To ask you for advice about masters level courses

[Stopshrieking]

• Sorry I put this in Academics corner but no response so hoping to get some help from here.

Which masters programme would you advise. I am interested in social work area but in theory only and not practice if that makes sense. So I don't want to be a social worker or teacher.
I am early fifties have a BA in education studies - studied as a very mature student - 2:1 from UCL - I have worked in different sectors of social support always in administration and now work in Adoption administration. - a charity and pretty poorly paid. I am really interested in the way social work practitioners and teachers write about children and how it is interpreted by children in later years when reading their own files. I may like to work in an area that informs the practice of writing reports or policy in education if looked after children but I don't have teaching experience . And it's not the main objective. It is more an interest grounded in personal experience. Can you think of any masters level courses I could look at. I am settled in my job now - dc getting older - my job doesn't really have prospects without social work degree or experience. Which is not something I want to do. But I feel I have the capacity to study for a masters. Could you advise please on a subject that I could research that might have a masters programme attached . TIA

Is there a reason you don't want to do social work? The interest you have (re looked after children) wouldn't really be an option unless you either had some social work practice or had some specific relevant experience like being a foster carer or having been in care yourself. It's really an area where even in the academia people want any authors to have some lived experience, not to be an expert 'looking in' as that's quite disempowering. Some people do social work in order to step up into charity sector roles that aren't social work, just as it's a solid qualification for a sector where there aren't many qualifications - would that be an option? One other area could be an MA in Human Rights, but I think they either need some law background or relevant work experience.

Anything of interest here?
www.open.ac.uk/courses/social-work/all-modules

Not a Masters, but studying individual modules might enable you to pick and choose what interests you and might be useful.

I am really interested in the way social work practitioners and teachers write about children and how it is interpreted by children in later years when reading their own files. I may like to work in an area that informs the practice of writing reports or policy in education of looked after children

This is the crucial passage, yes?

It sounds a fascinating topic. I'm unsure why you don't feel able to look up possible courses yourself (and then come here to ask for other's experience of specific degrees).

Not my area so all I could do is google. But, from a position of already working in a related area, are you not familiar with the names of a handful of universities that have strong reputations for social policy research? And have you spoken to your BA tutors? Presumably one or two of them would have an idea of where to start? And that way you'd already have them on board when you need references.

Threeflyingducks yes I have personal experience of being in care and quite unusual circumstances which may out me so I don't want to allude to anything - I haven't yet dealt with the effect it's had on me throughout my life hence I'm not really equipped to deal with child protection etc etc. I am more interested in studying the areas I mentioned leading to a qualification but if it didn't lead to a job I wouldn't be too disappointed as it's really the learning and research I'm interested in.

Surely the point is that you could make a positive contribution to research and knowledge in this area?

Can you apply for a funded PhD? I'm not sure whether you even need a Masters to begin as it's part of the 3+1. Look up ESRC. Sounds fun and you'll meet some fabulous people + I urge you to go for it :)

Oh and think carefully about if you want to study what you experienced as that may be quite intense. Absolutely fine if you do but something to think about and advice I've been given during my MSc (ongoing).

I can see you've touched on it but what are your ideas about future career direction? Is it academic research and lecturing in which case the funded PhD might be something worth exploring if there were suitable institutions that wouldn't require a Masters, based on your first degree and work experience. If they require a master's, it might be worth asking them what would be suitable courses?

I also wondered if this wasn't an ideal PhD topic.

But I'm not sure the OP is confident enough in her research skills to launch straight in. I could be wrong!

What about studying public policy?

• I'm not ready for a PHD ! - I do need much more research experience. I will look at the suggestions given and contact my former tutor - Thanks again

What about Educational Psychology? Or even Developmental Psychology? I have an MSc in Psychology and having an in-depth understanding of human behaviour really does open lots of doors into lots of different sectors.

Zilla if I could work in research / policy - in education of looked after children - that would be my ideal. But it's not the main objective - studying for my own interest is the drive - so I'm not too distracted about the end career but if along the way I'm able to move into that direction and make a contribution to the polices that affect LAC then that would be amazing for me. It probably comes across a bit immature, late in life thinking, as most people have this sorted in their 20/30's but that is the reality of a large proportion of adults formerly in care.

Hey @Stopshrieking
That sounds like an interesting and relevant area. I did an MA in social work when I was 50, took two years, two 100 day placements which were very interesting, one older adults, one in MH. Friends had placements in a team like yours, and in a huge variety of settings. At the end of the MA I had an option to do a PhD but I just wanted to crack on. It is a challenging MA academically and was very satisfying to do.
Funded too, which was useful. PM me if you would like.
Best of luck

It probably comes across a bit immature, late in life thinking, as most people have this sorted in their 20/30's

Oh, OP ... Did it not occur to you that people responding to your thread might also have taken postgraduate degrees well after their 20's? Your age is pretty irrelevant - but people might want to know why you're not keen on actually using the learning you'd gain.

MA in Social Policy?

Op when I studied (social work) there were some courses that were a mix of social work and social policy which don't have placements and don't lead you to a social work qualification, that might be something to look at.
I do think though from what you've said that an actual social work MA is most likely to lead to what you're interested in (re looked after children) and while I can totally understand your reluctance I do think it's worth seeing if there's a way to remove those barriers. For example, it's possible to do an MA without having CP placements (eg having placements in fostering or adoption agencies, with charities such as barnados, or having adult placements eg with adults with learning disabilities or in mental health services)
Universities are keen to have more people who have experience of the system either in the workforce or in academia, so if the barriers are relating to that experience it's worth a discussion to see if there's anything they can adapt to enable you to study.

I know quite a few people who have done the course and used it to get into non social work jobs in education, charity sector (eg advocacy) or as a step up to PHD (which would be ideal from your description!)