Career Development (top-up) MA

Program Overview

The MA Career Development (top-up) enhances critical thinking and employability for professionals in career development roles. Delivered via blended learning, it includes a dissertation or service evaluation, equipping students with research and analytical skills. Accredited by the Career Development Institute, this program promotes career progression and professional advancement.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MA Career Development (top-up) is designed for holders of a Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance, Career Education or Career Development to top up their qualification to a full master’s degree. The program focuses on enhancing critical thinking skills and employability through a dissertation or service evaluation. It is ideal for those already employed in career development or related roles seeking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or those wanting to increase their qualifications for career progression or change. The program offers a broad spectrum of contemporary thinking and debate within the field, developing skills to make a positive contribution to the sector and the profession.

Outline:

The program consists of one module:

• Research Methods and Dissertation/Service Evaluation (60 credit points): This module equips students with the knowledge and skills required to undertake critical and ethical research in the field of career development professional practice.
Emphasis is placed on practitioner-based research, with a key feature being researcher reflexivity in relation to values and ethical issues. The service evaluation enables students to reflect on real-world concerns of professional organizations.

Assessment:

The course is assessed wholly via a dissertation, which includes a literature review and primary research project or service evaluation. To support the development of the academic journey, students complete a mini literature review and present their research ideas and plan. Although these activities do not contribute to the final grade, they receive formative and supportive feedback to help build ideas and enhance academic skills.

Teaching:

The program utilizes a blended learning approach, comprising online seminars and teaching and learning activities, and face-to-face workshop days at the University. A key feature of the blended learning experience is that, although students are at a distance from the University's campus, they can learn from each other and the tutors in a supportive environment. Students are also allocated a supervisor for their research project/service evaluation to help develop ideas and guide them through the process. Face-to-face input takes place at three compulsory workshop days and seminars, timetabled at appropriate stages of learning. A range of teaching and learning methods are used, including:

• Workshops
• Scheduled weekly online activities
• Online group seminars
• Individual online tutorials
• Interactive or group learning (face-to-face and online)
• Practical application of critical thinking and research skills
• Independent study
• Individual online supervision

Careers:

It is widely recognized that a master's degree enhances employability and potential earnings. Students may already be employed within the careers/employability sector while studying the top-up, and the range of jobs they progress to are varied and include the roles outlined in the CDI's Career Professionals in the 21st Century – A Blueprint of Learning Outcomes for Professional Roles in the UK Career Development Sector. The Employability team works closely with students at every stage of their career planning, providing personal support and advice. This service is available during studies and for up to three years after completing the course.

Other:

The program is accredited by the Career Development Institute (CDI). Students can become a Student Member of the CDI at the start of the course.

Study routeHome (UK) students Masters (60 credit top up) Distance Learning £2540 Masters (60 credit top up) Distance Learning £5,300