Young people comprise an important part of our human resource potential. An important aim of education is to enable them to maximize their potential for learning and personal development so that they can lead healthy, fulfilling and successful lives, and contribute meaningfully to society. It is important, therefore, to have an understanding of the factors that facilitate or hinder this process.
The aim of the Youth Guidance programme, therefore, is to build the social, intellectual and technical capacities of teachers and educators to help young people develop positive attitudes to self and others, become more knowledgeable about their own development, develop the skills to manage their emotions, make appropriate lifestyle and career choices, and build positive relationships. It will not prepare teachers to become full-time counsellors or guidance officers, but, rather, will enable the mainstream classroom teacher to support students in facing various challenges of everyday life, as well as in identifying and realising their fullest potential.
The minimum requirement for admission to a Taught Masters programme shall be a minimum GPA of 2.5 or a Lower Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent, unless the Campus Committee for Graduate Studies and Research in any particular case otherwise decides.
It is recommended that students applying for the M.Ed. Programmes be practicing teachers with either a B.Ed. degree (Upper Second Class Honours or higher) or a Bachelor's degree and the Postgraduate Diploma in Education.
Active leaders of youth organizations or those who work with youth are also encouraged to apply.
In instances where students do not have sufficient training in education, they may be required to take qualifying examinations or sit in on undergraduate courses.
Students enrolled in the MEd programme in Youth Guidance are required to complete eight semester courses (or the equivalent) and a research project. The courses are each worth four credits. The research project report should not exceed 15,000 words and is worth ten credits. Students are also expected to attend Graduate Research Seminars and to present their research proposal at one of these seminars. The programme runs for two years on a part-time basis.
For the concentration in Youth Guidance, the eight courses to be completed are as follows:
Postgrad Unit - School of Education
E-mail: sta-soe.pg@sta.uwi.edu; Phone: (868) 662-2002 Exts.: 82163 & 82227; Fax: (868) 662-6615
School of Education
UWI St. Augustine
Tel: (868) 662-2002 or 663-1334
ext. 82118
