Master in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs University of Parma

Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is a second-level degree (Laurea Magistrale) in Linguistics (LM39-Linguistica), taught entirely in English, offered by the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries of the University of Parma. It devotes specific attention to aspects related to language learning and teaching, with particular reference to Special Educational Needs affecting communication and language, such as developmental language disorders, learning disorders and sensory disabilities. A strength of the course is the acquisition of competences in the field of inclusive language education.

It is a two-year course and on successful completion, graduates are awarded the “Laurea Magistrale” (second cycle degree certificate).

Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is designed for candidates from different academic backgrounds and aims to provide a thorough grounding and advanced linguistic and cultural competencies in English and in a second foreign language (including Italian as an FL/L2), and research skills in the field of Language Sciences, in particular Educational linguistics. The course dedicates specific attention to aspects related to language learning and teaching, mainly as regards educational contexts which include learners with special needs, such as language impairments and disadvantages, learning disorders, or sensory disabilities.

The Programme

Second-cycle Degree in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is a two-year course and on successful completion, graduates are awarded the “Laurea Magistrale”.

This course is designed for candidates from different academic backgrounds and aims to provide a thorough grounding and advanced linguistic and cultural competencies in English and in a second foreign language (including Italian as an FL/L2), and research skills in the field of Language Sciences, in particular Educational linguistics. The course dedicates specific attention to aspects related to language learning and teaching, mainly as regards educational contexts which include learners with special needs, such as language impairments and disadvantages, learning disorders, or sensory disabilities.

Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs students are encouraged to gain experience abroad during the two academic years and can take advantage of a large number of opportunities.

Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs teaching methods are mainly interactive and require student participation. Assessment takes place within every course in several ways with a preference for project work, where single individuals or groups of students, assisted by teachers, prepare, present, and discuss projects with teachers and peers.

The course also allows students to develop basic skills in Instructional Design needed to work as editors or instructional designers. Such skills are combined with language education competences in traditional and e-learning modes.

What to expect upon graduation

Thanks to the acquisition of advanced language competence and a deep knowledge of the areas of Cultural Studies and Educational Linguistics, graduates from the programme in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs develop an innovative profile that makes them suitable to respond to the needs of the labour market in several areas.

In particular, they may find employment in sectors undergoing deep changes such as those concerning the inclusion of individuals with special needs in the field of education and the adoption of non-traditional teaching methodologies and environments, as well as in the field of text accessibility in traditional and digital publishing companies.

Graduates will also develop a profile suitable for employment in international agencies, NGO’s and other entities which require skills as described above.

Possible professional profiles include:

• Inclusive language education experts
• Language teachers
• Language experts and editors for traditional and digital publishing houses
• inguists and philologists