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Language skills
required, minimum level of B2
Programme length
1 years.
Study mode
Face-to-face learning Distance learning
Application status
International students:
Students with Icelandic or Nordic citizenship:
Overview

  • Do you want to specialise in parenting and child development?
  • Are you interested in the parent-child relationship?
  • Would you like to support parents in developing their parenting skills?
  • Are you able to respect the fact that families are diverse, with differing circumstances and needs?
  • Are you looking for a short graduate programme?

The graduate diploma in parent education helps students to develop their professional skills in the field of parent education and child guidance.

The programme is offered in cooperation with the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development, which has been at the forefront of parent education and child guidance in the United States.

Programme structure

The programme is 60 ECTS and is organised as one year of part-time study.

The programme is made up of:

  • Courses in a chosen specialisation, 45 ECTS
  • Restricted electives, 5 ECTS
  • Free electives, 10 ECTS

Organisation of teaching

Teaching and examinations are in Icelandic.

Courses may be taught face-to-face or through distance learning with regular lectures and discussion periods, meaning that the programme is accessible to students living outside the capital area.

Main objectives

The programme aims to equip professionals to work with parents of all children, with a focus on diverse families, to help people become more confident in their parenting skills through education, discussions and advice on child development and parenting in a broad sense.

Other

Students who complete the diploma with a first-class grade may apply for the Master's programme in the same subject.

Applicants are required to have completed a MA, M.Ed. or MS degree in the field of educational, sociological, humanistic or completed 120 ECTS degree at level 2.1 (for example an MT degree). 

Required base for the programme:
A foundation course in psychology at university level focusing on the development of children and youths (10 ECTS). In the event that a student needs to add this course, it will not be assessed as part of the diploma study.

The 60 ECTS study programme is divided as follows: Mandatory courses (55 ECTS) and electives (5 ECTS). 

The following documents must accompany an application for this programme:
  • CV
  • Statement of purpose
  • Reference 1, Name and email
  • Reference 2, Name and email
  • Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts

Further information on supporting documents can be found here

Programme structure

Check below to see how the programme is structured.

This programme does not offer specialisations.

First year | Whole year courses
Interactive and empowering education I (UME001M)
Free elective course within the programme
5 ECTS, credits
Course Description

The course Interactive and empowering education offers an opportunity to learn practical aspects of teaching, presentation and creative work with groups. The course is open to all students of the University of Iceland – and through Endurmenntun Háskóla Íslands – also others. It is offered both in the autumn and spring term. The course organisation is such that participants take three short practical courses, each one aimed at training a specific competence within the field of teaching, presentation and facilitation (see list below) to finish this course students finish at least three such courses. 

The practical, competence courses fall into four categories and the student can take courses from all the categories or focus on one of them. 

Interactive and empowering education 

  • Professional communication in learning and collaboration
  • Activating methods for groups
  • The teacher or leader as a facilitator

Presentation of learning materials

  • Effective presentation
  • Visual presentation for meetings and education

Democratic and creative methods with groups

  • Open Space Technology
  • The Pin Point method / Moderation
  • World Café
  • Creative Problem Solving

Information technology for learning and interactivity

  • Actual technologies and methods for learning and teachng
  • Effective video conferencing
  • Creating learning materials with sound and image / video
Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Prerequisites
Attendance required in class
First year | Fall
The competent parent? Discourses on parenting (FFU102M)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
5 ECTS, credits
Course Description

In this course, discourses about the parental role will be examined. The focus will be on the societal context of the demands placed on parents, including individualization of parenting and intensive mothering. The requirements placed on parents today, such as managing school choices, after-school activities, communication between home and school/after-school programs, homework assistance, nutrition, screen time management, breastfeeding, and the demand to be an informed and conscious parent, will be explored. The origins of these requirements, their impact on parents, and their connection to contemporary ideologies such as neoliberalism, commodification, and expert discourses will be examined in a critical light. Dominant educational trends maintain that parents should act as consumers in the "education market," making school choice and participation in educational settings growing areas of research in educational and parenting studies. International and Icelandic research on parenting and how privileges and marginalization shape parents' ability to meet these demands will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on examining specific groups of people who have been classified as "privileged" and "disadvantaged" parents, connecting to theories about gender, class, origin, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Students will gain insight into parental research in the fields of critical sociology, social psychology, educational science, and theories of power and marginalization.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Prerequisites
First year | Fall
Introduction to Parenting and Counseling for Parents (FFU101M)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description

