Degree Programme in Primary Teacher Education, BA (Rauma) and MA (Turku)

The programme provides student the opportunity to acquire a Master level teacher education in an international context. The combination of a Finnish Teacher qualification, a major in Education and the international context make programme unique. The degree is oriented towards primary teacher education (pre-school and grades 1-6 in basic education). The programme consists of studies in educational science, practical training and studies that provide pedagogical skills required for positions in primary education.

The tuition fee of the programme is 10 000 euros per academic year for non-EU/EEA students with a scholarship system for fee-paying students.

The Bachelor's Degree studies are organized in the Rauma campus, which is located 90 km north from the main campus in Turku. Master's Degree studies are organized in Turku.

The aim of the programme

The aim of the degree programme is to educate well-qualified academic professionals, active future makers, critical and ethically responsible experts and researchers in the educational field. At the core of a teacher’s work lies the understanding and supporting of a child’s and group’s development. The dialogue between theory and practice takes place particularly during teaching practice periods, which offer a holistic view of a teacher’s work.

The objective of the programme is to develop the following areas of competence:

1. Communicative competence. Students are able to act collaboratively and are capable of communicating in different interactional situations.

2. Pedagogical competence. Students know the basics of curriculum planning and are able to plan, implement, evaluate and develop learning processes and learning environments.

3. Intellectual competence. Students have basic knowledge of education as a science and contents of the multidisciplinary subjects taught in basic education. Student base their actions and professional development on scientific thinking. Students understand the principles of the societal and cultural basics of childhood.

4. Ethical competence. Students are able to identify and analyse their actions from an ethical viewpoint and act in accordance with ethical principles.

Study programme

The major subject of the Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) is Education and the degree includes the following studies:

• general studies
• language and communication studies (including Finnish language)
• basic and intermediate studies in Educational Sciences (including Bachelor’s thesis)
• Integrated Studies of Subjects and Themes in Comprehensive School
• minor studies and/or optional studies in other subjects

The thesis for the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Primary Teacher Education degree is a Bachelor’s thesis. The students:

• search for scientific literature, determine a meaningful research question and prepare a research plan
• collect research data, analyse, and interpret it.

After completing the Bachelor’s thesis, the students master the basic skills of scientific thinking, writing, research assessment and scientific discourse. The thesis lays the foundations for investigative work as a teacher.

The major subject of the Master’s degree (120 ECTS) is Education and the degree includes the following studies:

• Advanced Studies in Education (including Master’s Thesis)
• Elective Studies

Students have to write a Master's thesis as part of the advanced studies in Education. During their Master’s thesis work, the students further develop the basic skills of scientific thinking, writing, research assessment and scientific discourse acquired during the Bachelor studies. The Master's thesis should show the student’s ability for scientific thinking, mastery of the research methods required, familiarity with the scientific literature on topic of the thesis and the ability to communicate in a scientific context.

Lähde: Opintopolku