MA in Religions and Education* by distance learning
learn how to communicate about religions and beliefs in education
*new title subject to University's approval
The MA in Religions and Education by Distance Learning
This flexible distance learning course is aimed at teachers of religious education and related subjects within different education systems, and those working with young people in a faith or belief context. The change of name of the degree from MA in Religious Education to MA in Religions and Education reflects the fact that the term ‘Religious Education ’ means different things in different countries. The Warwick MA course aims to meet the needs of those working in different education systems, and reflects the varied approaches to religious diversity and education utilised by Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit. Some previous experience of religious studies at higher education level is preferred but not required. Each application is looked at on its own merits.
Course aims and benefits
Called by various names in different countries – such as religious education, religion education, education about religions and beliefs, religious and moral education – the subject is internationally recognised as in urgent need of more specialist expertise at both primary and secondary levels. In Europe and beyond there is an increasing interest in the study of religious diversity in societies, as part of religious education, intercultural education or citizenship education. The WRERU team are involved in discussions about the subject and in research project on the subject at European and international levels.
Course structure
All MA students take four modules (each weighted at 30 CAT points) and write a dissertation of 20,000 words (60 CAT points). A research methods module, taken as one of the four MA modules, is designed to prepare students for the dissertation.
Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit
Details of the staff teaching the MA (including their research and publications) can be found on the website of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit (WRERU)
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What other qualifications are available?
All courses are approved by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE). |
Professor Bob Jackson speaking at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg |
The Postgraduate Certificate in Religions and Education by Distance Learning
The Postgraduate Certificate in Religious Education is a part time Masters level course and is a subset of the MA. It consists of two modules from the MA course described above. The PG Certificate has proved especially popular with the following categories of participant:
Non-specialist RE teachers wishing to top up subject knowledge, understanding of RE issues, and teaching methods for RE.
Specialist teachers who do not have the time or funding at the moment to complete the full MA. Some of these transfer to the MA during the course or return to complete the MA at a later date (any time within three years of completing the certificate).
New graduates in subjects other than religious studies or theology who wish to top up subject and professional knowledge before taking a specialist RE PGCE teacher training course. The PG certificate acts as a bridging course. Some students come on to Warwick to do their PGCE.
Students wishing to gain research training in religious education before starting a research degree.
The Postgraduate Award in Primary Religions and Education (by distance learning)
The PG Award offers classroom teachers and RE subject leaders a distinctive and exciting way to approach RE through twelve units (chosen, by you, out of fifteen items). At the end of the module (normally taught over 15 weeks), you will have investigated in more depth the range of religious traditions taught in your school and thought about ways in which you can continue to build on your learning. You will, of course, be doing this in the context of your own teaching. Each of the units on a religious tradition asks you to consider carefully the implications of what you are learning about, for example Islam, for your work in the classroom.
In later units in the course we suggest ways of working effectively with ICT; using visits, artefacts and story; and of assessing children’s learning in RE. If you are an RE subject leader, all these units will ask you to think not just about your own practice but also about ways of helping your colleagues move forward.
What modules can I study for the MA or PG Certificate?
The taught modules available for the MA and Postgraduate Certificate are:
Interpreting Religious World Views (also available as a Postgraduate Award)
Participants are enabled to discuss the issues involved in attempting to understand religious world views; to review critically methodologies derived from religious studies and anthropology for interpreting religious world views; to consider issues in the representation and interpretation of religious world views in relation to published curriculum materials for religious education; and to apply ideas developed in the module to teaching methods, content selection and pupil activity in religious education in schools.
Religious Education: An Interpretive Approach by Robert Jackson available for current students only.
Inter Faith Dialogue for Young People (subject to University's approval for October 2012 entry)
This new module module applied WRERU research and other research on inter faith dialogue with and for young people. It includes inter-religious dialogue and dialogue between religious positions and secular positions. By the end of the module students will have:
- increased their understanding of the theories and issues of inter faith dialogue and applied this understanding to their own contexts.