The aim of this course is to introduce students to major theories on parenting and to help them prepare for parenting education. The course will have a broad theoretical basis, in order to help students to have a wide focus on the parenting role and best practices.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Prerequisites
First year | Fall
Parent education: Supporting parents in their role (FFU301F)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description

Students will examine adult, adolescent, and parent learning and development from the perspective of their relevance for parent education. Research information and variety of theoretical perspectives will be presented and critiqued. Personal professional development will be facilitated through challenging assumptions and examining knowledge and competencies required for parent educators.

NB The course is taught both in Icelandic and English.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Attendance required in class
Not taught this semester
First year | Fall
Journalism 1 (BLF110F)
Free elective course within the programme
8 ECTS, credits
Course Description

The aim of course is to introduce to students the journalistic profession with an emphasis on reporting and producing news for different media.  Main concepts and methods in newswriting are discussed, such as news values, news gathering and news construction. Students will be trained in writing in a focused, accurate and articulate manner.  Students will get a basic training in using social media to gather and distribute content.

Assignments. Students write news stories and articles for the study program´s online news site, and at times for other news media.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
First year | Fall
Life Skills - The Self (SFG104F)
Free elective course within the programme
5 ECTS, credits
Course Description

Content: The course focuses on the theory and practice of those elements of life skills education that have to do with the self and personal skills. The course is in accordance with the Icelandic national curriculum, working towards mental health, healthy self-image and strong moral character in students. Topics include character education, experiments in living and mindfulness.

Methods: Most weeks there will be lectures and discussions. Lectures will usually be recorded before sessions and uploaded to the course website on Canvas. Students should view them before taking part in sessions. Discussions will not be recorded, but students who are not able to attend can participate by posting a blog on the course website. Students submit four assignments.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Distance learning
Not taught this semester
First year | Fall
Analysis of education needs (NAF201F)
Free elective course within the programme
5 ECTS, credits
Course Description

One of the first steps in designing learning activities for adults is to analyse and assess learning needs the potential learners might have. Recently the task of analysing and assessing learning needs has become a task adult educators have to take on in cooperation with their or their organisations clients. Companies which contact so called "learning providers" more and more expect their partners to enter into cooperation with them in order to talormake learning interventions aimed at raising the competencies of their staff.

Form of instruction: 
Blended learning: A mix of contact sessions and collaborative online learning.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
The course is taught if the specified conditions are met
First year | Fall
Marketing and adult education (NAF005F)
Free elective course within the programme
5 ECTS, credits
Course Description

Adult educators can profit from ideas and tools both from the disciplin of Marketing as well as Andragogy in order to plan and promote learning opportunities: programs and courses, for adult learners.

In this course participants will learn how to combine ideas developed within the field of marketing with similar ideas developed within the field of andragogy, when planning and implementing courses and programmes for adult learners

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
The course is taught if the specified conditions are met
First year | Spring 1
Parent-child interaction (FFU201F)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
15 ECTS, credits
Course Description

Students will analyze and critique parent-child interaction theory and research, consider implications for parent-child relationships and parents’ and children’s development, and apply this course material to professional work with families.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Attendance required in class
First year | Spring 1
Instructional design and learning processes with adult learners (NAF002F)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
10 ECTS, credits
Course Description

In this course participants learn how to design learning interventions for adults. Its main objectives are that participants can individually or with a group, design courses or other learning events for adults.

During the course participants deal with most aspects of designing, organizing and implementing learning events organized for adults, ranging from learning needs asessment through design to teaching and evaluation. However with the main focus being on the design and implementation of the learning intervention.

The course is carried out in a blended form, a mix of face to face sessions and collaborative online work.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
First year | Spring 1
Reflective dialogue in parent education (FFU101F)
A mandatory (required) course for the programme
5 ECTS, credits
Course Description

The aim of this course is to deepen knowledge of reflective dialogue in parent education (RDPED) and support students in using the approach with parents, in group settings or individual counseling. Students are indroduced to the theoretical background of the RDPED approach and the hourglass method of reflective questioning. Students will have the opportunity to use the method with a parent group and/or in an individual interview, with or without videos. Students plan a teaching practice with a group or individul parents using the reflective dialogue approach.

