Special Education - various learning and functional difficulties

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ECTS Credits
30
Language
Norwegian
Study location
Nesna

Special needs education is a very important and sought-after competence in kindergartens and schools. The programme of study provides expertise in the mapping, planning, implementation and evaluation of special educational work in kindergartens and schools, and guidance expertise regarding special educational issues.

The programme of study has a scope of 30 credits and spans over two terms, autumn and spring. The programme of study is at bachelor degree level and is session-based.

KNOWLEDGE

Candidates

  • have knowledge about the history, place in society, normalisation, equality and inclusion of special needs education
  • have knowledge about various functional and learning difficulties in children, young people and adults
  • have knowledge about rights and proceedings based on legislation and regulations
  • have an overview of the most common mapping methods and mapping tools used in kindergartens and schools
  • have knowledge about preventive and remedial measures, early interventions and special educational methods
  • have knowledge about special educational development work/innovation and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration
  • have knowledge about professional issues of an ethical nature related to special educational work

SKILLS

Candidates

  • can reflect critically and constructively on their own practice and relate it to special educational theory
  • can reflect on and discuss key and current special educational issues and professional issues of an ethical nature that are relevant to training in kindergartens and teaching in schools
  • can carry out special educational mapping and assessment using relevant mapping and assessment materials
  • can give an account of how schools and kindergartens can adapt the learning environment in order to prevent and remedy difficulties
  • can provide relevant special educational guidance and advice to parents/guardians and to employees in schools and kindergartens
  • can plan, implement and evaluate special educational development work/innovation
  • can conduct multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary work with other professional groups

GENERAL COMPETENCE

Candidates

  • have broad insight into how to facilitate a good learning environment based on special educational approaches
  • have insight into academic and professional issues of an ethical nature related to the rights of children, where adapted education and special needs education are also involved
  • have expertise in being able to plan, implement and evaluate the adapted education, including special needs education for children, young people and adults with various functional and learning difficulties based on individual, group and system levels
  • have expertise in being able to convey and exchange points of view and experiences in professional communities, in order to contribute to the development of good special educational practice

Higher education entrance qualification, language requirement, view more information about requirements and deadlines.

There is an admission requirement of 30 credits (30 ECTS) in pedagogy.  

The following types of education satisfy admission requirements:

A bachelor’s degree comprising a total of 30 credits in pedagogy in the relevant programme of study or as further education qualifies candidates for admission to Special Education 2 - breadth studies.

Examples of professional education programmes that provide admission criteria: Pre-school teacher education, kindergarten teacher education, general teacher education, primary and lower secondary school teacher education, secondary education teacher with a master’s degree, child welfare education, social educator education, social worker education, 1-year programme in educational theory and practice. 

In addition, foundation courses in education (30 credits/ETCS) that focus on educational welfare/special needs education provide a basis for admission.

Ranking based on weighted average of the admission criteria.

An approved certificate of good conduct is required from the police. This is to be submitted as an attachment to the application for a place of study.

Candidates with approved pre-school teacher education, kindergarten teacher education, general teacher education, primary and lower secondary school teacher education and 1-year programmes in educational theory and practice will be qualified to work with special educational tasks in kindergartens, schools, in special educational teams and in other institutions that have special educational work tasks.

The academic year of study consists of 6 study sessions: 3 study sessions during the autumn and 3 study sessions during the spring.

Each study session lasts 5 days. Due to infection control considerations, sessions may be conducted digitally.

Not applicable
No tuition fees. Costs for semester registration and course literature apply.

The programme of study has the following teaching and examination activities:

Compulsory participation

Coursework

Supervised professional training

Assignment

Home examination

See the course plan for a more detailed description of assessment

Assignment and home examination. See the course plan for more detailed information.
The programme is evaluated via student questionnaire, as well as by the programme director. The evaluations form a part of the University's quality assurance system.
Refer to applicable legislation, regulations and related guidelines

A suitability assessment of the students in the programme of study is carried out in accordance with the new regulations concerning suitability.

This is carried out as an ongoing suitability assessment in the programme of study, and a suitability assessment in connection with compulsory supervised professional training.

10 days of compulsory, supervised and assessed special educational training. See the course plan for more detailed information about supervised professional training.