MA/MSc Open

Modules

To gain this qualification, you need 180 credits. There are two routes through this qualification.

Route 1: You can study 180 credits and specialise within one of the following broadly related study areas:

• Arts, Humanities, Music and Language (Group 1)
• Education, Psychology, Health Science and Healthcare (Group 2)
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Group 3)
• Business, Finance, Human Resources and Law (Group 4)

Route 2: You can choose to study a minimum of 120 credits within one study area (designated as your area of specialism for the masters), and take up to 60 credits from any other study area, including:

• Further professional development module options (Group 5)

Some restrictions or pre-requisites may apply to certain modules within the programme. You should refer to individual module entry requirements and module descriptions to ensure that you are adequately prepared before your register for this qualification.

To help you plan your studies on this qualification we strongly advise that you use this Study Plan to map a route through the MA/MSc Open that best suits your educational and career objectives within the required time limit. The purpose of the Study Plan is for you to identify which modules you want to study and when they will be studied. The modules quoted in this description are currently available for study. However, as we review the curriculum on a regular basis, the exact selection may change over time. Before planning your qualification, make sure that you check the final presentation dates of your intended modules.

If you wish to change your chosen modules at any point during your studies, this will be possible providing the modules used to complete your qualification are still included in either Route 1 or Route 2, as described in the Study Plan. Further support and advice is available to help you make an informed decision about your education and future career. If you have any queries, please speak to an adviser.

Arts, Humanities, Music and Language module options (Group 1)

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A815, A825, A840, A850, A860, and A870.

Please be aware that the following modules represent foundation modules within the same subject area: A815/A893 (English/English Literature) and A825/A883 (History) A840/A843 (Art History), A850/A853 (Philosophy), A860/A863 (Classical Studies), A870/A873 (Music). Only one foundation module from each of the module pairs listed here can be counted towards this qualification.

Education, Psychology, Health Science and Healthcare module options (Group 2)

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules E805, E807,E854, E855, E891, ED841, ET821, H800, H810, H817, K827 and ME825.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics module options (Group 3)

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules M828, S807, S808, S825, T824, T825, T863, T881 and T884.

Business, Finance, Human Resources and Law (Group 4)

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B858, B859, B863 and B865.

Further professional development module options (Group 5)

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules BB844, BB847, BB848, H809, H818, H819, T835, T840, T846, T848, T862, T867, T876, T877, T878, T879, T889, TU811, TU812, TU870, TU871 and TU872.

EXAMPLE ROUTES THROUGH THE QUALIFICATION

The following example routes through the qualification and corresponding (hypothetical) student ‘profiles’ are provided here for guidance.

Student A

38-year old Museum Curator who has a bachelors degree in Fine Art and is taking this route through the qualification to deepen their historical understanding, increase their application of knowledge in their professional environment, and to develop their career prospects.

180 credits from Group 1 – Art, Humanities, Music and Language

Student B

45-year old Deputy Head Teacher who holds a bachelors degree in History and has over a decade of professional teaching experience at a secondary school, whose educational aims, linked to career development, are to develop their understanding of children and youth, online education and leadership skills.

180 credits from Group 2 – Education, Psychology, Health Science and Healthcare

Student C

54-year old Journalist who holds a bachelors degree in English and Politics with more than 25 years of professional experience, who is taking this route through the qualification for career and personal development.

120 credits from Group 1 – Art, Humanities, Music and Language

Plus 30 credits from Group 5 - Further professional development module options

Student D

32-year old Human Resource Manager who holds a bachelors degree in Psychology, whose educational aims are to deepen their level of subject knowledge, academic skills and educational awareness to support and develop their professional career.

Plus 60 credits from Group 5 - Further professional development module options 

We regularly review our curriculum; therefore, the qualification described on this page – including its availability, its structure, and available modules – may change over time. If we make changes to this qualification, we’ll update this page as soon as possible. Once you’ve registered or are studying this qualification, where practicable, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes. If you’d like to know more about the circumstances in which the University might make changes to the curriculum, see our Academic Regulations or contact us. This description was last updated on 15 March 2022.

Career relevance

This multidisciplinary programme may support a variety of career prospects in both public and private sectors, including (but not limited to) education, science, humanities, business, healthcare, journalism, public relations. However, given that your study would be self-designed the possibilities will depend on your particular choices. The degree can be used to inform or strengthen your current employment or professional practice. Alternatively, it could prepare you for many different areas, so if you are thinking of boosting your current prospects or intending to move into a new area, it would be important that you design a programme that suits your specific career needs.

This programme is intended for students with broader interests in several fields or for those whose career goals do not match fully with a single academic area or named degree. It is not a substitute for specialised training concentrating on a single area, but recognises that career aspirations and interests can extend across traditional boundaries and specialisations, and supports students seeking a qualification offering a breadth of skills and knowledge crossing traditional boundaries

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.