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 you 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 that will enable you to personalise your studies to meet your professional or academic goals and 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 engage in an independent research study that 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, in addition to informal and non-formal educational institutions and organisations, including but not limited to NGOs, charities, local government educational provision.
Core modules
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 (available online for part-time study)
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 Foundation 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.
