Undergraduate study

Overview

Keele pioneered the development of Educational Studies and this particular programme was one of the first of its kind nationally, established in 1994. The course continues to be highly rated by examiners and students. It came 'top' nationally in the Student Satisfaction survey in 2007 and fourth, in 2011, for overall levels of student satisfaction.

• 'An exciting and imaginative degree programme, offering students a lively and diverse range of modules within an overall framework that is coherent and well conceived.' (External Examiner's Reports)
• Research-led teaching
• An interdisciplinary approach 
• Coverage of key political, social and cultural issues related to education
• A combination of academic study with development of research skills
• Two routes or strands: education for teaching and education as social policy
• The possibility of a place on the Keele PGCE secondary or primary course (subject to specific entry requirements and satisfactory interview)

Educational Studies explores education from many different angles, including how it relates to the economy, how it has been shaped historically, how it affects people’s life chances, how it helps form their identities, how those who work in education are organised, and how learners learn.

The course is interdisciplinary and links the study of Education to other areas of life: pedagogy, history, childhood, management, social policy, culture, information and communication technology (ICT). In many respects it has a strongly contemporary focus.

Educational Studies combines the academic study of education with preparation for work placing a strong emphasis on the development of students’ skills as independent researchers and collaborative colleagues.

The teaching team has a strong research record in topics such as education, culture and social policy, childhood, IT, management, special needs, inclusive education, 'race', gender, teacher professionalism, pedagogy, professional development and higher education, international and comparative education.

Students with a broad range of backgrounds are welcome; we aim to ensure that the course is broad and flexible enough to respond to their interests and needs.

Course Content

Students taking Educational Studies as a Dual Honours subject will take two modules per semester. One of these will be a core compulsory module and the other will be selected from a range of elective modules. Core modules provide a foundation for the programme as a whole. Through the choice of electives, students may wish to follow one of two strands through the programme:

• Education for teaching (for those interested in teaching as a career)
• Education as social policy (for those interested in the study of education as an academic subject in the context of a social science perspective)

All core modules, and some of the electives on offer, are relevant to both strands. The programme is also flexible enough to enable students to follow their interests through the programme, whether this is in secondary teaching or the study of childhood from either a teaching/early years focus or from a sociology or social policy perspective.

First year
Core modules:

Understanding Learning focuses on established theories of learning and also on your own learning processes in higher education to answer key questions such as: Is learning a matter of conditioning? What is the relationship between language and learning? Why do some people learn easily and others struggle? What are the most effective learning strategies to adopt?

Education in Britain covers the period of compulsory state education in Britain (i.e. 1870-2011), from a historical and sociological perspective. The emphasis falls on contemporary educational issues, in school and higher education, and it also seeks to draw in part from your own educational experiences.

Electives:
Back to the Future: Issues in the History of Schooling focuses on the key moments in the development of schooling from the 1800s to 1944. Students are encouraged to draw on a range of media including film and literature to explore the issues.

Childhood, Policy and Education explores a range of institutional and other discourses in which childhood is encoded including media, literature, art and the law but there is a particular focus on the role of the state in current constructions of childhood.

Digital Technologies will explore the use of contemporary technologies in educational contexts.

Too poor to learn?  Poverty, Education and Social Policy is concerned with the problem of poverty and how it relates to education as part of a wider social policy. 

Second year

Autumn Semester core module
Education Matters:  Contemporary issues and debates in education

Spring Semester core module
Research Strategies and Methods in Education

You may then choose an elective either from Educational Studies or another programme to study alongside these core modules. Educational Studies electives include:
Comparative Education
Issues in Public Education
Play, Power and Pedagogy
Reflective Teaching
Special Education

Third year 

You will complete a dissertation on an educational topic of your choice, and will be able to choose one module each semester from a range of electives, which include:
Education, Work and Identity
Race, Politics and Education
Inclusive Education
Higher Education: Policy and the Student Experience
Educating for 'Global' Citizenship
The making of professionals: Education, Health and Social Work

Codes and Combinations

Dual Honours course can be combined with:

Foundation and Major course available:

Teaching and Assessment

Teaching on the course consists of lectures, seminars, individual tutorials and workshops.

Much of the work students will be required to do is coursework, either in the form of essays or, on some modules, collaborative portfolios. In the second and third years there is a strong emphasis on individual research projects, assisted by tutor support. Students will be given plenty of opportunities for formative assessment and support for essay writing is embedded in the first year.

