Education is a powerful tool that can transform the lives of children, adults, families and communities. How has education shaped your own life, for better or worse? What aspects of education have sparked your curiosity and excitement about the world?
If you study education, you will also learn about history, philosophy, psychology, politics and sociology. You will explore how education has changed the lives of people and communities in the past, and about the ways different people have made sense of education as a cornerstone of society. You will encounter different ideas about the purpose of education, what a good education looks like, and how people learn. You will learn about people, and how they think.
We are involved with education throughout our lives. Education papers investigate how education changes lives and how learning happens, and they identify and address patterns of success and failure in education.
Topics of interest:
Educational psychology (how children, young people, and adults learn)
How education systems evolve and how they function
The role of education in the lives of families, whānau and communities
The historical influences that have shaped institutions of childhood and education systems nationally and internationally
The cultural, social, and political influences on the school curriculum
Gender, disability, Māori education, ICT and research methods also feature in the undergraduate programme
The study of Education is diverse and interdisciplinary. It will give you a range of sought-after skills including critical thinking, problem solving, strong interpersonal skills, and both written and verbal communication skills.
Education at Otago
You can study towards a major in Education as part of a three-year degree programme.
In your first year, you will learn about the political, social and cultural dimensions of contemporary educational practice. You also will study lifespan development in its social context. This includes the studies of families, of cultures within New Zealand and of disability.
Beyond your first year, you’ll develop understanding of how people learn, ways of facilitating learning and how education in New Zealand has developed over time.
We offer papers that allow you to focus your studies in the following areas:
Psychology of education
Sociology of education
Pedagogy of education
Equity in education
Disability studies and education
Southland campus
The Southland campus, based in Invercargill, offers some Education papers.
Background required
There are no specific subjects you need to have studied at school in order to study education.
Degree options
You can study Education as a major or minor for a range of degrees. You may elect to do a combined degree, a double major or a double degree.
Education papers can enhance any degree, as all professionals are involved in learning.
Student exchange
The University of Otago has exchange agreements with over 100 institutions worldwide. You have the opportunity to study at an international partnership institution while paying only New Zealand fees, and completing your qualification within the same timeframe as if you’d never been away.
Career opportunities
Students with a major in Education can apply for a diverse range of jobs. Education can be an especially useful background for careers in research, policy analysis, social work, the counselling professions and many areas of public service.
Educational processes are important in almost all settings and Education graduates can have a valuable role in most organisations.
Qualifications
Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.
Either EDUC 411 Conceptualising and Designing Quality Educational Research or EDUC 412 Research Design and Methodology: Evidence-based Practice in Education
Note: Students who have not completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA(Hons)) in Education or a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts) in Education must complete the required papers for the BA(Hons) in Education prior to undertaking the thesis.
EDUC 403 Perspectives on Teaching and Learning (20 points)
EDUC 411 Conceptualising and Designing Quality Educational Research (20 points) or EDUC 412 Research Design and Methodology: Evidence-based Practice in Education (20 points)
Two 400-level Curriculum papers offered by the College of Education (worth a total of 40 points)
EDUC 591 Research Project (40 points) or EDUC 592 Professional Inquiry (40 points)
EDUC 495 Thought in Action (20 points) or EDUC 590 Professional Practice Portfolio (60 points)*
EDUC 403 Perspectives on Teaching and Learning (20 points)
EDUC 411 Conceptualising and Designing Quality Educational Research (20 points) or EDUC 412 Research Design and Methodology: Evidence-based Practice in Education (20 points)
Two 400-level Digital Technologies papers offered by the College of Education (worth a total of 40 points)
EDUC 591 Research Project (40 points) or EDUC 592 Professional Inquiry (40 points)
EDUC 495 Thought in Action (20 points) or EDUC 590 Professional Practice Portfolio (60 points)*
EDUC 403 Perspectives on Teaching and Learning (20 points)
EDUC 411 Conceptualising and Designing Quality Educational Research (20 points) or EDUC 412 Research Design and Methodology: Evidence-based Practice in Education (20 points)
Two 400-level Early Childhood Education papers offered by the College of Education (worth a total of 60 points)
EDUC 591 Research Project (40 points) or EDUC 592 Professional Inquiry (40 points)
EDUC 495 Thought in Action (20 points) or EDUC 590 Professional Practice Portfolio (60 points)*
EDUC 403 Perspectives on Teaching and Learning (20 points)
EDUC 411 Conceptualising and Designing Quality Educational Research (20 points) or EDUC 412 Research Design and Methodology: Evidence-based Practice in Education (20 points)
Two 400-level Leadership papers offered by the College of Education (worth a total of 60 points)
EDUC 591 Research Project (40 points) or EDUC 592 Professional Inquiry (40 points)
EDUC 495 Thought in Action (20 points) or EDUC 590 Professional Practice Portfolio (60 points)*
EDUC 403 Perspectives on Teaching and Learning (20 points)
EDUC 411 Conceptualising and Designing Quality Educational Research (20 points) or EDUC 412 Research Design and Methodology: Evidence-based Practice in Education (20 points)
Two 400-level Teacher Education papers offered by the College of Education (worth a total of 60 points)
EDUC 591 Research Project (40 points) or EDUC 592 Professional Inquiry (40 points)
EDUC 495 Thought in Action (20 points) or EDUC 590 Professional Practice Portfolio (60 points)*
*The EDUC 590 portfolio or EDUC 591 or EDUC 592 project must focus on the area of endorsement.
Master of Education (MEd)
No new enrolments will be accepted for this programme.
Papers
EDUC 407 Researching Educational Issues or another approved research methods paper (20 points)
Further papers worth a total of 160 points, (normally selected from those prescribed for the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Education, the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects in Education, or the degree of Master of Education)
Master of Teaching (MTchg)
No new enrolments will be accepted for this programme.
Papers
EDUC 440 Critical Analysis of Teaching or EDUC 423 Technology-enhanced Learning
Education as a minor subject for a BA, MusB, BPA, BTheol, BSc, BAppSc, BCom, BHealSc, BACom, BASc or BComSc degree
Available as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Music (MusB), Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc), Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Bachelor of Health Science (BHealSc), Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom), Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) or Bachelor of Commerce and Science (BComSc) degree