- increased their confidence and ksills for guiding young people in inter faith dialogue
- gained a clearer understanding of progression in dialogue skills and how this might be assessed
Introduction to Research Methods in RE
This module is designed for people who have had no previous experience of carrying out research and will also extend their knowledge of the relevant methods for those who already have some research experience. The module provides the necessary training for completing the dissertation. It is a core module for the MA, but not for the Postgraduate Certificate.
Current Issues in Religious Education (also available as a Postgraduate Award)
Participants are helped to acquire competence in discussing current issues in the theory and practice of religious education (and cognate fields such as spiritual, moral and cultural development, intercultural education and citizenship education). Participants also apply reflections and judgements from the module to school practice and school policy in religious education. The module is updated annually to take account of new or emerging issues.
The Christian Tradition: Local and Global
This module enables participants to understand the denominational, ethnic and cultural diversity of Christians in Britain; to introduce the global diversity of Christianity; to be familiar with ethnographic studies of selected Christian groups and with curriculum materials on Christianity; to evaluate critically curriculum materials on the Christian tradition; and to understand the relationship between principles of syllabus-construction in RE and ways of representing the Christian tradition.
Dissertation (MA only)
Your dissertation (20,000 words) may be a piece of empirical research based, for example, in the classroom or within a religious community. The dissertation may be attached to one of WRERU's current research projects, so that you have the opportunity to contribute to a larger scale research study. Your dissertation may also be a piece of scholarship, for example, the scholarly discussion of an aspect of religious education or the study of the relationship between the study of religious diversity and intercultural education, values education or citizenship education.
Tutorial support is given by Professor Robert Jackson, Professor Eleanor Nesbitt, Professor Leslie Francis, Ann Henderson, Julia Ipgrave, Judith Everington and Elisabeth Arweck, all members of Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit (WRERU), and all are working on cutting edge research projects related to Religions and Education.
All are deeply involved in research and writing in religious and intercultural education. Currently WRERU is participating in projects sponsored by the Council of Europe, the Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. With 9 other European Universities, WRERU staff are taking part in a major study of religious education in Europe sponsored by the European Union.
Further details of WRERU can be found at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wie/wreru/
What support do I get when working at a distance from the University?
All modules on the MA, Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Award in Religious Education are taught by distance learning. For each module, students are given access to an online study guide, written by members of the course team. The study guide contains links to selected articles and book chapters, some written by the course team. Students also have access to electronic resources including ebooks and journal articles via the library website.
Students study one unit or block of work per week, and normally cover one module in 12 weeks. Students are given close guidance by the study guides, and they complete short activities each week which are emailed to tutors for comment and feedback. Towards the end of the module, each student selects or designs an assignment title that meets their professional needs. Guidance is given on writing the assignment, and a plan can be emailed to tutors for comment.
Library and IT Support
Full details of the Library's services and resources are available from the Library's website. It is possible to access the library catalogue, e-journals, some on-line books and on-line databases from off campus. On-line databases give details about journal articles. Useful databases for Education include the British Education Index, ERIC and Sociological Abstracts. A full list of useful databases for Education is given from the Library's Key Electronic Resources pages for Education. The Off-Campus Access page gives details of the user names and passwords that are needed for accessing electronic resources.
The Library operates a postal loan service, where for the cost of postage, any standard loan book can be requested for loan. Additionally the library uses flexible loan parameters for all part-time students, so that three day loan material can be borrowed for a week. The Library is a member of the SCONUL Access reciprocal borrowing scheme which means that it is possible for distance learning students to join academic libraries in their locality.
Do I have to attend the University?
There is an annual consultation day held at the University of Warwick on a Saturday in June. Home students are expected to attend. International students are invited but are not required to attend. The day provides an opportunity for students to meet one another and to meet staff and for discussion of study methods and other issues, as well as a specialist session on dissertation preparation.
THE COURSE DIRECTOR FOR THE MA AND PG CERTIFICATE & AWARD IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IS DR JULIA IPGRAVE - J.Ipgrave@warwick.ac.uk
Dr Julia Ipgrave is a leading international researcher and author in the field of Religious Education and inter faith dialogue with young people.
DAY CONFERENCE FOR MA STUDENTS 15 OCTOBER 2011
MA RE Graduate talks about her experience of the course:
