MA/MSC Professional Practice (Health, Social Care, Public and Community Sectors)

Overview & facilities

This masters degree is a highly flexible, practice-based qualification for professionals working across a wide range of  public and community services in health, social care and associated sectors.  It has been developed especially to allow you to continue working and integrate your professional expertise with academic learning.

The course enables you to customise your own study, award title and work- based projects.  Where appropriate, this can be done in partnership with your employer in support of their organisational objectives.

Benefits

The work-based nature of this course means that it has a number of unique benefits:

• It recognises and builds on your existing CPD and work projects.
• It promotes your professional development and higher level capabilities.
• You will benefit from the  support of your academic adviser, workshops, online resources and communities of practice.

Content & modules

As this masters course is designed to meet your professional development needs, and those of your organisation, it will usually include four kinds of modules: Review of Learning; Professional Development Practitioner Inquiry; and Negotiated Work Based Learning Projects. Typically MA/MSc courses are constructed to include a combination of these modules. Where appropriate it may be possible to include other Middlesex University Subject-based Modules or Middlesex University accredited CPD

Review of Learning 10 credits @ level 7
The Review of Learning is a distinctive feature of work based learning and is made up of two parts. It is a dynamic process of identifying, analysing, and reflecting on your learning to date.  The first part is a reflective essay wich accouts for the 10 credits. The second part is the process of develop and present a portfolio that demonstrates your prior learning. This portfolio is assessed for academic credit that can then be recognised as part of your study course. This can be up to 70 credits, consequently reducing the overall length of time and number of modules you are required to complete. In addition, this process will enable you to recognise and evaluate your existing work-based knowledge and skills as a platform for further professional development.

Professional Development 10 credits @ level 7
Professional Development modules are designed to both introduce and develop the knowledge and skills required to engage in the negotiated work-based learning process. They are also designed to enable you to create a professional development plan and course agreement. This will define the focus of your studies including your proposed work-based projects and will be agreed in negotiation with your Academic Adviser and your employer (or other relevant party). These modules will also inform your plans for post course professional development and career enhancement.

Practitioner Inquiry 30 credits @ level 7
These modules are designed to enable you to learn about, and experiment with, methods of inquiry to inform your own work or professional practice. Module activities will enable you to gain inquiry-related skills including critical analysis, evaluation and appraisal. These skills help you to select, develop and apply appropriate methods of work-based inquiry to your work-based projects.

This could include:

• Analysis of the context in which a project is being undertaken including your role and position as worker/researcher and the ethical implications that arise from this.
• Devising and applying real-time work-based activity development processes.  
• Critical appraisal of research/professional literature, organizational or national policy, professional standards or directives.
• Appropriate inquiry methodologies and approaches to data in relation to the specific contexts of your work/practice.
• Engagement with professional practice networks to inform the development and application of inquiry methods.

Negotiated Work Based Learning Projects 10 – 60 credits @ level 7
Negotiated Work Based Learning Project modules are designed to address real-life work or professional practice issues and are designed to improve or inform areas of your own or others’ practice. The work undertaken can take a variety of forms relevant to your work and is negotiated with your academic adviser and your employer (or other relevant party) in order to be benefit your organisation. Projects may also generate creative solutions to work-based issues or problems and so provide the opportunity to create new ways of thinking about particular areas of work or professional practice. All MA/MSc courses must contain a major (60 credit) Negotiated Work Based Learning Project module.

Entry & applying

Applicants will need to be engaged in paid (or unpaid) work and/or professional practice prior to and during their proposed course of study. This is because your work/professional practice will become the subject of your studies. Typically, applicants will have an undergraduate degree or similar, however experienced practitioners without formal qualifications may be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss course options with a member of the School of Health & Social Sciences Work Based Learning team.  This will give you the opportunity to explore the course's benefits in the context of your career history and aspirations. They will be able to explain the course in detail and help you form a realistic picture of your likely workload. I

lf you have undertaken previous certificated learning, we can advise you as to whether any academic credits could be recognised in your course from prior learning at work as well as other existing professional achievements. This will result in a course estimate, which will give you a rough guide as to the likely level of commitment required in both study time and fees.

To contact the Health and Social Sciences Work Based Learning team or to obtain an application pack, please contact our admissions on email: wbsadmissions@mdx.ac.uk   or phone: 0208 411 6301/6012

Fees & funding

The fee for MA/MSc Professional Practice Health, Social Care, Public and Community Sectors for the academic year 2012/13 is as follows:

UK/EU Students

£50 per taught credit

International Students

£65 per taught credit

Careers & placements

Professional Practice courses at Middlesex are specifically designed to enhance your effectiveness as a practicing professional at work in your chosen field.

You will have the opportunity to gain a qualification that is directly relevant to your field. The work-based projects you complete will also make a significant contribution to the achievement of your organisation’s work objectives. Combined, these benefits provide a powerful stimulus to career development and enhancement in your professional area.