Lisa Welsh
Introduction
This online programme aims to develop knowledge and skills in the field of support and pastoral care. All participants are expected to have some practical experience to offer and have the opportunity to be involved in aspects of supporting young people in their educational workplace setting or other appropriate agency.
This programme is studied fully online.
This postgraduate programme is open to all professionals who have a caring role with young people.
It meets the continuing professional development needs of those who wish to extend their skills and knowledge into new areas of guidance, care and support which pertain within their establishment, but in particular, within an educational setting.
The general aims of the programme are to extend the skills, knowledge and understanding of the participants in the following ways:
- critical evaluation and application of advanced professional knowledge and understanding;
- commitment to critical self-evaluation and development;
- enhanced and highly effective professional performance;
- personal and professional commitment to an extended professional role and wider professional vision;
- advocacy of change and professional action aimed at the development and improvement of practice;
- development of professional values and knowledge through reflective and evidence-based practice;
- working with others to bring about change and improvement to practice;
- bridging theory and practice and critically applying and challenging research findings.
In addition, each module has specific aims relevant to the content covered.
Key Programme Information
At a Glance
- Learning Mode
- Online Learning
- Degree Qualification
- MEd, PgCert or PgDip
- Duration
- 12 months, 24 months or 36 months
- Study Mode
- Part Time
- Start Month
- January or September
Study Options
- MEd 36 months Online Learning Part Time January or September
-
- Stage 1
-
Stage 1
Stage one
To gain a Postgraduate Certificate you will require:
One Guidance based module from either Care and Support in Action or Managing Personal Support in Schools plus one counselling based module chosen from Counselling and Mentoring Approaches in Educational Settings or Mentoring in Professional Contexts.
Compulsory Courses
- Care and Support in Action (ED501U) - 30 Credit Points
-
This module is offered to all who wish to enhance knowledge and skills in this area in order to advance their professionalism in working with young people. This includes specifically class room teachers, existing principal teachers, faculty heads and senior managers within schools as well as community educationalists, health and social workers.
The module covers aspects of all areas below:
- Guidance and support policies, roles and responsibilities within the context of the ‘National Support Framework’
- Providing quality care and support, partnership set within the support entitlement
- Team working through an integrated multi-agency approach, child protection and inclusion
- Managing Personal Support in Schools (ED50BZ) - 30 Credit Points
-
The new principal teacher of pastoral care/pupil support (targeted support) is expected not only to manage cross curricular PSD provision but also all aspects of whole school support (universal support) and those staff who deliver such support.
The module covers aspects of all areas below:
- The management role of promoted pastoral support staff
- The management of change set within the context of ‘Curriculum for Excellence’
- Leadership styles, team building activities
- Conflict resolution, solution-focused approaches, managing staff, time and projects
- Integrated approaches to targeted, universal and pupil support, inclusion and inter-professional working
- Counselling and Mentoring Approaches in Educational Settings (ED50CB)
- Critical Approaches to Academic Literature (ED553Q) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course is for students undertaking postgraduate study which requires a good standard of critical reading and writing skills.
The essential aim of the course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of what is required to appraise journal and other material, and be able to present a reasoned argument based on evidence. By the end of the course you will be able to demonstrate the capability to
- develop a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts of the topics studied, together with knowledge of major policy issues involved
- analyse critically evidence and arguments to support professional judgments
- Research Methods (ED553R) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course is focussed on social science research and applications in professional / work contexts. Participants make critical connections between policy, theory, research and practice in the context of investigating their own practice. Course coverage includes research philosophy and methodology, research implementation (design, methods, data collection and ethics), data analysis and interpretation, and reflective evaluation. Participants conduct a small scale research activity to enable exploration and evaluation of the application of research in their own context. The course offers a supportive, formative learning experience in preparation for a larger project.
- Work - Based Project / Dissertation (ED50PJ) - 60 Credit Points
-
This course will support you to frame, specify, plan, implement and report an academic or work-related research-based investigation or development. The course is available if you have successfully completed a postgraduate diploma and allows you to complete your Masters degree. Normally your diploma should have included courses which introduced the process and methods of conducting research. The work based project/dissertation course requires sustained independent research and you will receive individual or small group supervision. You will also have the opportunity to engage with workshops and online resources as part of a community of researchers in education and related areas.
