Inclusive & Special Education

This course is designed to develop the skills of special education teachers who work in primary, post-primary and special school or specialist unit settings, in all aspects of theory and practice related to teaching pupils with additional educational needs.

The ethos of the course is that of maximizing inclusion of pupils while providing students with the skills and knowledge to support the most challenged and most challenging pupils within the education system within the most appropriate setting for those pupils.

It develops students’ knowledge and skills in identification and assessment of pupils with additional educational needs and in planning, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of, interventions for such pupils

This professional full-time course is delivered over an academic year, with two four-week periods of fulltime attendance at college, supplemented by attendance on four Saturdays spread throughout the year. The vast majority of students on the course are funded by the Department of Education and full substitution cover is funded by the Department of Education while those students attend college.

When not attending college, students on the course are otherwise teaching in their own schools, where they are supported by site visits from UCD tutors. The format of delivery combines lectures, tutorials, workshops and visits to other schools considered to be centres of excellence.

UCD School of Education also invites applications from self-financed applicants to complete the course.

Subjects taught

Modules:
1. Inclusive Education
2. Exploring Diversity
3. Inclusive Therapies/Approaches
4. Inclusive Pedagogy
5. Professional Practice & Portfolio Development

Entry requirements

Applicants to the Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education must be working in a Special Education Teacher role and have Teaching Council recognition

Application dates

Graduate Diploma Inclusive & Special Education FT (W424)
Duration 1 Years
Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Credits

60

Duration

1 year full-time
Mode of delivery: Face-to-Face

Fees

GradDip Inclusive & Special Education (W424) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 6695
nonEU fee per year - € 13270

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Support under the terms and conditions of the relevant annual Department of Education and Skills (DES) Circular is available to suitably qualified primary and post-primary teachers who currently hold, or are eligible to hold, permanent positions in their schools.

Enrolment dates

Next Intake: 2024/2025 September.

Post Course Info

Careers & Employability
Completion of this course will significantly enhance the knowledge and skills of Special Education Teachers and will render them considerably more competent and confident in fulfilment of their roles.

It will further the careers of Special Education Teachers in schools, enabling them to perform a co-ordinating and managerial role in relation to provision for pupils with Additional Educational Needs in schools.

It will enable SET teachers to apply for national and regional roles within the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including, but not confined to, the roles of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) and Visiting Teachers providing consultative services to schools.

Students who complete the full-time Graduate Diploma in Inclusive and Special Education W424 have the option (within 5 years of graduating) of transferring directly into Year 2 of the MEd Inclusive Education and obtaining this Masters qualification by completing one module in Research Methods and a thesis.

More details
  • Qualification letters

    GradDip

  • Qualifications

    Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9 NFQ)

  • Attendance type

    Full time,Daytime

  • Apply to

    Course provider