Programme summary for B A (Hons) Education and Community Development by distance learning

About the programme

This degree is designed to help you understand the educational system. It will give you a strong, thorough foundation – whether that’s for immediate employment, professional or further academic study. The combination of modules has been specifically designed to address the diverse and plural nature of communities. This course takes a broad view of education as a process. After all, learning takes place in many situations, and various people, organisations and social institutions have influence over it. On your course you’ll also gain the knowledge, skills and understandings needed for successful citizenship. Once you’ve successfully completed the Education and Community Development degree you’ll have the personal and intellectual qualities needed for a career in school teaching, employment within the community or PCET training. If you’re interested in school teaching, the degree could lead to the one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in primary years. But this is a degree that can also be valuable in areas outside teaching, too.

Programme structure

A typical full-time student will take six 20-credit modules per year, but you may choose to take much less than this. To graduate as an honours degree student you will need to have completed 120 credits at level one, 120 credits at level 2 and 120 credits at level 3.

It is also possible to study Education and Community Development in combination – joint, major or minor – with another programme.

Career opportunities

Successful completion of the Education and Community Development degree programme will equip you with the necessary personal, intellectual and presentational qualities to proceed either to a suitable career in school teaching or in employment within the community and / or training.

CPD or Continuing Professional Development is the means by which members of professional associations maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives. As Modules within this programme are available for study individually this will meet the needs of those seeking further qualification in their chosen field.

Support

On enrolment, you will be provided with an induction pack containing all the information you need to prepare you for your studies. UEL has a team of dedicated Distance Learning Student Advisors who will be the first point of contact for all non-academic support matters. The Distance Learning Student Advisors will:

welcome you by email, and provide advice on how to log to UEL Plus (the virtual learning environment) and Connecting UEL (the Resource & Community site)
work with you in conjunction with your academic tutor to agree a study programme, discuss your progress and remind you about deadlines
explain university procedures and policies
help you plan for assessments and exams and provide advice on time management
help you determine which university Award suits your career or personal needs
refer you to the best learning and support resources including dyslexia and disability support and career advice.

In addition all distance learning students receive academic support from course tutors. Tutors will communicate with you via UEL Plus (the virtual learning environment). Support is also available via the Learning Resource Centre where there are dedicated librarians and the ‘ask a librarian’ feature. Peer support is very important and you will find a broad range of opportunities to build networks and exchange ideas with other students via our online communities.

Admission

Entry to Level 1 or the Full Programme

To enrol on the first Level or the Full Programme you must normally hold 200 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.

Entry on a Modular Basis

If you do not hold the required tariff points for Level 1 or Full Programme entry, studies will be permitted on a modular basis, following a guidance interview with a student advisor.

In order to be able to complete this programme, a good level of English is required. The IELTS requirements for all distance-learning programmes are a minimum of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in both reading & writing (and a minimum of 5.0 in listening & speaking). Where English is not your first language, you may be required to provide a written example of your work in order to ensure your suitability for the programme.

Overseas students should be aware that all exams MUST be taken in the UK at one of our approved exam venues. Students should also be aware that they are expected to cover all costs in attending the exams.

Accredited Certified Learning (ACL)

You may be able to gain admission to the programme with advanced standing. If you think that you could be entitled to ACL, you will be asked to submit the following evidence: