MA (Early Childhood Studies)

Course Overview

The Masters of Arts (Early Childhood Studies reflects evolving understandings of early education, childhood, family life, play and pedagogical philosophies as they inform practice and policy development in the Early Childhood Education and Care field. Students will engage with contemporary, post-structural and critical theories, as they explore evolving policy, social research and integrated working as well as professional leadership and practice. Cutting across all modules and underpinning the ethos of the course is a children’s rights perspective, facilitated through a strong reflective element. Students are supported to analyse, critique and challenge dominant discourses within the practice and policy environment. Reflection will facilitate an interrogation of the knowledge(s, skills and values the student brings to their studies, and later practice, as well as support analysis of on-going developments in ECEC, in Ireland and internationally. This programme will draw from leading theory, research, policy and practice, at advanced levels in the early childhood education and care field.

Areas of study include:

• Historical examination of childhood and family life
• Contemporary understandings of play, pedagogy and early learning
• Working in trans and inter-disciplinary contexts and styles
• Developing knowledge, values and skills related to leadership, mentorship and family support through ECEC
• Developing critical research skills, including the involvement of key stakeholders, such as young children and families, in empirical research studies
• Bringing a child’s rights and child safeguarding lens to all areas of the course.

The aim of this course is to provide an opportunity for professionals working in the early years sector, in complimentary professions, or those with an interest in early childhood education and care, to extend their knowledge, skills and abilities through post graduate study at an established University, delivered in flexible and accessible manner.

Early Childhood Education and Care is a dynamic, progressive, well-developed field of academic study and professional practice, with a rich scholarly and research tradition. Graduates of this Level 9 Masters’ Degree are well positioned to take up leadership roles, associated with the rapidly evolving support, development, mentoring, inspecting and research elements of the field. These roles are realized through increasing state investment to enhance the quality of early educational provision, through the establishment of underpinning supports and services.

Applicants will require a NQF Level 8 degree, Second Class Honours (2:1) in early childhood education and care, in early childhood studies, in children’s studies, child, youth and family studies, social care, psychology or a cognate discipline.

Applicants should have a minimum of 2 years of professional/voluntary (or a combination) of experience in a child-related work setting. This may include, but is not limited to, regulated early years settings, after-school services, community services, voluntary groups (i.e. clubs/sports/arts groups) etc.

Where applicants do not meet the formal academic requirements for entry, they can apply for entry through the University’s Recognition for Prior Learning Policy.

Past graduates of this MA course are well-positioned to undertake leadership roles across the early childhood education and care field in Ireland and abroad. The Department of Children (DCEDIY) recognises graduates of this MA Early Childhood Studies as meeting Qualification Requirements for Role of Graduate Lead Educator in regulated early years services, for all related funding and inspection criteria. Graduates of this course are similarly recognised for management positions in regulated early years services.

This course prepares graduates to undertake many of the emerging roles in the Irish ECEC field, as follows:

• Graduates are ideally suited to roles as mentors and development officers, with agencies such as Pobal – Better Start and local County Childcare Committees.
• Educational roles such as tutoring at ETBs, SOLAS, or technological universities are also popular
• Department of Education Inspectors, and Tusla Early Years Inspector positions, are well suited to graduates of this course.
• Graduates of this MA have taken on family support and community development roles, with a variety of state and semi-state agencies, underpinned by their child-rights and strength-based perspectives.
• The opportunity to delve into the area of social research in this course, developing research knowledge and skills, creates graduates with the expertise to contribute to the research arena, in researcher positions, and/or as policy analysts.