MA in Education: Special and Inclusive Education

This programme is designed for teachers or other professionals who have an interest in increasing their knowledge and skills in the field of special needs.

The MA Special and Inclusive Education is suitable if you are:

• Interested in developing your knowledge and understanding of children and young people with special educational needs.
• Working as a teacher or associated professional in mainstream education or specialised settings wishing to extend your skills and practice.
• An experienced professional or new to working with children with additional needs.
• Malaysia-based or an international student.

The programme offers a comprehensive focus on contemporary debates within special and inclusive education including local, national and international policies and approaches. We focus on the specific needs of children with learning difficulties and disabilities, communication impairments, literacy difficulties/dyslexia, autism and ADHD to illustrate the challenges encountered in professional practice.

A critical exploration of current theory and research inform consideration of pedagogical approaches as well as the development of effective systems and structures for working with parents/carers and different agencies.

This programme provides high-quality professional development that offers flexibility for students to pursue areas of interest and specialisms.

Advantages of studying MA Special and Inclusive Education at Nottingham

The internationally respected MA Special and Inclusive Education qualification supports career progression through:

• Evaluating effective approaches to supporting disabled children and young people including those with moderate to severe and complex learning difficulties and/or personal, social, emotional and behaviour difficulties.
• Exploring values and beliefs, policy, legislation, multi-agency working and involvement of families and disabled children and young people.
• Building confidence in your professional practice skills.
• Promoting personal development through reflection and critical analysis of your own beliefs and practices.
• Increasing your academic and research skills which will support future doctorate level study including, for example, a Doctorate in Education or Educational Psychology or a PhD Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators.

Course structure

For the MA in Education: Special and Inclusive Education, you will need to successfully complete 180 credits. This will be composed of two core modules and two electives of 30 credits each. In addition, you will need to submit a dissertation, worth 60 credits, in a subject related to one of the modules and approved by your tutor.

image courtesy of University of Nottingham Malaysia

Modules

Core modules

• Researching Special and Inclusive Education
• Debating Special and Inclusive Education

Elective modules

• Responding Mindfully to Challenging Behavior
• Education for Students on the Autism Spectrum (Online)
• Communication and Literacy

Assessment

Modules are assessed via a 6,000-word assignment. The dissertation is an original piece of work and should be of approximately 12,000–15,000 words on an approved topic.

Entry requirements

A relevant second class honours degree (or international equivalent). Relevant experience may be required for some of the programmes. Non-UK qualifications will be assessed against this standard.

Mature applicants without any standard entry requirements but have substantial and relevant experience may be considered for entry at the Postgraduate Certificate level and the acceptance is at the discretion of the School of Education.

Applicants must have graduated from an approved university. Other equivalent qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

English language requirements

• IELTS: 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in each element).
• TOEFL (iBT): 87 (minimum 20 in Speaking and 19 in all other elements).
• PTE (Academic): 62 (with no less than 55 in each element).
• MUET: Band 4.

IELTS, TOEFL and PTE (Academic) test results must be less than two years old and all IELTS must be the academic version of the test. MUET results are valid for five years from the date of the release of results.