Language of instruction: Icelandic/English
Face-to-face learning
Distance learning
Prerequisites
Attendance required in class
First year | Summer
Radio programming and broadcasting (BLF201M)
Free elective course within the programme
6 ECTS, credits
Course Description

The goal of this course is to give students an opportunity to present their theoretical knowledge and research to listeners of the Icelandic Public Broadcasting Service (Ríkisútvarpið). Students will be introduced to public radio as a medium and trained in radio programming and in presenting theoretical material in simple manners suitable for broadcasting in public radio.

Language of instruction: Icelandic
Face-to-face learning
Prerequisites
Attendance required in class
First year
  • Whole year courses
  • UME001M
    Interactive and empowering education I
    Elective course
    5
    Free elective course within the programme
    5 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    The course Interactive and empowering education offers an opportunity to learn practical aspects of teaching, presentation and creative work with groups. The course is open to all students of the University of Iceland – and through Endurmenntun Háskóla Íslands – also others. It is offered both in the autumn and spring term. The course organisation is such that participants take three short practical courses, each one aimed at training a specific competence within the field of teaching, presentation and facilitation (see list below) to finish this course students finish at least three such courses. 

    The practical, competence courses fall into four categories and the student can take courses from all the categories or focus on one of them. 

    Interactive and empowering education 

    • Professional communication in learning and collaboration
    • Activating methods for groups
    • The teacher or leader as a facilitator

    Presentation of learning materials

    • Effective presentation
    • Visual presentation for meetings and education

    Democratic and creative methods with groups

    • Open Space Technology
    • The Pin Point method / Moderation
    • World Café
    • Creative Problem Solving

    Information technology for learning and interactivity

    • Actual technologies and methods for learning and teachng
    • Effective video conferencing
    • Creating learning materials with sound and image / video
    Face-to-face learning
    Prerequisites
    Attendance required in class
  • Fall
  • FFU102M
    The competent parent? Discourses on parenting
    Mandatory (required) course
    5
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    5 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    In this course, discourses about the parental role will be examined. The focus will be on the societal context of the demands placed on parents, including individualization of parenting and intensive mothering. The requirements placed on parents today, such as managing school choices, after-school activities, communication between home and school/after-school programs, homework assistance, nutrition, screen time management, breastfeeding, and the demand to be an informed and conscious parent, will be explored. The origins of these requirements, their impact on parents, and their connection to contemporary ideologies such as neoliberalism, commodification, and expert discourses will be examined in a critical light. Dominant educational trends maintain that parents should act as consumers in the "education market," making school choice and participation in educational settings growing areas of research in educational and parenting studies. International and Icelandic research on parenting and how privileges and marginalization shape parents' ability to meet these demands will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on examining specific groups of people who have been classified as "privileged" and "disadvantaged" parents, connecting to theories about gender, class, origin, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Students will gain insight into parental research in the fields of critical sociology, social psychology, educational science, and theories of power and marginalization.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
  • FFU101M
    Introduction to Parenting and Counseling for Parents
    Mandatory (required) course
    10
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    10 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    The aim of this course is to introduce students to major theories on parenting and to help them prepare for parenting education. The course will have a broad theoretical basis, in order to help students to have a wide focus on the parenting role and best practices.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
  • FFU301F
    Parent education: Supporting parents in their role
    Mandatory (required) course
    10
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    10 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    Students will examine adult, adolescent, and parent learning and development from the perspective of their relevance for parent education. Research information and variety of theoretical perspectives will be presented and critiqued. Personal professional development will be facilitated through challenging assumptions and examining knowledge and competencies required for parent educators.

    NB The course is taught both in Icelandic and English.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
    Attendance required in class
  • Not taught this semester
    BLF110F
    Journalism 1
    Elective course
    8
    Free elective course within the programme
    8 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    The aim of course is to introduce to students the journalistic profession with an emphasis on reporting and producing news for different media.  Main concepts and methods in newswriting are discussed, such as news values, news gathering and news construction. Students will be trained in writing in a focused, accurate and articulate manner.  Students will get a basic training in using social media to gather and distribute content.

    Assignments. Students write news stories and articles for the study program´s online news site, and at times for other news media.

