation Phase and Flying Start initiatives in Wales has put early years education at the centre of current educational debates.
The course is delivered by a team who are involved first-hand with current research and development in the early years education field.
Course Intro
This course is for you if you are a graduate or non-graduate with relevant experience looking to enhance your knowledge in the area and reflect on your own work with children in light of recent initiatives within education.
On the course you will explore child development and effective early learning and consider international and historical perspectives. You will examine some of the issues that are recognised as being fundamental to the new approaches, such as child-centred, experiential learning and the use of the outdoor classroom. You will learn from a highly experienced team, with an emphasis on collaborative, interactive learning.
The course is grounded in the belief that a multi-disciplinary approach to working with children is crucial if their needs are to be met holistically and as such we aim to promote inter-professional dialogues throughout your study.
What you study
In common with all of the MA Education pathways, you will take the core module Research Methodology. In addition you will study the two specialist modules.
Child Development
This module explores the impact of a wide variety of genetic and environmental influences on child development and considers the course of physical growth from birth to adolescence and factors which affect this growth. You are helped to understand and debate the theoretical frameworks relating to cognitive and language development and to explore and evaluate emotional and social development from a developmental and sociological perspective.
Supporting Early Learning
This module looks at effective ways to support children’s learning and development. The role of play, which is a key element in the delivery of the Foundation Phase for Children’s Learning is explored in some depth.
You will then select one other relevant module from within the MA Education programme.
To complete the full MA you will present a 17,000 word research dissertation and a 3,000 word research dissemination plan.
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
A Masters degree is required for professional advancement in numerous occupations, and is widely seen as evidence of a successful commitment to high level professional development. An MA award demonstrates that you have developed advanced level skills in analysis, evaluation and research. If you are interested in the possibility of a higher degree by research, your tutors will be pleased to discuss the opportunities for doing so here at Newport.
Interview Required
Yes. After you have made your application an informal interview will be required.
Assessment
Each module is normally assessed by a written assignment of 5,000 words.
Student Soundbite
“The MA Early Years has really opened my eyes to the alternative perspectives relating to children’s learning and development.”