Open University

Masters degree in Education

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this master's degree, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

• Key concepts and themes in education and their application to practice in a range of contexts
• Concepts, current debates and issues in the studied route and their relationship to wider political, economic and social developments
• The different disciplines and discussions that contribute to writing and practice in the chosen route
• Approaches to the practice of applied research and ethical issues relating to research and enquiry.
• The processes entailed in carrying out a small-scale research enquiry
• Links between theory and practice, such as would enable the student to undertake enquiry in an area that is of interest.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this master's degree, you will be able to:

• Define and appropriately utilise key terms, concepts and theories in applied research
• Identify and articulate a personal perspective on learning in response to understanding new ideas and encounters with relevant studies
• Critically analyse and evaluate current themes and issues in education, using appropriate concepts and research evidence
• Interpret, assess and deploy research methodologies and their evidence to engage critically and creatively with debates relevant to the development of own professional thinking

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this master's degree, you will be able to:

• Plan, analyse, develop and produce an extended proposal or plan, conduct, analyse and report a small-scale investigation within a professional setting to develop or enhance the understanding of practice
• Work independently and collaboratively in a range of modes to address cognitive problems and design solutions
• Reflect critically and constructively, in the light of ideas and frameworks presented in the course, on your own thinking, practice and organisational impact and how these might be developed
• Produce original texts to communicate ideas concisely and effectively in written work which shows clear expression and coherent structure
• Take personal responsibility to complete an extended and varied programme of learning which requires sustained and independent application
• Use information and communication technology appropriately for information retrieval and communication purposes.

Key skills

On completion of this master's degree, you will be able to:

• Independently source and read academic publications with confidence
• Appraise, review critically and reflexively formulate arguments relevant to the area of study
• Critically reflect on the area of your practice
• Produce and present written text employing a suitable writing style appropriate to a specific academic genre that uses and cites source materials correctly and appropriately.

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits as follows:

You’ll choose one of the following specialisms and study one 60-credit module at each stage:

• Inclusive practice
• Leadership and Management
• Learning and Teaching.

Stage 1

This introduces some of the big ideas in education and their specialist domain(s). You'll engage with concepts, current debates and issues in the area of education relevant to your chosen route.

Stage 2

This stage broadens your knowledge and understanding of your chosen aspects of education. You can change specialisms after Stage 1 to give you the opportunity to study across two specialisms. Your choice of Stage 2 will commit you to that specialism as your Stage 3 dissertation topic.

Stage 3

You are required to submit a dissertation in a chosen area that is based on your practice and contributes to organisational development and/or effectiveness. This will be a small-scale inquiry on a topic of your choice situated within your own educational practice or setting. If this is not possible in your setting, you can complete an extended literature review and research proposal relevant to your own educational professional interests and practice.

Inclusive practice

180 credits from:

Stage 1

• Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in Educational Practice (EE844)1

Stage 2

• Social Justice, Equity, and Equality: Inclusive Practice for All (EE845)

Stage 3

• Masters Multi-disciplinary Dissertation: Education, Childhood, and Youth (E822)

1We strongly recommend you study this module if you intend to choose this specialism, or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module EE814. However, you may choose any Stage 1 module, or if you have successfully completed EE806, you may also count this module towards Stage 1.

Leadership and Management

180 credits from:

Stage 1

• Educational Leadership: Concepts, Change, and Challenges (EE841)2

Stage 2

• Exploring Educational Leadership: Values, Context, and Strategy (EE842)

Stage 3

• Masters Multi-disciplinary Dissertation: Education, Childhood, and Youth (E822)

2We strongly recommend you study this module if you intend to choose this specialism, or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued module EE811. However, you may choose any Stage 1 module, or if you have successfully completed EE806, you may also count this module towards Stage 1.

Learning and Teaching

180 credits from:

Stage 1

• Learning and Teaching: Educating the Next Generation (EE830)3

Stage 2

• Learning and Teaching: Understanding Practice (EE831)

Stage 3

• Masters Multi-disciplinary Dissertation: Education, Childhood, and Youth (E822)

3We strongly recommend you study this module if you intend to choose this specialism. However, you may choose any Stage 1 module, or if you have successfully completed EE806, you may also count this module towards Stage 1.

Applied linguistics (continuing students only)

This specialism is only available if you have successfully completed Stage 1 or have credit awarded from study elsewhere. Stages 2 and 3 must be completed by 31 December 2026. A new MA in Linguistics (F97) will be available from October 2024.

180 credits from:

Stage 1

• Applied linguistics and English language (EE817)4 (now discontinued)4

Stage 2

• Language, literacy and learning (EE818)

Stage 3

• MA Ed dissertation: applied linguistics (EE819)

4Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, EE830, EE841, EE844, or the discontinued modules EE811, EE814, or if you have successfully completed EE806, you may also count this module towards Stage 1.

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods

Each module uses a range of online study techniques to help you engage with the academic literature and to reflect on your own practical and professional knowledge. If you have a learning difficulty or disability that could impact studying online please do speak with us and your tutor so that where possible reasonable adjustments can be made to facilitate your participation.

There are a variety of tutor-led or tutor-supported activities to support students in developing skills, knowledge and understanding of discourses specific to their pathway alongside skills (especially in Stage 1) more generally applicable to masters level study, such as workload management and leadership in online collaboration.

Academic practices – such as academic writing, critical reading and critical argumentation; relating theory and practice; identifying, evaluating and using evidence appropriately – are taught and developed across modules within each pathway covering specific and appropriate forms of those practices.

A variety of informal and formal assessment tasks are incorporated into the coursework. Within each module, coursework is designed to prepare you for independent study within a particular educational discipline. We do encourage the sharing of ideas and experiences with your peers through asynchronous forums and there may be some activities that recommend working with other students as this is an important way in which you can broaden your knowledge and understanding of children, young people and education across different contexts. However, alternative ways of working can be facilitated.

In the final stage of your master's, you’ll expand your research and communication skills through the multi-disciplinary dissertation. This offers the opportunity to engage with research that will fit around your own context and professional circumstances.