Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies - Danish

MA (Ed) programme in Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies (Danish)

Introduction

The programme aims, based on a qualifying first degree, to further develop students' knowledge and skills within the field of educational theory and curriculum studies with special emphasis on Danish.

The programme will enable students to acquire research-based:

insight into and knowledge of linguistic, literary and media didactic theories, concepts, methods and issues in their historical, sociocultural and theory of science contexts
broad knowledge of internationally rooted theories, concepts, methods and issues in relation to standard language education and learning
insight into and knowledge of Danish texts, methods and perspectives of importance for the initiation and evaluation of subject didactic decisions and initiatives and for the clarification of subject didactic problems
insight into and knowledge of the didactics of Danish as a field that deals with dynamic and complex fields of practice related to teaching, learning and the development of communicative competences
insight into and knowledge of humanistic theory and methodology of science, which enables the student to evaluate the quality and relevance of various research results.

Furthermore, the elective module Subject related educational research and development provides the basis for the student to launch, carry out and evaluate theoretically based (subject-related) educational research/development projects.

Admission

The entry requirement for students enrolling in the MA (Ed) programme in Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies (Danish) is one of the following educations:

Bachelor in Danish.
Bachelor of Education with Danish as the main subject and a bachelor project in connection with this.

The entry requirement to the supplementary programme in preparation for the MA (Ed) programme in Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies (Danish) is one of the following educations:

Bachelor of Education with Danish as the main subject.
Medium-cycle higher education programme in education with Danish as the main subject.

Structure and content

The MA (Ed) programme in Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies (Danish) has a standard duration of 120 ECTS credits (2 student full-time equivalents)

The first year of study comprises four compulsory modules, each worth 15 ECTS credits (1/4 full-time equivalent):

1. Theory of Curriculum and Didaktik (educational theory) (15 ECTS credits)

2. Literature and Reading Strategies - text and media (15 ECTS credits)

3. Text - oracy and literacy (15 ECTS credits)

4. Philosophy and Methodology in the Humanities (15 ECTS credits)

For students with a bachelor's degree who have previously studied theory and methodology of science at another university, and who wish to complete a minor subject, this module (Module 4) can be replaced by a graduate level minor programme at another university.

The second year of study comprises one compulsory module worth 15 ECTS credits (1/4 full-time equivalent), an elective module worth 15 ECTS credits (1/4 full-time equivalent) and a Master's thesis worth 30 ECTS credits (½ full-time equivalent):

Compulsory module worth15 ECTS credits:

5. Curriculum Studies in the Humanities (15 ECTS credits)

Elective modules worth 15 ECTS credits (1/4 full-time equivalent) in the second year of study.

The student chooses one of the following modules:

6a. Educational Research and Development (15 ECTS credits)

6b. In-depth study module: Danish (15 ECTS credits)

6c. International Comparative Education (15 ECTS credits)

6d. Internship (15 ECTS credits)

6e. An elective subject from another graduate (MA/MSc) programme (15 ECTS credits)

6f. Graduate level minor programme at another university (15 ECTS credits)

Student life

The student body at the MA(Ed) programmes at DPU comprises mainly Bachelor graduates with a background in teaching, educational studies, nursing or social works.

A large part of the student body consists of mature students, who have used their qualifying examination for a few years before choosing to continue their post graduate studies.

Around 4000 students, full-time and part-time are enrolled at DPU. 2/3 of the students are women.

DPU has a large library and different student facilities such as a canteen and different study areas.

The MA (Ed) programme in Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies (Danish) is offered at the School of Education, located at the campus in Emdrup in the northern part of the capital of Copenhagen and at the DPU department at the University of Aarhus.

Career

The programme enables students on a research basis to:

identify, specify precisely and evaluate subject didactic issues and indicate theoretically and empirically based possibilities and solutions. In combination with the competences acquired in Danish, this enables the student to organise, carry out and evaluate high-level teaching in the subject Danish
identify, specify precisely and evaluate the connections between decisions at different didactic levels: purposes, objectives, content, form and evaluation. This competence enables students to act as consultants in various educational contexts
evaluate - and with a relevant focus during the programme: initiate and carry out - theoretically based, (subject-related) educational research/development projects. This competence, combined with competence in didactics and a thorough knowledge of the humanistic perspective, enables students to contribute to innovation and new thinking within a broader work-related context.

Students are qualified for consultancy and for teaching, development, and management activities, including teaching at teacher's colleges and upper secondary schools, as well as to participate in research contexts on the basis of the understanding gained of research work and research ethics.

The programme may form the basis for the three-year research training programme leading to a PhD.

Further information (in Danish)