Optional Courses
In addition, one course from the following may be chosen in stage two:
- Personal and Social Development, Health and Wellbeing (ED554C) - 30 Credit Points
-
Personal and social development linked to health and wellbeing is increasingly recognised as central to an effective education in which the potential of the whole individual is developed.
Curriculum for Excellence and Health and Wellbeing E&O’s emphasize the importance of planned approaches. This module is therefore designed to increase competence in identifying and meeting the developing needs of young people through effective planning.
The module covers aspects below:
- planning, development and delivery of inter-disciplinary programmes of PSHE including assessment, evaluation and improvement planning
- learner-centred approaches and the importance of a supportive climate
- Curriculum, Careers Guidance and Education for Enterprise (ED55CA) - 30 Credit Points
-
Increasingly carers, teachers and lecturers are expected to take responsibility for aspects of curriculum and careers guidance and the preparation of their youngsters for lifelong learning, education for work and enterprise.
This module would benefit all education staff, community and health workers whose daily work impinges on such areas.
The module covers aspects of all areas below:
- Gaining knowledge, competence and confidence to give curricular and vocational advice
- Team approaches to planning and experiential delivery of careers education
- Supporting development towards skills for life and work within a philosophy of enterprise
- Stage 2
-
Stage 2
To gain a Postgraduate Diploma, in addition to the requirements for Postgraduate Certificate, you will require:
To take both of the following 15 credit research based modules: Critical Approaches to Academic Literature and Research Methods plus one of the option modules below.
Option modules are Personal and Social Development, Health and Wellbeing or Curriculum, Careers Guidance and Education for Enterprise.
They are compulsory for Post Graduate Diploma.
Compulsory Courses
Critical Approaches to Academic Literature
Research Methods
- Stage 3
-
Stage 3
To gain the Masters you are required to complete the Work Based Project/Dissertation.
- PgCert 12 months Online Learning Part Time January or September
-
- Stage 1
-
Stage 1
To gain a Postgraduate Certificate you will require:
One Guidance based module from either Care and Support in Action or Managing Personal Support in Schools plus one counselling based module chosen from Counselling and Mentoring Approaches in Educational Settings or Mentoring in Professional Contexts.
- PgDip 24 months Online Learning Part Time January or September
-
- Stage 1
-
Stage 1
Optional Courses
Students must take one guidance based module and one counselling based module from the options below:
- Care and Support in Action (ED501U) - 30 Credit Points
-
This module is offered to all who wish to enhance knowledge and skills in this area in order to advance their professionalism in working with young people. This includes specifically class room teachers, existing principal teachers, faculty heads and senior managers within schools as well as community educationalists, health and social workers.
The module covers aspects of all areas below:
- Guidance and support policies, roles and responsibilities within the context of the ‘National Support Framework’
- Providing quality care and support, partnership set within the support entitlement
- Team working through an integrated multi-agency approach, child protection and inclusion
- Managing Personal Support in Schools (ED50BZ) - 30 Credit Points
-
The new principal teacher of pastoral care/pupil support (targeted support) is expected not only to manage cross curricular PSD provision but also all aspects of whole school support (universal support) and those staff who deliver such support.
The module covers aspects of all areas below:
- The management role of promoted pastoral support staff
- The management of change set within the context of ‘Curriculum for Excellence’
- Leadership styles, team building activities
- Conflict resolution, solution-focused approaches, managing staff, time and projects
- Integrated approaches to targeted, universal and pupil support, inclusion and inter-professional working
- Counselling and Mentoring Approaches in Educational Settings (ED50CB)
- Mentoring in Professional Contexts (ED502Y)
- A Counselling Approach in Educational Settings (ED50FG)
- Stage 2
-
Stage 2
To gain a Postgraduate Diploma, in addition to the requirements for Postgraduate Certificate, you will require:
To take both of the following 15 credit research based modules: Critical Approaches to Academic Literature and Research Methods plus one of the option modules below.
Option modules are Personal and Social Development, Health and Wellbeing or Curriculum, Careers Guidance and Education for Enterprise.
They are compulsory for Post Graduate Diploma.