Programme specifications (new window)

Skills and Careers

Although the course does not lead directly to a teaching qualification, it will provide students with knowledge and skills appropriate to a range of professional careers and occupations, including public sector management, educational research, work in communications and the media, industrial and business training and teaching. In connection with the teaching strand, it may be possible for students to be interviewed for a place on the PGCE primary/PGCE secondary courses at Keele University on entry to the Educational Studies programme. Any offer of a place would be provisional and subject to specific requirements:

• Subject combination
• Degree classification
• Satisfactory interview
• Satisfactory reference from the Director of Undergraduate Studies
• Maintain eligibility by remaining on the Educational Studies programme
• Other conditions laid down by the Secretary of State for Education

Visit our Careers pages (new window)

Educational Studies works well with any of the subjects listed earlier. Two of the most popular combinations are English and Music. Others include Psychology, Sociology, Geography, Biology and Criminology.

English and Educational Studies
This provides the chance for students to develop a broad range of analytical, critical and communication skills. It also helps students to make the most of particular research techniques such as interviews and textual analysis. In terms of graduate opportunities, it is good preparation for any career requiring a broad range of analytical skills and is an excellent combination for those wishing to teach English at either primary or secondary level. 

Music and Educational Studies
This combination enables students to develop a broad range of communication skills including those of presentation and performance. For those interested in the electronic components of music, there is the opportunity, through the compulsory IT and research elements of the Educational Studies programme, to design and develop a musical package as an educational or learning resource. Again, this is an excellent combination for those wishing to go on to teach music but, as with English, will also appeal to students interested in culture.

Some comments made by students who completed the Educational Studies course

Sophie Holford

'Educational Studies was interesting and exciting.  Some of the lectures were practical based which really motived the group and helped to promote better learning.  There is a happy vibe all through the department.  I would choose Educational Studies and did because it gave a wide insight into education in general.'

(After graduating with a 2(i) in 2012, Sophie went on to do a PGCE Primary course)

Jennifer Lawton

'Great support and resources available; excellent as it gave you a good starting point for wider reading and contextualising lectures.'

(After graduating with a 2(i) in 2012, Jennifer enrolled onto a SKE course offered by the School) 

Chanel McPherson-George

'Organisation of the programme was excellent.  Employability skills have been increased through studying this course.'

(After graduating with a 2(i) in 2012, Chanel planned to teach abroad)

Andreas Steffensen

'I have loved studying Educational Studies at Keele University.  It has far exceeded any expectations for university study I had prior to commencing the course.  The quality of teaching and course content has been fantastic, the organisation has been outstanding, and all staff have been extremely helpful and approachable.'

(After graduating with a 1st in 2012, Andreas opted for further study and registered for a Graduate Diploma in Law)

Graduated in 2011

Rachael Ganderton

"The School of Education has developed me as an individual as well as enhancing my academic abilities.  I have learned so much about my own learning, which has continually been encouraged and supported by the teaching staff."

(After graduating with a 1st in 2011, Rachael then completed an MRES course at Keele)

Keely Hughes

"Keele has so much to offer.  I live locally and chose to come to Keele University as I did not want to move away from the area.  When you arrive on campus it is like a mini village and there is so much nature around.  You do not feel like you are in Stoke-on-Trent at all, it s like a breath of fresh air.

The University itself is very welcoming and the staff are always at hand to help.  The Education Studies staff are also very helpful and supportive and this made the transition from college to university less intense and stressful. I studied education at college and really enjoyed it, but the Educational Studies programme at Keele has interested me so much more than I could have ever imagined."

(After graduating with a 1st in 2011, Keely completed a MRes course at Keele and is nowstudying for a PhD)

Octavia Lemon

"Very organised, could not be faulted.  Clear objectives well in advance.  Friendly staff happy to help with any question.  Interested in you."

(After graduating with a 2(ii) in 2011, Octavia gained a place on a PGCE Primary Course at the Institute of Education, London)

Adam Lines

"The support from both lecturing and support staff is second to none!  Everyone is always friendly and seemingly infinitely knowledgeable.  The modules are interesting and set at the right level of academic challenge, backed up with a great range of resources."

(After graduating with a 2(i) in 2011, Adam then enrolled onto an MRES course at Keele)