Explore our Childhood in Society taught Master's degree.

P-X30F

MA

1 year full-time; 2-5 years part-time

2 October 2023

Education Studies

University of Warwick

Are you interested in better understanding childhood and the lives of children? Do you believe that children are well equipped to help us understand? Do you want to make a positive difference? This course aims to enhance your knowledge and skills relating to childhood, globally and locally, so you are well equipped to make that difference.

This course explores childhood from an interdisciplinary and international perspective.

During this course, you will gain a familiarity with interdisciplinary perspectives and frameworks from fields such as education, psychology, sociology, philosophy and social policy in the study of children and childhood. You will engage with the debates, analysis and critique of current international and national research. You will also explore the policy and practice implications of such research.

Whether you are a practitioner wanting to develop professionally or looking for the next level of academic study, this course will help you to critically explore key childhood related themes, including child development, children’s rights and the global child. You will also develop an understanding of key issues in relation to children, and become familiar with the diversity of children’s experiences over time and space.

Studying the MA Childhood in Society will enable you to advance both academically and professionally, whatever your stage of development. You will be working with others who are passionate about the importance of childhood and childhood studies. Being part of a vibrant education studies department offers a wide range of optional modules so you can personalise your studies to meet your professional or academic goals. You will share ideas with students and staff from across the department. Interactive teaching sessions will provide you with a varied learning experience and help you to develop useful collaborative and employment skills.

At the end of the course, you will complete an independent research study. This allows you to further develop and explore an area of personal or professional interest. By the end of the course you will be well positioned and equipped to continue with further academic study or to work in leadership positions relating to childhood and children’s education. This includes informal and non-formal educational institutions and organisations such as NGOs, charities, local government educational provision, to name a few.

Skills from this degree

• Develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues within childhood
• Explore concepts and issues relating to childhood across a range of country contexts, and understand how childhood intersects with other levels of education
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of research strategies and techniques appropriate for use with children and childhood research
• Utilise research originally and critically to interpret and apply knowledge
• Evaluate existing methodologies within educational research
• Develop new hypotheses to provide new insights into children’s lived experiences and professional practice relating to childhood contexts

For full-time students, all of our modules are delivered in-person at our well-equipped university campus. Part-time students are able to complete a percentage of their modules as asynchronous distance-learning modules.

Most modules include weekly teaching sessions, giving you the opportunity to join with your colleagues to discuss and debate the topics being explored. These sessions are delivered in a range of formats that suit the module (these may include lectures, seminars, group work and practical workshops, for example). In addition, you will be given various pre- and post- session tasks and readings to support your learning.

Class Size

Assessment types vary depending on modules selected but may include different types of assignments, of varying lengths, as well as oral presentations. You will also complete a dissertation based on an individual research project, with support from a member of academic staff.

Additional course costs

You may wish to undertake some research with children or young people that may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or a Certificate of Good Conduct for students from outside of the UK. A DBS check costs around £70 and a Certificate of Good Conduct can vary in price.

Find out more about our additional course costs.Link opens in a new window

Reading lists

Our module reading lists are available through Warwick Library. If you would like to view reading lists for the current cohort of students you can visit our Warwick Library web pageLink opens in a new window.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules, compulsory and optional, and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you and you will be able to choose your optional modules when you join us.

2:ii undergraduate degree (or equivalent).

• Band B
• IELTS score to 7 overall, no more than two components at 6.0/6.5 & rest 7.0+

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Intercultural Approaches to Childhood

Research, policy and practice in children and childhood have become global and political priorities in recent years. In this module, we pick on some debates and themes within the field of childhood studies that highlight the contested and diverse nature of contemporary childhoods within a globalising world.

In the first part of the module, we outline state of the art theorising within the field that critically examines developmental psychology, globalisation and the rise of the agentic child. We draw on a number of contemporary themes that illustrate theoretical debates within the field and at the same time inform the professional and political practices of those with an interest in working with and researching children and childhood. These themes include pupil voice and participation, mediating migration, children and politics and the exploitation of children.

Foundation Research Methods in Education (alternative online module available for part-time students if required)

This module encourages students in understanding, designing and implementing research in the field of education.

It will introduce you to a range of established research strategies and techniques, including data collection and analysis. These skills will enable you to design and carry out a dissertation research project, as well as to disseminate its findings. As part of this module, you will present your research design and have the opportunity to receive feedback ahead of completing your dissertation.

Dissertation

The dissertation is an opportunity to explore, in depth, an area of academic and/or professional interest related to your degree. Building on the knowledge and skills developed during the Research Methods module, and your other modules, you will conduct an independent research project, developing a deeper understanding of your chosen topic. From your research project, you will produce a dissertation, with guidance from a supervisor who will be allocated to you. Through the dissertation, you will demonstrate the ability to analyse and synthesise relevant literature, produce coherent arguments supported by relevant evidence and logical discussion, and acknowledge sources of ideas and information.

Optional modules

This programme has a number of optional modules to choose from. At least one optional module should have a childhood focus. Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date.

Find the most up-to-date optional module list on the Education Studies website.Link opens in a new window

This programme has a number of optional modules to choose from. At least one optional module should have a childhood focus. Our optional module lists are subject to change each year to keep the student learning experience current and up-to-date.

Find the most up-to-date optional module list on the Education Studies website.

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