Education

Director of Studies: Mr David Whitley

Number of students admitted each year: 2 to 3

University Website: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk

Introduction

Christ’s College has welcomed applications and offered places to students who wish to study Education ever since the new Tripos was introduced.  The Education Tripos is diverse and flexible in structure. In a three-year course leading to the Cambridge BA degree it combines a rigorous analysis of educational research, debates, policy and practice with study of a specialist subject.  We have found that students appreciate the breadth and depth of study on this course which, though demanding, has allowed them to continue with subjects they enjoy, as well as offering them opportunities to engage with a range of  humanities and social scientific disciplines, perhaps for the first time.

Students attend lectures and seminars both in the Faculty of Education and in the Faculty of their chosen specialist subject. Christ’s College students also have college-based teaching (supervisions) organised by the Directors of Studies in Education and in their specialist subject.

The course has been designed to appeal to students who may be thinking of a wide range of careers in areas related to education including teaching; administration in both local and national government; arts and museum education; educational journalism; activities within the community (including drama and music); educational careers within the media and politics. The emphasis throughout the course on understanding contemporary issues in society means that the Education Tripos can lead to careers in a range of other areas such as human resources and other forms of management.

For those who decide to enter the teaching profession, the degree provides an excellent preparation for going on to a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (1-year PGCE course) either at Cambridge or at another university. The Faculty of Education also offers the opportunity for further academic study at postgraduate level on full or part-time Masters courses, or by entry to the PhD programme.

The University course for the Education Tripos

Students have the opportunity to study the disciplines of Education (philosophy, psychology, sociology and the history of education), to develop an understanding of global and national concerns about education, to engage with fundamental questions about the aims and values of education and its relationship to society and the ability of education to promote social justice, and to address environmental and global concerns and economic development, while also pursuing their own specialist subject.

Subjects which can be combined with Education include Biological Sciences, Classics, English, English and Drama, Geography, History, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Physical Sciences and Religious Studies.

 Most of the teaching in these subject areas is the same as that offered to students in the relevant Faculties and Departments. In some cases, however, subject specialists from within the Faculty of Education offer lectures in their own areas of expertise, for example in Drama.

Part I

In the first year Education students take four papers, with all students taking the two foundation courses in Education Studies:

Education Studies I – Introduces the Foundation Disciplines of Education – History, Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology, looking at their contribution in three areas; childhood and adolescence; teaching and learning; culture, values and diversity.

Education Studies II – This concentrates on the development of language, communication and literacy.

The other two papers will be in the specialist subject studied alongside Education.

In the second year students take five papers:

Education Studies – All students take two papers in Education Studies, covering the four foundation disciplines of education.

            Subject Studies – All students take two further subject papers.

For the fifth paper students can choose to do either another subject studies paper or a further paper in Education Studies - a multi-disciplinary course on Education, Modernity and Globalisation.

Third year - Part II

In Part II students take a total of five papers. Part II has a flexible structure that allows students to take either all five papers from Education Studies, or to combine Education papers with those from the other subjects and 'Triposes' (more subject studies). All students write a research dissertation on an educational topic of their choosing and take at least one advanced paper from the four foundational disciplines of education (history, philosophy, psychology, sociology). The more specialised advanced papers in the education disciplines are wide-ranging, and include: Children and Literature, Creativity and Thinking, Education Inclusion and Diversity, Modern Drama.

Christ’s College has no fixed quota of places for Education.  We would normally make a conditional offer of grades A*AA at A level or appropriate equivalents in other systems.

The College will consider any combination of subjects at A-level or the equivalent for the Education Tripos but one of the A-levels must be in the chosen specialist subject. The following subject combinations have particular requirements.

For English and Drama:  an A-level in English Literature or English Language and Literature is essential; it is not essential to have a Theatre Studies/Drama A-level.

For Biological Sciences: two from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics. For Physical Sciences: Mathematics plus one from Chemistry or Physics.

At interview we wish to see, in advance, some coursework from each candidate which has been prepared for assessment at A level (or equivalent) and already marked by their teacher.

Education applicants will have two or three interviews:  one with the Director of Studies in Education, assisted by a colleague from the Faculty of Education; a second with a College Admissions Tutor; a possible third interview with the Director of Studies in the student’s chosen subject specialism.

If you are able to come to a College Open Day we will be glad to tell you more about the College and the course in person. If you are not able to come, we will be happy to answer any queries you may have that are not covered by the normal literature. Please address any such enquiries to the Admissions Tutor, Christ's College, Cambridge, CB2 3BU, or by e-mail to the Admissions Office. 

Queries related specifically to Education can also be directed to Mr David Whitley

Return to list of subjects.