Overview

Since ancient Greek times, people have debated the power of language to influence the way we see and structure our world. Our BA English in Education will harness your love of language and literature to learn about and understand education. This degree helps you to think about the use of language, the development of literacy and what it means to be educated.

Some of the most famous classic works of literature are principally about education: Mary Shelley’s famous Gothic horror story Frankenstein asks us to think about whether knowledge is a good thing and how should we help people to develop; Shakespeare’s The Tempest explores the power which education can give; Sylvia Plath helps us to think about gender and control. And modern films such as The Class and The Wave make us realise what schools could be and what they should never do.

In 2008 a GCSE examination board banned Carol Ann Duffy’s poem Education for Leisure because of its references to a young person involved in knife crime. The questions raised by this about the nature of young people in schools and what sort of educational aims and educational processes can be established are the kind of key questions you will be discussing in seminars during the course.

Why study education at York?

The BALLE programme has embraced my love of literature and language, and used it to explore education. Through the Focus of Literature stage 1 unit, I began understanding how education and language are related, then during the Creativity unit, I really understood the power and importance of language.

Laura Casela

Ten reasons to study education at York:

• Outstanding scores for teaching quality in latest National Student Survey
• 90% of the Department’s work judged to be of ‘international’ quality, more than 60% of it ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world-leading’ in most recent Research Assessment exercise.
• Four degree programmes which offer a wide range of optional module choices and opportunities for specialising your knowledge (BA Educational Studies; BA English in Education; BA Sociology and Education; BSc Psychology and Education)
• A pioneering enrichment programme which enables our students to work in a variety of educational settings, make links with future employers, and develop their academic and employability skills
• A strong sense of community, good relationships between staff and students and excellent student representation on academic matters.
• High student: staff ratio in specialist modules with classes capped to provide a good environment for in-depth discussion, interactive teaching and dialogue between tutors and students
• Many opportunities for independent study and study abroad
• An international student and staff body, which provides a range of perspectives, experiences and opportunities in teaching, learning and research
• A dynamic, student-led Education Society which organises academic, careers-oriented and social events
• Degrees provide a platform for a wide range of future careers, including publishing, media, consultancy, teaching, marketing and resource development

During your time at York you can expect to:

• Study the many aspects of education as an area of enquiry
• Identify the educational development that have shaped the current scene, and make links between the past, present and future
• See education in the wider context of society
• Understand the relationships between teaching, learning, knowledge and skills at every level
• Consider the relationship between language, literature and education
• Find support for you to build a personal employability portfolio that broadens your expertise and makes you attractive to employers

At York you will also have the opportunity to spend a term studying abroad, undertake a placement study and conduct your own report on an education service or volunteer with York Students in Schools to gain invaluable classroom experience.

Download our brochure

BA English in Education brochure 2013-14 (PDF , 225kb)

What you'll study

The degree programme falls into three stages designed to offer supported progression in both knowledge and skills. 

Stage 1

In your first year you will gain a unifying perspective on Educational Studies as a field of academic inquiry. The modules in this part of your course are based on four key themes:

• Language and Literature in Education
• Disciplines of Education
• Contexts of Education
• Skills for studying Education

Stages 2 and 3

In the later part of the course, we offer both core and optional modules. You will personalise your study by choosing modules that particularly interest you. You will also complete a dissertation in your third year, focusing on one topic of your choice and with individual support from a specialist tutor.

Your final degree result will be based on your study in this part of the course.

Below are lists of the core and optional modules available in years 2 and 3.

Stage 2

You will take modules covering educational research methods and educational policy and society. You will select two English in Education specialist modules from options including language teaching, literature and literacy in schools.

Stage 3

Core English in Education modules and units

• Empirical dissertation project and support workshops
• Synoptic

Optional modules

• Models of writing
• Drama and education
• Landmarks in British poetry
• Science, education and society
• Education and development
• Education and social change
• Mathematics and education
• Assessment and education
• Education and citizenship

How you'll be assessed

Assessment can be in a variety of forms depending on the module including:

The teaching has been really engaging, I would go as far as saying inspiring! Everyone I have spoken to has been supportive. The introductory programme has been an excellent way to get me into essay writing.

• Open examinations
• Presentations
• Reviews
• Posters
• Policy briefs
• Essays

The Department and the University Library run courses on how to write academic essays to help students who may not already be familiar with how to reference or layout an essay.

Feedback is given on all assessed work with comments on what the student has done well and how they might improve their performance. Any students who have further questions about their feedback are welcome to speak to the module tutor who marked their work, as well as their pastoral supervisor.

Other learning opportunities during your degree

York Students in Schools

York Students in Schools is a well-established volunteering programme that allows any student to volunteer in local schools, tutoring or mentoring pupils. This is valuable experience if you are thinking of taking a PGCE after studying at York, or if you would like to see what it is like in a real classroom before deciding what career to pursue after studying Education. You can also listen to three students from our Department talk about their experiences volunteering in schools.

Volunteering and enrichment programme

During the summer term of your first year you will have the opportunity to spend five weeks working on an educational project in the community. This will give you a chance to put what you have learnt so far into practice. Previous projects have included working on a children's guidebook for a local museum and working with a local charity to create learning resources for young refugees.

Placement study

You can choose to undertake a placement study in the autumn term of your second or third year. This is an opportunity for you to conduct an investigation on an education service operating in the York area, such as the youth and community education service, the provision of education in prisons or museums, or special schools. You will be required to write an academic report on your findings following the placement.

Studying abroad

If you are interested in spending some time overseas during your degree at York, we have particularly strong links with university education departments in Switzerland, Germany and Norway. In addition you can choose to study in Australia, Asia, or the United States. The typical time spent studying abroad is one term.

How you'll be taught

Our tutors use a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Group activities
• Tutorials
• Guided reading
• Online Virtual Learning Environment

Emphasis will be very much on interaction: you will be encouraged to think for yourself, to engage in academic debate and to develop and present your arguments with confidence and skill.

Our students are happy with the teaching and academic support we offer: the 2011 National Student Survey placed us in the top 10 in the country.

How you will learn

Our modules comprise a combination of weekly lectures and seminars. Each week, one of our expert tutors will advise you on how to prepare – perhaps by reading carefully selected material, exploring key issues through your own independent study and using new technologies to watch relevant media. In the lectures and seminars, you will debate and discuss the issues with fellow students and your tutor.

To help you progress and to support you with your own study you will be able to:

• Access the department Virtual Learning Environment which is an online area where students can access all of the course material at any time.
• Visit the library
• Visit a lecturer during their office hours, where lecturers welcome students to come and speak to them about the material and ask questions.
• Contact your Departmental supervisor, who is there to advise you on academic and pastoral issues at University during the entirety of your study.

Careers and employability

Education graduates enter a wide range of careers following their programmes of study at York. These include teaching, publishing, charity work, construction of learning environments, design of learning resources and more. A significant proportion of our graduates also go on to teacher training at primary and secondary levels and their first degree in Education at York enables them to continue their academic study at prestigious institutions in the UK. A number of students have also secured alternative pathways into teaching and education, including Teach First.

For further information about where our graduates go after finishing their degrees here see the Career Service’s detailed breakdown of the destinations of Education graduates from York. You can also view our graduate student profiles to see how studying Education helped their employability and where studying Education can take you.

Volunteering and enrichment programme

Our Volunteering and enrichment programme is a dynamic community-based learning experience that is designed to allow students to put into practice the knowledge that they have developed through their academic studies. Our students are community partners for a five week period in the Summer term of their first year and undertake work on a range of educational projects. Previously, students have worked on a museum guidebook which involved developing activities for children based around exhibits in the Yorkshire museum. Another project involved the creation of learning resources for young refugees in collaboration with Refugee Action York.

Personal development and employability

The Department runs a number of initiatives designed to develop your academic, personal and employability skills. Important areas such as communication, analysis of data and ideas, computer literacy, networking, time management and project management are focused on through academic modules, careers workshops, employability fairs and a unique volunteering and enrichment programme. The Department is commited to supporting graduate employability. Activities are organised to introduce our students to a range of skills, experiences and career pathways. The Department arranges for guest speakers from educational consultancies, businesses, charities, local government and schools, this providing students with numerous opportunities to seek advice, make contacts and gain inspiration. Student complete a Personal Employability Plan as they progress through the degree to record the employability skills they gain and which is then used to help guide them when making career choices.Volunteering and Enrichment programme

The University of York has a small but vibrant campus with a wide range of activities to do for leisure and to improve your CV. As a student at the university you could get involved with any of the following:

• Work towards The York Award, which acknowledges candidates who have added to their employability through extra-curricular activities.
• Get involved in the incredible array of student societies at York; from our award-winning student media to Fusion, an annual music, dance and fashion show which raises thousands of pounds for local charities.
• Compete on a friendly, college or university level in one of the university sports clubs. Each year York and Lancaster take turns to host Roses, Europe’s largest inter-university sports competition.

How to apply

We welcome applications from school leavers and mature students. We are looking for people who demonstrate a commitment to and a fascination with the study of education in its many forms.

We prefer applicants to have A level English. There is no other specific A-level requirement but we do expect applicants to be familiar with key, current debates in education and to be able to reflect on and engage critically with these. We accept General Studies.

If you intend to continue to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course after your study here, you should be aware that GCSE or equivalent passes in Mathematics and English Language and, for primary PGCE, a science, are required for all entrants to the teaching profession.

All applications must be made through the Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) using the UCAS code which can be found at the top of the page. Intending applicants should also consult the University's prospectus.

Your application form and personal statement should convince us that you have a commitment to the study of Education, the intellectual ability to study at university successfully and the organisational skills required to structure your time at university well. We are also looking for a willingness to engage creatively with tutors and fellow students in the debate about this diverse subject. Candidates who are made an offer are invited to attend a group visit. Some candidates with non-standard backgrounds may be invited to attend an interview.

Typical offers

If you are a sixth-former applying for a single subject degree programme (Educational Studies or English in Education), we normally expect you to have grades BBB or better at A level.

We warmly welcome applications from students taking BTEC, GNVQ or Access courses. Mature entry applicants are considered on merit, although recent experience of study will be an advantage.

International students

The Department of Education at York has a lot to offer for international students, including the opportunity to study at a world-class university for a degree that does not require any specific pre-entry subject knowledge.

Alongside a wide choice of course modules, there are many good opportunities for you to develop your English language skills to a high level in a supportive environment. The University of York also has a strong network of support for international students.

You may also consider staying on after gaining your BA degree to do postgraduate research for a higher degree in an area of education.

If you are uncertain about whether you would be considered for selection then do get in touch – our contact details for undergraduate applications are:

Tel: +44 (0)1904 323451          Email: educ525@york.ac.uk

Entry requirements