Social Justice and Globalisation in Education MA

Want to transform the lives of children, young people and marginalised adults? Interested in social justice, human rights, equality, diversity, welfare issues, education, psychology and sociology? If so, this is the postgraduate course for you.

Whether you are a student coming to the end of an undergraduate degree or a new or experienced practitioner, why don’t you study flexibly for only one or two days a week in a stimulating, research-informed, and culturally diverse environment?

Come share your ideas and experiences, and learn from, our team of tutors who are all research-active and widely published. Our tutors are passionate about a broad range of social issues topics and aspects of human diversity (such as gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, disability, social class, poverty, children’s rights and voices) that impact the life chances, wellbeing, and attainment of children, young people and marginalised groups. Tutors will help you develop the confidence, knowledge and skills required to drive positive social change in workplace settings and communities. Close links are formed with external partners and alumni, enabling you to keep abreast with current policy and practice in a real-world context.

Assessments are carefully designed so that they can be tailored to your own experiences and interests, allowing you to build essential knowledge and transferrable employment skills. You will receive excellent levels of support from your module tutors, personal tutor and the wider University support services.

For more information, please contact Programme Leader, Paula Hamilton; p.hamilton@chester.ac.uk

Concepts of social justice, human rights, equality, inclusion, diversity and reflective practice are core to this course. These fundamental principles are at the heart of a broad range of professions that involve working with children, young people and marginalised groups, such as teaching, health/care and community work.

Drawing upon sociological, educational, psychological and philosophical perspectives, you will examine social inequalities and welfare issues that impact the life chances, wellbeing, and attainment of children, young people and marginalised groups, within a local, regional and international context.

Engaging with community settings and practitioners, you will explore reasons for social inequality and unjust systems in society. You will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to make positive social change by identifying ways to address barriers that marginalise and disadvantage. Particular attention is given to the following aspects of diversity: gender, sexuality, race/ethnicity, social class, disability, and mental health.

MODULES

• Human Rights and Reflective Practice (20 credits): The module explores concepts around human rights, the rights of the child and social issues relevant to children, young people and marginalised adults. It also provides a core foundation to help you build academic and professional skills for post-graduate study (including academic conduct policies) and work within education and community settings involving social justice.
• Children and Communities (20 credits): This module adopts Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory to critically examine the cultural and social context of childhood and social factors and inequalities that affect the lives, wellbeing, and development of children and young people. Social issues considered may include parenting styles/capacity, perceptions of children and childhood, poverty/socio-economic disadvantage, gender inequality, ethnicity, refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQI+.
• Leading Education in a Globalised Community (20 credits): This module focuses on the impact of globalisation on the practice of educational leadership. At the heart of this module is an exploration of the complexities of leadership practice within domestic and international contexts, underpinned by exposure to broader international learning scenarios where leaders' decisions are paramount to educational success.
• Research Methods and Design (20 credits): This module provides a comprehensive introduction to research methods and design, equipping students with essential skills for conducting rigorous and impactful research. You will explore a range of different approaches to conducting research, gaining practical experience in research planning, data collection, and ethical considerations. Emphasis is placed on selecting appropriate research designs for various questions and contexts. By the end of the module, you will be prepared to independently design and execute research projects that contribute meaningfully to your field of study.
• Disability and Mental Wellbeing (20 credits): This module focuses on social justice for persons with disability and mental health conditions and draws on sociological theories to encourage discussion of how these aspects are perceived globally, along with care, support systems and policies. You are encouraged to consider these issues in the context of your workplace or home community/ country.
• Social Justice and Community Engagement (20 credits): This module explores theories of social justice and how education can lead to positive social change in settings and communities. You will engage in community work and reflect on skills and knowledge.
• Research Project (60 credits): This module offers you an opportunity to undertake an independent research project in an area related to your final award. Through this module, you will develop critical research skills by designing, conducting, and presenting a research study that addresses a significant area of professional interest. This module encourages you to make a meaningful contribution to the field while honing skills essential for research, critical thinking, and current/future professional practice.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the course that will take the form of either core or option modules and should be used as a guide. We review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects. If during a review process, course content is significantly changed, we will contact you to notify you of these changes if you receive an offer from us.

Job Prospects 

Primary and secondary school teachers, further education lecturers, pastoral support workers, and social/community (NGO) workers. Due to the focus on social justice/inclusion, this MA provides a solid foundation for HR graduate schemes.

Designed for those interested in working in a broad range of community sectors linked to supporting children, young people, families, marginalised groups, including education, social/community care, and non-government organisations where issues of diversity and social justice are essential. The course is suitable for those wishing to prepare for doctoral study.

Depending on your undergraduate degree, prospects after the MA include work in primary education, secondary education, further education, social/community care, or research initiatives. It will be particularly relevant if you are looking to study and work within Educational Psychology. Due to the emphasis on diversity and human rights, this Masters programme also provides a solid foundation for human resources graduate schemes.

Careers Service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice, and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service that is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.