Compulsory Courses
- Critical Approaches to Academic Literature (ED503Q) - 15 Credit Points
-
This course is for students undertaking postgraduate study which requires a good standard of critical reading and writing skills.
The essential aim of the course is to provide participants with a working knowledge of what is required to appraise journal and other material, and be able to present a reasoned argument based on evidence. By the end of the course you will be able to demonstrate the capability to
- develop a critical understanding of the principal theories and concepts of the topics studied, together with knowledge of major policy issues involved
- analyse critically evidence and arguments to support professional judgments
- Research Methods (ED503R) - 15 Credit Points
-
The course is focussed on social science research and applications in professional / work contexts. Participants make critical connections between policy, theory, research and practice in the context of investigating their own practice. Course coverage includes research philosophy and methodology, research implementation (design, methods, data collection and ethics), data analysis and interpretation, and reflective evaluation. Participants conduct a small scale research activity to enable exploration and evaluation of the application of research in their own context. The course offers a supportive, formative learning experience in preparation for a larger project.
Optional Courses
- Personal and Social Development, Health and Wellbeing (ED554C) - 30 Credit Points
-
Personal and social development linked to health and wellbeing is increasingly recognised as central to an effective education in which the potential of the whole individual is developed.
Curriculum for Excellence and Health and Wellbeing E&O’s emphasize the importance of planned approaches. This module is therefore designed to increase competence in identifying and meeting the developing needs of young people through effective planning.
The module covers aspects below:
- planning, development and delivery of inter-disciplinary programmes of PSHE including assessment, evaluation and improvement planning
- learner-centred approaches and the importance of a supportive climate
- Curriculum, Careers Guidance and Education for Enterprise (ED55CA) - 30 Credit Points
-
Increasingly carers, teachers and lecturers are expected to take responsibility for aspects of curriculum and careers guidance and the preparation of their youngsters for lifelong learning, education for work and enterprise.
This module would benefit all education staff, community and health workers whose daily work impinges on such areas.
The module covers aspects of all areas below:
- Gaining knowledge, competence and confidence to give curricular and vocational advice
- Team approaches to planning and experiential delivery of careers education
- Supporting development towards skills for life and work within a philosophy of enterprise
- Stage 3
-
Stage 3
Compulsory Courses
- Work - Based Project / Dissertation (ED50PJ) - 60 Credit Points
-
This course will support you to frame, specify, plan, implement and report an academic or work-related research-based investigation or development. The course is available if you have successfully completed a postgraduate diploma and allows you to complete your Masters degree. Normally your diploma should have included courses which introduced the process and methods of conducting research. The work based project/dissertation course requires sustained independent research and you will receive individual or small group supervision. You will also have the opportunity to engage with workshops and online resources as part of a community of researchers in education and related areas.
Course Availability
We will endeavour to make all course options available; however, these may be subject to change. Further information about potential changes can be viewed here.
How You'll Study
Students and tutors work in a MyAberdeen virtual leading environment. A reasonable ability in ICT will therefore be necessary to cope with blended or e-learning delivery. Communication by web cam will be expected in addition. Modules will be taken on a part-time basis and participants are required to reach PG Diploma level (120credits) normally within 2 years - 3 at the outset. It is expected that participants will have had some practical experience to share, be willing to work collaboratively in study buddy groups on set discussion tasks and have the opportunity to be involved in aspects of support in their workplace setting or other appropriate agency.
Learning Methods
- E-learning
- Individual Projects
- Research
- Tutorials
Assessment Methods
A wide range of assessment instruments are deployed within and across courses to ensure the validity, reliability and vitality of assessment in support of personal growth and professional development.
Formative assessment is an important component of modules and programmes. Formative assessment may involve tutor, peer or self-assessment. Formatives are worth 25% each and the summative submission is worth 50% of the final grade.
Why Study Pastoral Care, Guidance & Pupil Support?
- This programme is held in high regard nationally and in particular by agency managers
- The additional in-house practical experience can be a possible promotion route to the area of Guidance/Support.
- The programme is delivered online, enabling students to participate from all over Scotland and beyond.
- Few Universities offer a similar programme
What Our Students Say
Entry Requirements
This postgraduate programme is open to all professionals who have a caring role with young people. It aims to provide a response to the continuing professional development needs of those who wish to extend their skills and knowledge into new areas of guidance, care and support which pertain within their establishment, but in particular, within an educational setting.
