BA (Hons) Education Studies and English

Employability

This is an ideal course for students who want to go on to a PGCE qualification. The majority of our graduates have taken this path and become successful teachers, with a responsibility for English in the primary sector or as English specialists in secondary schools.

In addition the practical engagement with personal and professional development provides a good foundation for employment in the public and private sector with graduates going on to work in journalism, publishing and the corporate industry.

The central strand of technology running through the course means that graduates will be digitally literate and have a good understanding of the design and presentation of materials for different audiences.

Content

The core first year modules lay the foundation for each subject and introduce students to current themes and debates in Education and English. This covers the key theoretical questions underpinning Education Studies as well as theory of the production and reception of literary and linguistic meaning and their combined role in the establishment of cultural value.

In Years 2 and 3 you will study specific modules on a range of canonical and controversial writings taught by academics with published research in their fields of expertise. In your education modules, you will be guided through key educational issues and research methodologies in areas as diverse as: assessment, education policy, home learning and ethics, all in the context of global social justice.

Through the course of the degree students will be encouraged to extend and apply their knowledge in modules which involve them in a range of stimulating activities and processes, leading discussions, presenting and carrying out research, undertaking placements and fieldwork, and using a range of electronic formats. Extensive use is made of technology to enhance learning, through the PebblePad ePortfolio system students use blogs, wikis and forums for collaborative learning.

Entry

180 UCAS points from A level or equivalent qualifications.

Please note that we do not accept NVQ qualifications alone and you must have an English GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent). Extensive and relevant work experience may be taken into consideration.

Entry to this course requires a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.

If you've got other qualifications or relevant experience you may still be considered. Please refer to our information on general entry requirements.

International student language requirements and application guidance can be found at www.wlv.ac.uk/international/apply

Outcomes

• be able to display a subject knowledge encompassing the underlying theories, values and principles of English and Education Studies
• have an advanced critical self-awareness and intellectual curiosity about literature, language and education in a multi-cultural and international context
• employ a range of written, oral and digital resources in the research, articulation and presentation of scholarly and academic work
• have developed a range of transferable skill intrinsic to the practice of English and Education Studies and of value to graduate employment.

Why WLV?

This course offers a unique blend of taught classes on canonical literary figures such Shakespeare, the Romantics and the great Victorian novelists together with modules that debate the continued significance of such literature within a multi-cultural and global context. This emphasis upon critical reflection and appraisal is complimented by modules examining key theoretical questions in comparative education, social justice and personal and professional development. Students will be given the opportunity to put these ideas into practice through supported placements and the realities of day-to-day learning and teaching practices.