Undergraduate Education 2026-2027

This course will give students an opportunity to reflect on their understanding of education through an examination of the origins, purpose and nature of education, both as it currently exists in Scotland and elsewhere. This course will allow students, through the study of comparative education, to consider the historical and political context of Scottish Education and gain insight into current issues, policy drivers and practices.

This course introduces MA Education students to the use of fictional stories in the Primary classroom for the teaching and learning of science.  Students will engage with a range of stories which relate to science concepts within the Scottish primary curriculum.  Students will then have opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of these concepts prior to applying this new learning in a creative context. 

This course aims to develop students’ understanding of using digital technologies in the Primary classroom, by exploring key digital skills, pedagogies and the use of technology to support inclusion and assessment. This course will provide students with the opportunity to reflect upon their experiences of digital technology and how these have been used to enhance learning.

This course introduce students to the application of mindfulness and compassion to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing and resilience. Students will engage with a range of experiential practises and develop knowledge of the underlying principles, concepts and neurobiology within mindfulness and compassion. Students will then have opportunities to develop practical knowledge and understanding of mindful practises and how to apply them in their personal and professional environments.

This course aims to develop students’ appreciation of the qualities, dispositions and skills required of an inclusive teacher. Within this course, students will develop knowledge of key Scottish policies and an awareness of the socio-cultural contexts in which they will be teaching. Students will also develop an awareness of themselves as learners and beginner teachers.

This course aims to develop student teacher understanding about the roles and responsibilities of a primary teacher within Scotland. As part of this course, students will self-reflect upon their understanding of professional values, curriculum and the dispositions required for working within a professional setting. Through the completion of a 5-week placement in a First/ Second Level classroom, students will extend their skills at working with a group of learners, leading the learning within the three overarching curriculum areas for Literacy, Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing.  

This course is designed for students registered on the BA Childhood Practice degree with a focus on different learning environments for the child.  The aim of the course is to promote and encourage the use of workplace based activities as the basis for academic study.  This course is designed to meet the continuing professional development of individuals involved with working with children and students must be employed in a relevant educational setting for a minimum of 12.5 hours per week. 

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to explore research informed approaches to teaching and learning in and through languages. This will provide opportunities to explore mother tongue language acquisition, second language learning and bi or pluri-lingualism.  The course will also explore other forms of literacy. 

This course introduce students to the application of mindfulness and compassion to enhance mental and emotional wellbeing and resilience. Students will engage with a range of experiential practises and develop knowledge of the underlying principles, concepts and neurobiology within mindfulness and compassion. Students will then have opportunities to develop practical knowledge and understanding of mindful practises and how to apply them in their personal and professional environments.

This course aims to introduce students to the process of critical reflection from practice. In doing so, students will deepen their understanding of inclusive pedagogy in the core curricular areas of Literacy, Numeracy and Health & Wellbeing. As part of this course, students will have an opportunity to collaborate with other students to reflect upon the diverse range of school contexts and the implications of this for inclusive practice. Students will use wider reading and experiences from placement to extend their understanding of equity in the context of inclusion.

This course provides practitioners with an overview of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in early childhood education. The importance of STEM in global 21st-century education is explored as is its role in supporting young learners' development. The course emphasizes hands-on experiences, skill application, and fostering STEM-positive attitudes, while addressing diversity, equity and sustainability. Students will learn to integrate STEM principles in their own settings to create inclusive environments that promote creativity and critical thinking.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to consider the importance of literacy to all learning, the many barriers to literacy and the teacher’s role in over-coming these as well as further developing their own literacy skills. Students will explore research informed approaches to the teaching of reading and writing and begin to consider the implications of these approaches for classroom practice.  They will begin to explore pedagogical approaches to literacy teaching and learning in a 2^nd level classroom.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to consider the importance of numeracy and mathematical conceptual understanding to lifelong learning as the rationale for numeracy and maths being a core curriculum area and the responsibility of all teachers 3 – 18.  It will provide essential knowledge of cognitive development and key related theories and will explore research informed approaches to the teaching of maths, as a basis to consider the implications of these approaches for classroom practice.  Students will begin to explore pedagogical approaches to maths teaching and learning in a 2^nd level classroom.

