Special Needs Education BA

Short description

The purpose of the training is to provide advanced theoretical and methodological knowledge related to special needs education and associated scientific fields to future special needs teachers. Participants of our program will possess the skills required for special needs activities in addition to specialised and practical knowledge, which will enable them to help children, young people and adults with disabilities and impairments improve their skills and functions (cognitive, social, somatic, sensory and perceptual) and to assist them in life management, rehabilitation, environmental adjustment and social integration.

This program is recommended to applicants who are interested in people with disabilities and the possibilities of providing assistance to them, have good communication, social and creative skills and are motivated to participate in a high-quality professional training. Our training program is particularly suitable for those with high levels of empathy, good cooperation and interpersonal skills, responsibility and self-awareness.

This program enables students to interpret medical and psychological diagnoses and test results, related to disabilities within their field of expertise. Our training program enables students to apply their psychological knowledge appropriately, adapting it to the needs of people with specific disabilities. Participants will be trained to implement complex special needs diagnostics, including the use of state-of-the art diagnostic tools, and design relevant, goal-oriented special needs activities and processes on the basis of medical and psychological diagnoses and test results. When designing special needs interventions, participants will be able to combine general didactic and methodological principles with specialised educational content that is appropriate for the type of disability, adapting the process to their clients’ age, ability, attitude and socio-cultural specificities. Participants will be also trained to provide complex educational, developmental, therapeutic, preventive, habilitation and rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities cared for by institutional service provision systems, taking into account the needs, abilities and preferences of the persons they are working with. Using these skills, our students will be able to support opportunities for adjustment and improve quality of people with disabilities.

Special needs education for people with intellectual disabilities 

This specialisation prepares students for early intervention, special pre-school and school education and therapeutic assistance in the educational field. It also prepares students for the education, training and development of children, young people and adults with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities, as well as for the management of developmental and therapeutic activities for individuals and groups.

Special needs education for people with hearing impairment

This specialisation enables participants to perform complex tasks in the fields of paediatric audiology, early intervention, special pre-school and school education, inclusive education and training of children with hearing impairment, as well as in the field of rehabilitation of adults with hearing impairment.

Special needs education for people with visual impairment

This specialisation prepares students for the recognition of visual impairment, for the early care and intervention of children with visual impairment, and for special education and training in nursery, kindergarten and school settings, as well as for the employment and complex rehabilitation of adults with visual impairment.

Special needs education for people with physical and multiple disabilities

This specialisation prepares students for the recognition of various physical and motor disabilities, and for the assessment of children, young people and adults with physical/motor and multiple disabilities. Participants will be trained to provide early intervention, pre-school and school education, training, employment and physical education for children with physical/motor disabilities as well as to provide rehabilitation for adults with physical/motor disabilities.

Specialisations:

Special needs education for

• People with Hearing Impairment and/or
• People with Intellectual Disability and/or
• People with Physical and Multiple Disabilities and/or
• People with Visual Impairment

One or two specialisations can be chosen in any combination from the above listed. For launching a specialisation at least 5 applicants are required. During the application process students have to rank their preferred specialisations or pairs of specialisations. See more at point D/2.

Strength of program

The Bachelor's degree (BA) program in Special Needs Education is available as an eight semester full-time training programme with 240 credits for secondary school graduates. After a general introduction to special needs education and associated disciplines (including human biology, theory of education, psychology and arts) students continue their studies in one or two specialty fields from their third semester. In the last semester of their training the students participate in a professional practice program in institutions associated with their chosen specialisations.