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Programme description - Master Degree Programme in Special Needs Education
There is a choice between full-time study over 2 years or part-time study over 4 years
Degree
The Master’s degree programme in Special Needs Education leads to a Master of Philosophy in Special Needs Education. Duration of the programme is 2 years (120 ECTS credits).
Programme Coordinator
Department of Education - The Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tromsø, Norway.
Application deadline
Admission to the Master programme takes place every Autumn term and is limited to 20 students. The application dadline is 15. April
Language used on the course
Norwegian
Description of studies
The Master course programme in Special Needs Education aims at qualifying students in their development of knowledge, insight and proficiency within the field of Special Education at the individual, group and systemic level. The course consists of theoretical studies within Special Needs Education, Psychology, Culture and Ethnicity, Research methods and a Master thesis. The course is organized on a meeting-session basis. It can be taken as either a full-time or a part-time course.
Qualification aims
A general aim of the Master course in Special Needs Education is to give students both a research-based and a practical orientated professional training. The primary aim of the course is to qualify students for work in the Educational-Psychological service (in Norway PPT service), in Resource Centres for Special Needs Education, in the Health and Social sector, schools, university colleges, universities and also for administrative positions. A Master Degree in Special Needs Education also qualifies for admission to a Ph.D course in Education or Special Needs Education.
Admission requirements
Admission to the Master programme in Special Needs Education requires one of the following educations:
- A completed Bachelor Degree with a specialization of at least 80 ECTS credits in Education/Special Needs Education comprising of examinations in the subjects PED-1010, PED-1011, PED-1012 and PED-2011 or relevant studies equivalent to this study level. Students must have achieved at least 30 ECTS at the 2000 (intermediate) level in Education or at an equivalent level.
- A teacher’s Diploma of Education certificate for teaching at pre-school, primary or secondary levels, or child welfare education of minimum 3 years in length.
- A Bachelor Degree or equivalent education with an additional one year course giving a Diploma of Teacher Education
A minimum qualification in research methods must be obtained.
To be accepted an average C grade is required. This grade is calculated on the basis of grades achieved in the major subjects.
Students who do not fulfil the minimum requirement in research methods and statistics at the 1000 (beginners) level, must attend an intensive course at the beginning of the course, which is graded on a Pass / Fail basis.
Students with training in Special Needs Education from Norwegian colleges, responsible for teacher education, may apply to have up to 30 credits of their studies assessed for acceptance as part of the Master course.
Students are asked to state in their application which major in-depth subject they wish to take as well as whether they wish to study full-time (100%) or part-time (50%).
Organization of Studies
The course is organised in such a way that it gives 10, 20 and 30 credit points and it also covers work with a Master thesis, which gives 40 credits. Every student will be allocated a mentor who will supervise their work on the thesis. Time given for mentor supervision is limited to the actual period of study and must be regulated by contract
Subjects
- PED-3001 Individual, culture and society from an educational perspective (20 credits) Autumn/Spring Terms
- PED-3002 Psychological and psychoanalytical perspectives on the development and care of children (10 credits) Autumn Term
- PED-3021 Analyses of educational performance, prescriptions for invention and counselling Autumn/Spring Term
- PED-3022 Social and emotional disorders Autumn/Spring Term
- PED-3025 Communication disorders: Language-, reading- and writing disorders Autumn/Spring Term
- PED-3050 Quantitative Method (10 credits) Spring Term
- PED-3051 Qualitative Method in Educational Research (10 credits) Autumn Term
- PED-3910 Master Degree Thesis (40 credits)
The Master Thesis should be ca. 60 pages in length.
The submission deadline for the Master thesis is 15th May for the Spring Term and 20th November for the Autumn Term.
The subjects PED-3050, PED-3051, PED-3021 and PED-3910 are compulsory for a Master Degree in Special Needs Education. In addition students must choose one optional course from the subjects PED-3022 and PED-3025. Students who have studied courses equivalent to PED-3050, PED-3051 or PED-3021 in other academic fields or at other institutions may apply to have their studies assessed for acceptance as part of the course.
The offer of optional courses may vary. Requests and the resource situation at the Department will determine which subjects will be taught in which particular semester.
To read more about our subjects click here
The subjects PED-3021, PED-3022 and PED-3025 are reserved for students admitted to the Master Degree Programme in Special Education and cannot be taken as individual subject courses.
Studying abroad
Studying abroad is possible in connection with field work or other work for collecting data for the Master thesis. Students can also take courses at universities abroad and apply for their studies to be assessed for acceptance on this course.
Teaching and examination procedures
Working methods will consist of lecturing, seminars and individual mentor supervision. All subjects conclude with an essay, which will be assessed. The final evaluation for the Master thesis (PED-3900) is based upon the grades given for the thesis, the lecture on a given topic and an oral examination based on the syllabus used for the thesis assignment. Exams are graded by means of an academic grading scale of five pass levels (A-E) and F for a Fail grade.
Practical training
For students without relevant practical training 3 weeks of practice is required in connection with their major in-depth subject.
Recommended progression
Below we have given an example of study-progression for full-time students:
The major part of work related to the Master thesis is placed in the two final terms. However, students are advised to appoint a mentor at the beginning of their studies and to begin with a working draft for their master thesis as soon as possible. The mentor is responsible for giving approval of the working draft.
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