Introduction to the Academic Master's Programs in Education

In 2006, the Education Major at Jiangnan University established a Master's program in Educational Theory. In 2011, it was approved as a first-level discipline for Master's programs in Education, accepting domestic and international graduate students. The discipline has developed a well-structured academic team with diverse academic backgrounds and strong research capabilities. The faculty team consists of 14 professors, 17 associate professors, with nearly 100% holding doctoral degrees.

The discipline has made significant contributions in various areas. It has achieved influential research in the forefront of educational theory, with original research that impacts the field. The interdisciplinary research on curriculum and teaching has demonstrated practical value. It has also pioneered theoretical and applied research in educational information technology. The discipline has distinct characteristics in regional education history and cultural studies, fruitful outcomes in psychological education and learning research, and has established a brand in integrated pre-service and in-service teacher education.

The discipline has established national-level bases for cultivating students' humanistic qualities, Jiangsu Provincial Teacher Training and Research Base, and a national training base for primary and secondary school teachers accredited by the Ministry of Education. It has developed one national-level quality course and three provincial-level quality courses. In recent years, it has undertaken over 60 national, provincial, and ministerial-level projects and received more than 40 awards at the provincial and ministerial levels. The faculty has published over 50 books and textbooks and nearly 600 research papers, including nearly 200 high-level papers indexed by SCI, CSSCI, and other databases.

Graduates from the discipline either pursue doctoral degrees or enter careers in basic education, government agencies, and research institutes. The discipline has gained recognition and praise from academia and society for its talent cultivation, scientific research, social services, and cultural innovation.

The Objectives of the Academic Master's Programs in Education

The discipline emphasizes the cultivation of professional ethics and teaching style in graduate education, highlighting the importance of moral education in the classroom, setting examples, and establishing rules. During the learning process, students are expected to have a healthy mentality and physical fitness. They are required to master rich and solid foundational knowledge in the field of education, understand the forefront of the discipline's development, and strive to become "four-capable" good teachers with ideals and beliefs, moral integrity, solid knowledge, and a compassionate heart. They should be able to flexibly apply the knowledge they have acquired to engage in scientific research or other work related to the discipline. Students should also possess proficiency in at least one foreign language and have the ability to independently engage in scientific research and teaching work.

The discipline is committed to cultivating high-level talents who love their country, abide by laws and regulations, have good conduct, and have comprehensive development in moral, intellectual, and physical aspects. These talents should have solid disciplinary knowledge, a strong sense of problem awareness, and excellent research capabilities. They should also have a passion for educational research and teaching, actively participate in educational reform practices, and possess academic pursuits and innovative spirit. Students are expected to consciously adopt moral principles in their personal lives, studies, and teaching practices, and steadfastly adhere to the path of socialist educational development with Chinese characteristics. The Master's program in Education aims to train various types of scientific researchers who can adapt to the needs of social development and educational reforms in China, as well as become backbone teachers and researchers in primary and secondary schools, and management personnel in educational institutions.

The Research Directions ofthe Academic Master's Programs in Education

1. Principles of Education

2. Curriculum and Instructional Theory

3. History and Culture of Education

4. Developmental and Educational Psychology