Qualifications
The information below is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry to the University of Aberdeen.
Entry requirements for this programme like all other PGT programmes is a 2:2 or better from a recognised university or body. In exceptional circumstances applicants without this qualification may be admitted at the discretion of the Programme Director subject to having an alternative qualification, or an approved level of experience, appropriate to the field of study.
Please enter your country to view country-specific entry requirements.
English Language Requirements
To study for a Postgraduate Taught degree at the University of Aberdeen it is essential that you can speak, understand, read, and write English fluently. The minimum requirements for this degree are as follows:
IELTS Academic:
OVERALL - 6.5 with: Listening - 5.5; Reading - 6.0; Speaking - 5.5; Writing - 6.0
TOEFL iBT:
OVERALL - 90 with: Listening - 17; Reading - 21; Speaking - 20; Writing - 21
PTE Academic:
OVERALL - 62 with: Listening - 51; Reading - 54; Speaking - 51; Writing - 54
Cambridge English Advanced & Proficiency:
OVERALL - 176 with: Listening - 162; Reading - 169; Speaking - 162; Writing - 169
Read more about specific English Language requirements here.
Document Requirements
You will be required to supply the following documentation with your application as proof you meet the entry requirements of this degree programme. If you have not yet completed your current programme of study, then you can still apply and you can provide your Degree Certificate at a later date.
- Degree Certificate
- a degree certificate showing your qualifications
- Degree Transcript
- a full transcript showing all the subjects you studied and the marks you have achieved in your degree(s) (original & official English translation)
- Personal Statement
- a detailed personal statement explaining your motivation for this particular programme
- Reference x 2
- two reference letters, one of which should be from your university discussing your academic ability. If you have been out of education for a long time you may wish to use your current or most recent employers, or other professional individuals
International Applicants
Should your programme necessitate a visit to the University you may find the following information helpful.
Fees and Funding
You will be classified as one of the fee categories below.
- MEd 36 months Online Learning Part Time January or September
-
Fee Information
Fee information Fee category Cost Home / EU / RUK Students £640 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2018/19 academic year This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 30 credits. International Students £1,850 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2018/19 academic year This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 30 credits. - PgCert 12 months Online Learning Part Time January or September
-
Fee Information
Fee information Fee category Cost Home / EU / RUK Students £640 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2018/19 academic year This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 30 credits. International Students £1,850 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2018/19 academic year This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 30 credits. - PgDip 24 months Online Learning Part Time January or September
-
Fee Information
Fee information Fee category Cost Home / EU / RUK Students £640 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2018/19 academic year This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 30 credits. International Students £2,850 Modular fee programmes - Tuition fees for 2018/19 academic year This programme is charged on a modular basis. The fee quoted is per 30 credits.
Additional Fees
- In exceptional circumstances there may be additional fees associated with specialist courses. Any additional fees for a course can be found in our Catalogue of Courses.
- For more information about tuition fees for this programme, including our refund policy, please visit our InfoHub Tuition Fees page.
Our Funding Database
View all funding options in our Funding Database.
Careers
Qualifications gained by successful candidates often leads to enhanced promotional prospects in the candidates work place setting.
Career Opportunities
- Faculty Head
- Guidance Teacher
- Head Teacher
Professional Links
http://www.gtcs.org.uk/TeacherJourney/framework-for-masters/framework-for-masters-in-education.aspx
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/cad/good-practice/spotlight/employability/emp-sp/
Accreditation
This part-time, online programme is accredited by the University of Aberdeen and participants are drawn from full time teachers, mainly from the secondary educational sector, although it is open to primary and FE colleagues to join us. In addition, this programme is open to professionals in Health, Social Work and Community Education.
Our Experts
- Director
- Ms Sandra Paterson
Information About Staff Changes
You will be taught by a range of experts including professors, lecturers, teaching fellows and postgraduate tutors. Staff changes will occur from time to time.
Facilities
All course work is delivered within the MyAberdeen Virtual Learning Environment and through Blackboard Collaborate online meeting rooms.
Get in Touch
Contact Details
- Address
-
School of Education
University of Aberdeen
MacRobert Building
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 5UA