Pedagogy

Graduates of the Master’s degree study programme in pedagogy have a broad knowledge in the discipline, have mastered its principles and structure, and are aware of its links to other disciplines. They are equipped with theoretical knowledge as well as the practical skills needed in jobs in institutions providing formal and non-formal education. They possess knowledge and skills in planning, implementing, and evaluating educational research. They are also ready to undertake developmental, organizational, and project activities within the education system and in out-of-school education and, thanks to the high degree of professional flexibility acquired during the study, also at a number of positions in state administration. The widely applicable skills in working with specialized texts and advanced communication competences (including competences in experiential and reflective learning) can be used in a number of jobs as well as in lifelong learning. They include especially advanced writing skills (writing specialized texts, popular science texts and journalistic writing, including grant applications) and spoken (presentation) skills.

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• characterize and evaluate theories, concepts, and methods of contemporary knowledge acquisition in educational (and related) disciplines relevant to the teaching/learning process
• characterize principal theories of teaching and learning curricular theories and theories of school
• characterize the main trends of development in European systems of education including innovative educational concepts
• understand processes, principles, and mechanisms of educational policies at the national and European level
• interpret processes of educational management and administration
• understand methodological procedures employed in educational research, propose a research project in education
• characterize various forms and criteria of internal and external evaluation and self-evaluation in educational institutions
• employ project management principles in developing and implementing educational projects
• analyse educational needs of various target groups in education and educational institutions
• use a wide range of educational methods and techniques based on experiential learning and reflective practice while being aware of their specifics; adjust these in creative ways depending on the needs of specific target groups

Graduates of the Master’s degree study programme in pedagogy will be ready to take up pedagogical work involving people of all age categories (e.g. in departments of education of city and town magistrates, in educational agencies, consultancy firms, non-profit organizations, and educational research). Their knowledge of educational theories and theories of adjacent disciplines provides them with an ability to participate in planning, implementing and evaluating pedagogical and educational activities. To this end, they are equipped with knowledge, skills, and competences acquired through the study of theoretical and applied disciplines, emphasizing the broad foundation shared by theoretical pedagogy and human sciences on the one hand, and the marriage of theory and practice in pedagogy on the other. In addition, graduates possess advanced knowledge and skills in empirical research methodology across the range of fundamental research designs.

The internships are undertaken in the field (e.g. in departments of education of city and town magistrates, in educational agencies, consultancy firms, non-profit organizations, and educational research) and within the Expert Module course, taught by experts from the field. The course has been designed to prepare students for the internships but will also support the application level of the study. All internships are supplemented with reflection blocks co-managed by internship supervisors and experts in techniques of reflection from among the teaching staff at the Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University.

The recommended length for a bachelor’s major thesis is 120 000 to 200 000 characters.

The text should keep to the one main topic expressed in the title. It should present the current state of knowledge of the topic. Source literature should be up-to-date and representative. The principal arguments should be cogent. The text should be terminologically consistent and terminology should be appropriate. The thesis should have clear conclusions.

The analysed sample and method used should be sufficiently described. A quantitative or qualitative method should be appropriately selected. The presentation of results should be understandable. The interpretation and discussions should be appropriate and correct. Tables should be done well, and be clear and understandable.

An integral part of the thesis is an illustration of data material collected (in the thesis appendix). For qualitative research, this involves the insertion of three to five pages of interview transcript or field notes; for quantitative research it involves the insertion of three to five scanned filled in questionnaires. The data must be made anonymous, i.e. actual names must be replaced by pseudonyms. Where other research procedures and methods are used, the illustration of data material collected should be consulted with the thesis supervisor.

Text: clearly and logically structured with suitable choice of chapters and meaningful linking of theoretical and application or empirical sections. Major and minor theses are written in first person singular.

Theoretical section: demonstrates the ability to work independently with a representative sample of Czech and foreign language literature, expresses his own substantiated position.

Empirical section: demonstrates the ability to understand the research undertaken, shows methodological consideration and the ability to understandably, meaningfully and clearly present the results of research.

Graduates from the Master’s degree study programme in the Department of Educational Sciences can enrol in a doctoral degree study programme in pedagogy or in andragogy (including in English).