    Face-to-face learning
    Prerequisites
  • SFG104F
    Life Skills - The Self
    Elective course
    5
    Free elective course within the programme
    5 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    Content: The course focuses on the theory and practice of those elements of life skills education that have to do with the self and personal skills. The course is in accordance with the Icelandic national curriculum, working towards mental health, healthy self-image and strong moral character in students. Topics include character education, experiments in living and mindfulness.

    Methods: Most weeks there will be lectures and discussions. Lectures will usually be recorded before sessions and uploaded to the course website on Canvas. Students should view them before taking part in sessions. Discussions will not be recorded, but students who are not able to attend can participate by posting a blog on the course website. Students submit four assignments.

    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
  • Not taught this semester
    NAF201F
    Analysis of education needs
    Elective course
    5
    Free elective course within the programme
    5 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    One of the first steps in designing learning activities for adults is to analyse and assess learning needs the potential learners might have. Recently the task of analysing and assessing learning needs has become a task adult educators have to take on in cooperation with their or their organisations clients. Companies which contact so called "learning providers" more and more expect their partners to enter into cooperation with them in order to talormake learning interventions aimed at raising the competencies of their staff.

    Form of instruction: 
    Blended learning: A mix of contact sessions and collaborative online learning.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    The course is taught if the specified conditions are met
    Prerequisites
  • NAF005F
    Marketing and adult education
    Elective course
    5
    Free elective course within the programme
    5 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    Adult educators can profit from ideas and tools both from the disciplin of Marketing as well as Andragogy in order to plan and promote learning opportunities: programs and courses, for adult learners.

    In this course participants will learn how to combine ideas developed within the field of marketing with similar ideas developed within the field of andragogy, when planning and implementing courses and programmes for adult learners

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    The course is taught if the specified conditions are met
    Prerequisites
  • Spring 2
  • FFU201F
    Parent-child interaction
    Mandatory (required) course
    15
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    15 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    Students will analyze and critique parent-child interaction theory and research, consider implications for parent-child relationships and parents’ and children’s development, and apply this course material to professional work with families.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
    Attendance required in class
  • NAF002F
    Instructional design and learning processes with adult learners
    Mandatory (required) course
    10
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    10 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    In this course participants learn how to design learning interventions for adults. Its main objectives are that participants can individually or with a group, design courses or other learning events for adults.

    During the course participants deal with most aspects of designing, organizing and implementing learning events organized for adults, ranging from learning needs asessment through design to teaching and evaluation. However with the main focus being on the design and implementation of the learning intervention.

    The course is carried out in a blended form, a mix of face to face sessions and collaborative online work.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
  • FFU101F
    Reflective dialogue in parent education
    Mandatory (required) course
    5
    A mandatory (required) course for the programme
    5 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    The aim of this course is to deepen knowledge of reflective dialogue in parent education (RDPED) and support students in using the approach with parents, in group settings or individual counseling. Students are indroduced to the theoretical background of the RDPED approach and the hourglass method of reflective questioning. Students will have the opportunity to use the method with a parent group and/or in an individual interview, with or without videos. Students plan a teaching practice with a group or individul parents using the reflective dialogue approach.

    Face-to-face learning
    Distance learning
    Prerequisites
    Attendance required in class
  • Summer
  • BLF201M
    Radio programming and broadcasting
    Elective course
    6
    Free elective course within the programme
    6 ECTS, credits
    Course Description

    The goal of this course is to give students an opportunity to present their theoretical knowledge and research to listeners of the Icelandic Public Broadcasting Service (Ríkisútvarpið). Students will be introduced to public radio as a medium and trained in radio programming and in presenting theoretical material in simple manners suitable for broadcasting in public radio.

    Face-to-face learning
    Prerequisites
    Attendance required in class

The timetable shown below is for the current academic year and is FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

Changes may occur for the autumn semester in August and September and for the spring semester in December and January. You will find your final timetable in Ugla when the studies start. Note! This timetable is not suitable for planning your work schedule if you are a part-time employee.




Additional information

The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.

Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.

Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.

This qualification may open up opportunities in:

  • Preschools
  • Compulsory schools
  • Upper secondary schools
  • Healthcare institutions
  • Social institutions
  • Religious institutions

This list is not exhaustive

The organisation for students of pedagogy and education studies at UI is called Tumi. Tumi organises workplace tours, annual galas, pub quizzes and end-of-exams parties. Tumi works with other student organisations at the School to put on several joint events. Tumi also advocates for members and is there to advise students.

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