This course offers students the chance to consider the role of belief in education. Students will study the role of mythologies (personal and societal), the impact of social change on belief and how belief manifests in the primary school curriculum. In particular students will critically consider the role, purposes, status of Religious and Moral Education (RME) in schools, and approaches to effective teaching of this area of the curriculum.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of the value of Health and Well-being to children's lives and learning. Students will explore a range of ways that health and well-being can be integrated into the primary school curriculum with a specific focus on current issues for Primary teaching and learning in Scotland.

This course explores child development from 0-18 through a theoretical and practical lens. Students undertake a placement a day a week throughout the course to explore their theoretical learning of child development in practice.

This course provides practitioners with an overview of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in early childhood education. The importance of STEM in global 21st-century education is explored as is its role in supporting young learners' development. The course emphasizes hands-on experiences, skill application, and fostering STEM-positive attitudes, while addressing diversity, equity and sustainability. Students will learn to integrate STEM principles in their own settings to create inclusive environments that promote creativity and critical thinking.

This course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the individual and additional needs of children.  Students will explore factors that give rise to the many different needs of children and different approaches to meeting them in a Primary classroom.

This course aims to provide students with creative and innovative opportunities to develop knowledge and understanding of science concepts through modelling of approaches which can be used in the Primary classroom.  Students will also develop an understanding of the challenges of learning science and the pedagogical approaches which will support learners.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of a range of theories relevant to early child development and explore approaches to the education and care of young children.   Students will also engage critically with factors that affect children’s learning and development such as the physical environment and socio-cultural context. They will explore the importance of play in early learning.

This course examines the links between mental health and education, and the contemporary theoretical and practice approaches to maintaining well-being for students.  Covering policy, pedagogical practice, and mental health interventions both locally and globally this module aims to provide critical insight into how educational context can provide a foundation for lifelong mental health.

Delving into theoretical underpinnings and research findings in counselling and psychotherapy, students explore a range of theories, and how these shape therapeutic practices and guide empirical studies. The course also emphasises applying research in counselling and psychotherapy, teaching students to evaluate research literature, identify gaps, and formulate research inquiries. Ultimately, it aims to produce well-rounded learners who can integrate theory, research, and practice in this field.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of the expressive arts as a pathway to creative teaching across the curriculum.  Students will consider the value of expressive arts as a medium for teaching and learning in relation to the whole curriculum including what has been called the ‘hidden curriculum’.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of Social Studies in the primary school curriculum. Students will explore research informed approaches to teaching and learning Social Studies in the primary school, and consider the implications of these approaches for classroom practice.  Students will also develop a critical understanding of how the local environment and community can support children’s learning.

This course aims to extend students’ experiences and opportunities for learning in semester one with further opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of a range of theories relevant to early child development and continue to explore approaches to education and care of young children.   Students will also engage critically with the many factors that affect children’s learning and development looking beyond the physical environment and socio-cultural context to formal and informal services available to children and families, ASN and ACE.

This course aims to provide students with a detailed knowledge of inclusion within the Scottish context. It will explore research on inclusion, policy documents and implementation over time. This will include specific additional support needs (ASN), including ADHD, Specific learning needs, Communication disorders and Social emotional behaviour needs.

This course aims to provide student with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of the Expressive Arts in curriculum studies and in therapeutic work.

Teaching on this course is through practical workshops which explore the skills and content of the Expressive Arts can integrate with therapeutic practice.

This course aims to provide students with opportunities to develop a broad and integrated knowledge of inter-disciplinary learning within the Primary School curriculum. Students will explore research informed approaches to inter disciplinary learning in the primary school, and consider the implications of these approaches for classroom practice and for addressing learner differences. Students will have opportunities to explore some ways of teaching and learning across the primary curriculum that are innovative, inter-disciplinary and inclusive. The focus will be on how to integrate areas to plan meaningful, real world, relevant learning experiences.

This course aims to provide students with an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake a small scale professional enquiry.  Students will explore the purpose of professional enquiry in Scottish education, consider related ethical issues, and be able to design a professional enquiry of their choice. 

As part of the PGDE Secondary programme, this campus-based course provides a variety of learning experiences which develop students’ knowledge and understanding of current issues in Scottish Education. Students will engage with pedagogical theory to support the development of professional values and skills in preparation for School Experience.