Postgraduate taught degree programmes

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Adult & Continuing Education

Programme structure

The Master of Science in Adult & Continuing Education comprises of four core-courses, two research courses and a dissertation, which will total 180 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF). Below is the information for the core courses.

International Issues in Adult & Continuing Education

20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)

This course identifies the major influences upon the historical traditions of adult and community education in Scotland, the U.K. and internationally. Building upon this historical background, current developments in adult education will be located within the context of contemporary social and economic trends. Particular attention will be given to policy issues relating to adult participation in different forms of education and training, including widening access, literacy, work-based learning and competence based assessment.

The Psychology of Adult Learning

20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)

This course explores the psychological characteristics of adult learners. It asks “what makes a successful adult learner?” and “what, then, makes a good adult educator?”. The course draws on areas such as adult development, intelligence, the socio-cultural nature of learning, the nature of collaboration and the effects of changing educational media. Traditional and contemporary psychological models of learning will be critically reviewed, as well as ideas about the effect of the learning context, emphasising the implications and applications of such ideas for adult education practice.

Curriculum Development in Adult Education

20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)

This course provides participants with the opportunity to develop; their philosophy as an adult educator; their skills in designing materials to support adults’ learning capabilities and their understanding of teaching and learning theories, approaches and processes in adult education.

Modern Educational Thought

20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)
This course explores significant concepts, debates and discourses on theoretical issues that are important for students engaged in the study and practice of education. This course is focussed on central questions around the aims and purposes of education and ways in which modern educational thought plays out in professional practice and/or policy contexts. In addressing these questions, we will take as a starting point the claim that the development of rational autonomy, that is the Enlightenment project, is the central aim of education. Thus the course will begin with key readings in the history of ‘liberal’ thinking on education. It will encourage a critical reading of texts in the history of modern educational ideas, taking into account critiques of the liberal tradition from positions that include Marxism, postmodernism, communitarianism and feminism.

Introduction to Educational & Social Research

20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)

This course is an introduction to educational and social research.  The overall aim of the course is to provide students with a fundamental level of research literacy. The aims of the course are:

  • introduce students to current concerns in the philosophy and political economy of research
  • provide students with experience in reading and critically reviewing research
  • prepare students to conduct a research project of appropriate scope
  • inform students about the intersections between method, methodology and approaches to enquiry
  • ensure that students have the preparation they need for further study of research methods and methodology
  • develop understanding of applying enquiry methods to a specific problem

Advanced Educational Research

20 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)

This course is required for students who are studying for a research orientated Master’s degree. It will look in more depth at the issues of method, methodology and epistemology to which students were exposed in “Introduction to Educational and Social Research” and includes an element of pragmatic research practice.

Dissertation

60 credits at masters level 11 (SCQF)

The purpose of the dissertation is to provide students with an opportunity to undertake a supervised research exercise, involving the collection and analysis of data about a subject relevant to the study of adult and continuing education. A great variety of enterprises can be accepted as legitimate research exercise for the MSc - review of policy; a professional experience; a participant observation report; a philosophical enquiry; a case study; a critical account of the progressive building up of a curriculum or institution; a macro-study of official statistics: any of these could make a satisfactory and extremely interesting research exercise.