Inclusion & Special Education Needs

Overview
As contemporary societies become more heterogeneous, and as inclusive education reforms gain currency across the world, educational systems are being challenged to address some fundamental questions about teaching and learning related to the accommodation of and respect for difference.

Underpinning the movement for inclusion is a concern for social justice and wellbeing. Meeting the diverse needs of learners within today's schools, colleges and universities, is one of the most challenging and important tasks facing education today.

This thoroughly revised Master's degree is unique not only because of the disciplinary approaches it employs, but also because students study and apply an approach to wellbeing that has been developed by some of the world’s leading thinkers.

This is an approach that is internationally recognised by, for example, the UN, and whose principles are increasingly found in government policy on education and SEN, namely the Capability Approach. We are one of the very few institutions in the UK to offer this practical and ethical approach to assessing issues of SEN, equality and inclusion.

The skills you will develop include critical thinking skills and how best to be an inclusive practitioner. Importantly, this is a professionally based degree which means that you will apply what you have learned to your own professional practice whether you are a classroom assistant, SENCO or university lecturer.

Year 1
Core Modules
• Deconstructing Special Needs Education and Inclusion (20 credits)
• Social Justice in Special Needs Education and Inclusion: A Capability Approach (20 credits)
• Epistemic Injustice: The Ethics of Knowing in Special Educational Needs/ Inclusion (20 credits)
• Dissertation (60 credits)
• An Introduction to Research Methods: Children, Young People and Education (20 credits)

Optional Modules
• Understanding Children with ASD (20 credits)
• Leadership for School Improvement and Change (20 credits)
• Leadership: Theoretical Perspectives (20 credits)
• Bilingualism, Literacy and Disciplinary Literacy Development (20 credits)
• Leadership in Practice (20 credits)
• Understanding Adults with ASD (20 credits)
• E-learning: Concepts and Pract (20 credits)
• Fundamental elements of behaviour change (20 credits)
• Digital Literacy and Communication (20 credits)
• Behaviour Change in Education and Supervising Others (20 credits)
• Reflective Practice and Action Research (10 credits)
• Curriculum: Theory, Policy and Practice (20 credits)

Course Structure
Students may enrol on a full-time (1 year) or part-time (3 years) basis. Individual modules may be studied as a short course. Part-time students typically complete one or two modules per semester. Full-time students typically complete three modules per semester.

Two optional modules may be chosen from the Educational Studies (MEd) degree (except for EDU7225/7227/7228/7229/7230/7900).

The MEd is awarded to students who successfully complete six taught modules (120 CATS points) and a 15,000-word research dissertation (60 CATS points).

Exit qualifications are available: students may exit with a Postgraduate Diploma by successfully completing 120 CATS points from taught modules or a Postgraduate Certificate by successfully completing 60 CATS points from taught modules.

We've made it easy to study for a master's module as a short course. If you would like to apply for a short course, please contact the Education Secretary (ssesw@qub.ac.uk) for advice.

Graduate
A 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject discipline.

Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may also be considered if they have at least two years of professional experience in an education, training or relevant context.

Applicants are advised to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal prior to the deadline stated on course finder. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.

How to Apply
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

There are no written examinations. Modules are assessed through a written assignment of 3000 words that is informed by the student's own professional practice and experience.

1 year (Full Time)
3 years (Part Time)

Teaching Times
Evenings from 5.30pm - 7.3-pm. The evening classes run for six weeks with one Saturday workshop for each module. The Saturday workshop is timetabled for each module from 10am – 4pm.

Entry Year: 2024/25

Career Prospects
Introduction
Employment after the Course
Most of the students on this course are practising teachers in the nursery, primary, secondary sector. Students from further education and disability sectors also attend. Students take up employment, or continue to work in teaching, apply for promotion, or go on to undertake further degrees.

Employment Links
• Education
• Disability organisations
• Further and Higher Education