Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education - School Years 4-6 240 credits

Scope

The degrees of Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education with a specialisation in teaching in early years classes and grades 1-3 of the compulsory school and Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education with a specialisation in teaching in grades 4-6 of the compulsory school are second-cycle qualifications awarded after the student has completed the courses required to gain 240 credits.

Outcomes

For a Degree of Master or Arts in Primary Education the student shall demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to work autonomously as a primary teacher in the specialisation for which the qualification is awarded. The student shall also demonstrate knowledge and skills for other forms of teaching for which the degree, pursuant to the applicable regulations, qualifies him or her.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education, regardless of specialisation, the student shall:

• demonstrate the knowledge about the children´s development, learning, needs and circumstances required for professional practice
• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of social relationships, conflict management and leadership, and
• demonstrate knowledge of the organisation of the school system, relevant regulatory documents, syllabus theory and different educational and didactical perspectives as well as knowledge of the history of the school system.

For a Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education with a specialisation in teaching in early years classes and grades 1-3 and 4-6 of the compulsory school the student shall also

• demonstrate the subject knowledge, including awareness of current research and development work, required for professional practice
• demonstrate the knowledge of didactics and subject didactics including methodology required for teaching and learning in the specialisation or specialisations for which the qualification is awarded as well as for professional practice in other respects
• demonstrate specialised knowledge of the fundamental acquisition of reading, writing and mathematical skills and of communicative and linguistic development in children
• demonstrate awareness of practical and aesthetic learning processes, and
• demonstrate knowledge of the theory of knowledge and qualitative and quantitative research methods as well as the relationship between the disciplinary foundation and proven experience and its significance for professional practice.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education, regardless of specialisation, the student shall:

• demonstrate specialised capacity to create conditions in which all pupils can learn and develop
• demonstrate the capacity to take advantage of the knowledge and experiences of pupils to stimulate the learning and development of every pupil
• demonstrate the capacity to plan, implement, evaluate and develop teaching and educational processes individually and together with others in order to stimulate the learning and development of every pupil in the best way possible
• demonstrate the capacity to identify and, in cooperation with others, meet pupils’ special educational needs, including special educational measures for pupils with neuropsychiatric disorders
• demonstrate the capacity to observe, document and analyse their pupils´ development and learning in relation to educational objectives and to inform and cooperate with pupils and their caregivers
• demonstrate the capacity to communicate and instil core educational values, including human rights and the fundamental democratic values
• demonstrate the capacity to prevent and restrain discrimination and other forms of harassment of children
• demonstrate the capacity to respect, communicate and instil a gender equal and equal rights perspective in educational processes
• demonstrate the capacity to communicate and reflect on issues relating to identity, sexuality and relationships
• demonstrate communicative capacity in listening, speaking and writing to support educational processes
• demonstrate the capacity to use and evaluate textbooks, other teaching materials and teaching tools
• demonstrate the capacity to use digital aids assuredly and critically in educational processes and to take into account the significance of the role of different media and digital environments in this respect, and
• demonstrate the capacity to acquire during educational processes skills that are valuable for professional practice.

For a Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education with a specialisation in teaching in early years classes and grades 1-3 of the compulsory school or a specialisation in teaching in grades 4-6 of the compulsory school the student shall:

• display enhanced capacity to benefit from, systematise and reflect critically and autonomously on personal experience, the experience of others and relevant research findings and thereby contribute to professional development and the formation of knowledge in the field of professional practice, and
• demonstrate the capacity to apply the didactics and subject didactics including methodology required for teaching and learning in the specialisation or specialisations for which the qualification is awarded as well as for professional practice in other respects.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education the student shall:

• demonstrate self-awareness and the capacity for empathy
• demonstrate the capacity to adopt a professional approach to pupils and their caregivers
• demonstrate the capacity to make assessments in educational processes on the basis of relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects with particular respect for human rights, especially children´s rights according to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and sustainable development, and
• demonstrate the capacity to identify the need for further knowledge and to develop his or her own skills in pedagogical practice.

Independent project (degree project)

A requirement for the award of a Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education with a specialisation in teaching in early years classes and grades 1-3 of the compulsory school or a specialisation in teaching in grades 4-6 of the compulsory school is completion by the student of an independent project (degree project) for at least 30 credits or two such projects for at least 15 credits in one or two of the subjects studied within the different specialisations.

Miscellaneous

The degree certificate shall state clearly which specialisation the student has completed and which teaching subject or subjects the qualification comprises.

Degree of Master of Arts in Primary Education

General entry requirements for higher education in Sweden and courses corresponding to the following Swedish Upper Secondary School courses:

• English 6
  
• Science studies 1b or 1a1+1a2
  
• Social studies 1b or 1a1+1a2
  
• Mathematics 2a or 2b or 2c