Academic CentreMaster's Study Programme "Education Sciences"
The programme’s accreditation date is May 15, 2020
The aim of the study programme is to promote the development and competitiveness of students' professional pedagogical, management and research competencies in the field of education, innovative and research activities, the change management and pedagogical activities and to motivate further academic growth.
The programme defines several goals:
- to promote students' research skills by integrating the latest scientific knowledge and innovative ideas in interdisciplinary contexts;
- to promote the development of students' pedagogical competence, readiness to plan, implement, evaluate and develop educational work in accordance with the learning needs of educational target groups, various abilities and prior knowledge, internal and external conditions of development of educational institutions and education system and various contexts;
- to promote the competence of students' management and leadership by implementing the change management;
- to facilitate students' participation and shared responsibility by promoting the development of a competent, responsible and motivated personality for lifelong learning;
- to encourage students' understanding of professional and academic ethics standards and their observance in practical activities.
The master's study programme ‘Educational Sciences’ is organized in two modules:
- In the short module in 4 specializations: ‘Teaching and learning for competence,’ ‘Diversity and inclusion in education’, ‘Education management’, ‘Human behaviour and education’;
- In the long module – ‘Pedagogy’ opportunity to acquire pedagogical, pedagogical leadership and research competence for students with or without previous pedagogical education.
Upon entering the programme, the candidate must make choice of which module and in which specialization the student will study.
Director of the study program:
prof. Dita Nīmante
Study secretary
Jolanta Zastavnaja
In the short module in 4 specializations:
- Teaching and Learning for Competence,
- Diversity and Inclusion in Education,
- Education Management,
- Human Behaviour and Education.
The specialization ‘Human Behaviour and Education’ will address the behavioural aspects of learners who have become relevant in education in the last decade. Educators need both knowledge and skills and competencies to understand this phenomenon and to know possible pedagogical techniques for solving behavioural issues. In the specialization, students will study various factors that affect human behaviour, as well as learn practical pedagogical solutions for the promotion of positive behaviour in the educational environment.
In the specialization ‘Education Management’ students' understanding will be developed and theoretical and practical knowledge about education management, about education policy in the state and local governments, management of organizations, leadership in education, education economics, educational work management will be supplemented.
In the specialization ‘Teaching and Learning for Competence’, students will solve the diverse problems of modern education, which are related to new challenges and changes in education policy and practice, implementation of the project “School 2030” in Latvian schools, introduction of new educational standards.
In the specialization ‘Diversity and Inclusion in Education’ will promote understanding of human diversity as an enriching factor in education. In the age of globalization and digitalisation, diversity is an integral part of daily lives. The term ‘diversity’ includes differences and similarities such as gender, age, experience, beliefs, patterns of behaviour, language, ethnicity and religion, special needs and sexual orientation.
In the long module ‘Pedagogy’ there is an opportunity to acquire pedagogical, pedagogical leadership and research competence for students with or without previous pedagogical education.
By entering the programme, the candidate must make a choice of which module and in which specialization the studies will be chosen.
Within all the specializations and both modules, it will be possible to choose Part B courses that are not directly related to the specialization. The following courses are offered:
Development of ‘Methodological Materials’, ‘Mentoring in Education’, ‘Organization of Technology Enriched Learning Process’, ‘Management Psychology’, ‘Critical Thinking Approach in Learning Process’, ‘Social Emotional Teaching’, ‘System Approach in Educational Management’, ‘Sociology of Education’, ‘Values and Human Self-Image in the Cultural Context’, ‘Intercultural Dialogue in Education’, ‘Violence in School’, ‘Assessment and Evaluation in Modern Pedagogy’.
Description of the entrance examination
Entrance examinations will consist of two parts:
- Written part. Essay on current issues and problems in education in the chosen specialization or problems in education (300-500 words);
- Oral part. Interviews during which the candidate's communication, leadership and foreign language skills are evaluated.
The right to study for a Doctoral programme.
The opportunities for further studies: in European Union programmes for mobility and cooperation in higher education, for instance, Erasmus; European Union programmes for professional development and the provision of global education, such as Erasmus +; in further education, self-study.
Job opportunities
The employment opportunities at the level of the main third, second and first group, in correspondence with the classification of professions of the Republic of Latvia.
Leaders: legislators, officials, and managers; officials of associations and foundations; administrative managers and commercial directors; Research and Development managers; production and specialized services managers; managers of children's social care and social rehabilitation services; education leaders.
Specialists: business and administration specialists, conference and event organizers.
Senior specialists: senior specialists in the field of education, academic staff of universities and other higher education institutions, vocational education teachers, secondary education teachers, primary education teachers, pre-school teachers, other senior education specialists, educational methodology specialists, special education teachers, others: music teachers, Information Technology, communications and vehicle instructors and trainers, senior education specialists, training and staff development senior specialists.
Previous education:
- previous education (in specializations "Diversity and Inclusion in Education" and "Teacher Mentor", 50 CP, 2.5 semesters for full-time studies and 3.5 semesters for part-time studies): pedagogical education - bachelor's degree or second level professional higher education with a completed programme in the amount of at least 160 CP;
- previous education (in specializations "Education Management" and "Human Behavior and Consultation in Education", 50 CP, 2.5 semesters for full-time studies and 3.5 semesters for part-time studies): 1. Pedagogical education – bachelor's degree or second-level professional higher education with a completed program of at least 160 credit points/240ECTS; 2. Bachelor's degree or second-level professional higher education in any other field with a completed program of at least 160 credit points/240ECTS and work experience or completed courses (at least 2 credit points in the amount) in the relevant field of education or scientific sector.;
- previous education (in the module "Pedagogy", 80 CP, 4 semesters for full-time studies and 5 semesters for part-time studies): bachelor's degree or second level professional higher education with a completed program in the amount of at least 120 CP.
The competition’s evaluation calculation formula: entrance examination (1 x 1000 = 1000). Additional condition for the entrance examination: a written reasoned essay on current issues and problems in the chosen specialization in education in connection with the possible topic of the master's thesis must be submitted (maximum 500 words). The minimum number of points for admission is 300.
The right to apply for out-of-competition registration in full-time studies: in 2022/2023 academic year LU professional higher education bachelor study programme ‘Teacher’, ‘Teacher of Natural Sciences and Information Technology’, ‘Primary school teacher with the right to teach one subject in primary school’, ‘Head of educational work and teacher of one subject’, ‘Preschool and primary school teacher’, ‘Pre-school teacher’, ‘Social pedagogue’ or ‘Secondary education biology and basic education biology, geography and natural sciences teacher’ graduates or second level professional higher education study program ‘Teacher’ graduates with a bachelor's or diploma thesis rating of not less than 9 (excellent ) and the weighted average mark in previous studies is not lower than 9.
Note: when applying for studies in English of a group in the specializations "Teacher Mentor" and "Education Management": English language proficiency, which is confirmed by the results of the international English language tests (listed in the General Conditions article 1.13.) or other evidence of English language proficiency corresponding to at least B2 level, or an assessment in English in a previous education certificate (mark must be at least 6 (on a 10-point scale)) or an entrance examination, except previous education obtained in English.
International student mobility - ERASMUS
Within the programme, students have got the opportunity to study for free for one or two semesters in all EU Member States, including universities in Denmark, Germany, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Portugal, Estonia and Lithuania. Students have got the opportunity to listen to lectures by visiting professors from Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, and other countries, that visit LU PPMF within the framework of cooperation agreements, to participate in LU Doctoral Schools.