Professional Studies (MSc - Postgraduate Diploma - Postgraduate Certificate)
ObjectivesThis programme is designed for those in professional occupations who wish to extend their personal and professional development by exploring their own professional practice and/or professional context from a critical, analytical perspective. It provides the opportunity to integrate workplace practice and academic theory, and to undertake a workplace project. With its emphasis on professional practice and development, the programme supports professionals in reflection on their own practice and in the development and refinement of appropriate conceptual models.
Entry requirementsEntry requirements Good first degree or other relevant qualifications. Appropriate level of professional expertise.
Course descriptionThe MSc consists of four 30-credit modules and a 60-credit workplace
research project (180 credits in total). The modules are:
The Nature of Professional Expertise: provides an opportunity to critically appraise models of professional expertise and relate these to professional practice.
Models of Professional Learning: explores models of professional learning and is designed to support you in becoming consciously evaluative of your own approach to professional learning.
Exploring Transdisciplinarity: the concept of transdisciplinarity originated with Gibbons’ Mode 2 knowledge, which is defined as knowledge produced in the context of application. This module will enable you to critically engage with the debate regarding the nature of transdisciplinary knowledge.
Research in Practice: provides an opportunity to engage with the issues encountered when planning to research the workplace, and to consider the epistemological challenges that can be encountered in this process.
The Postgraduate Certificate is gained after successful completion of two modules (60 credits in total), and the Postgraduate Diploma after successful completion of four modules (120 credits in total).
Assessment
There is a wide range of assessment methods across the modules, including essays, reports, presentations, a project plan and detailed research project report.