MA in Education: Leadership and Management

This course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the program document for more information on which modules are core, required, or optional.

• Education and Society
• Research Methods in the Social Sciences
• Dissertation
• Leadership in Practice
• Leading, Mentoring, and Coaching
• Research and Professional - Part 1
• Research and Professional - Part 2

What you'll learn

Overview

MA Education (Leadership and Management) is designed to develop your understanding of leadership theory and practice.

We’ll help you develop and improve your expertise as an educational leader through practice-based inquiry, in which you'll relate theory and research to your working environment. You’ll gain a critical understanding of the practices that characterize effective leadership and learn how to bring about change and improvement.

Taught sessions will provide an understanding of how leadership impacts the climate and culture of a school or educational setting.

Course structure

Trimester one

In the first trimester, you’ll gain a broad understanding of the context in which educational leaders operate.

You'll examine the place of education in contemporary societies and explore how educational reform is constructed and implemented to deliver social and economic change. You'll also examine the way that leadership is played out within educational settings, focusing on what leaders do to engage followers to bring about change within an ethical framework.

Trimester two

You’ll learn how to undertake research within educational settings. A range of different methodologies will be explored and we’ll support you to write a proposal for your research project.

You will also study another leadership module related to coaching and mentoring. In this module, you will develop your coaching and mentoring skills and reflect on the contribution they can make to the practice of leadership.

Trimester three

In your final trimester, you’ll write a dissertation on an aspect of educational leadership that particularly interests you. You’ll be supported by a tutor and benefit from one-to-one tutorials. You’ll also be able to attend optional research seminars.

How will I be assessed?

There are no written exams on this course; each module is assessed through coursework. This typically involves an essay for a 30-credit module.

In some modules, you may be assessed by presentations or online activities.

The 60-credit dissertation focuses on an area agreed upon with a specialist tutor, who will offer guidance on structure and academic writing.

You’ll graduate with practical and theoretical knowledge, well-placed to apply for middle, senior or leadership roles in schools or other educational institutions. Many students on our educational leadership awards gain promotion within 12 months of completing the course.

The grounding in academic work provides a foundation for further research at PhD level which can lead to employment in Higher Education.

How will I be taught?

All modules are taught through lectures, small group seminars, and individual tutorials.

Course length

One year full-time or two years part-time.