Masters Degrees (Disability)

This exciting programme explores disability as an equal opportunities issue by focusing on contemporary organisations and institutionalised practice.

If you’re a service provider, practitioner or policy maker who wants to bring theory and practice together, or you’re planning a career in the field of disability, you’ll explore a range of disability-related issues from theoretical and practical perspectives.

Our refreshed core modules allow you to explore the frontiers of research in this rapidly developing field, and focus on social policy for disabled people in education, benefits, housing, transport, employment, health and social support services, as well as recent developments in social research on disability. You’ll also choose from optional modules to focus on the topics that best suit your own interests or career plans, from care to disability and development via research training or race and ethnicity studies.

Research insight

Taught by academics from the Centre for Disability Studies, you’ll learn in a stimulating environment where tutors’ teaching is informed by their own cutting-edge research.

The interdisciplinary Centre for Disability Studies is at the forefront of international research in the field, using social model approaches that recognise disability as a form of institutional discrimination and social exclusion, rather than a product of physical difference between individuals. You’ll benefit from the expertise of researchers from diverse backgrounds, drawing on the experiences and issues raised by the disabled people’s movement.

Course content

In Semester 1 you’ll take a core module examining recent debates and developments in social research on disability. You’ll critically assess positivist, interpretative and ‘emancipatory’ methodologies and the data collection and analysis strategies that come with them, and consider the emergence of the ‘social model’ of disability.

You’ll apply these perspectives to contemporary social policy in Semester 2, as you explore topics such as disability benefits, self-help, public amenities like housing, transport and public buildings, education, employment and social support services.

In addition, you’ll gain specialist knowledge when you select from a range of optional modules. You could pursue further training in quantitative and qualitative research methods, or study topics such as special educational needs. You’ll also focus on a specific topic when you complete your dissertation – an individual piece of research that allows you to showcase the knowledge and skills you’ve gained.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• Social Policy, Politics and Disabled People 30 credits
• Researching Culture and Society 30 credits
• Dissertation (Disability) 60 credits
• Debates on Disability Theory and Research 30 credits

Optional modules

• Special Educational Needs: Inclusive Curriculum 30 credits
• International Human Rights and Disabled People 15 credits
• 'Race', Identity and Culture in the Black Atlantic 15 credits
• Disability and Development 15 credits
• Contested Bodies 15 credits
• Que(e)rying Sexualities 15 credits
• Social Policy Analysis 15 credits
• Social Policy Debates 15 credits
• Quantitative Research Methods 15 credits
• Qualitative Research Methods 15 credits
• Policy and Programme Evaluation 15 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Disability Studies MA Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information on typical modules, read Disability Studies MA Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

We use various teaching methods including lectures, seminars and tutorials in core modules. Optional modules may also include methods such as practical classes, workshops or online learning. Independent study is also crucial to this programme, allowing you to shape your own research questions, prepare for taught sessions and build research and analytical skills.

Assessment

Assessment methods are likely to vary, depending on the optional modules you choose. Most of our taught modules are assessed through written work such as essays and book and literature reviews.

Career opportunities

There is a growing demand for students with a comprehensive knowledge of disability issues in all areas of social life.

In particular, there are many career opportunities in health and social support services, education, human resources, statutory and voluntary agencies, NGOs (non-governmental organisations), INGOs (international non-governmental agencies) and charities.

There are also excellent career openings in social research and universities – you’ll be well prepared for further research at PhD level.

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

Read less

The M.Sc. in Disability Studies provides students with a deep understanding of disability from social, historical, cultural, economic and political perspectives. Graduates of the M.Sc. are equipped with the knowledge, analytical skills and perspectives to help translate rights into reality in the field of disability. The programme offers:

Immersion in the policy and practice implications of the critically important United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and related human rights instruments.
Familiarisation with the key global issues in the field of disability.
A thorough grounding in the principles and practice of programme planning and evaluation.
An internship in a cutting edge disability organisation in the public, private, or voluntary sectors.
Access to the unique expertise of the National Institute for Intellectual Disability and the Centre for Deaf Studies, both located in Trinity College Dublin and closely associated with the programme.
Academic interaction with the students of the Certificate in Contemporary Living, the first third level education programme for people with intellectual disabilities in Ireland.
Exposure to teaching from a range of disciplinary perspectives.

The programme aims to prepare graduates for employment or career development in areas such as disability advocacy, quality assurance in disability services, programme planning and evaluation in the field of disability, disability research, and disability policy analysis.

Admission Requirements

The M.Sc. in Disability Studies offers admission to full-time (TRT69) and part-time (TRT79) students. EU and Non-EU applicants are required to hold at least an upper second class honours degree in a relevant area (e.g., Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Education, Deaf studies, Law, and Psychology). Applications are taken on a yearly basis from January to July.

The following are required as part of the application:

Application form
Official transcripts
2 reference letters (at least one academic)
Curriculum Vitae
Statement of purpose addressing the following (1,000 words):
Your interest in the MSc in Disability Studies at TCD
A research topic in the area of disability you would like to examine in your dissertation
How the programme best suits your career development
Your preference for elective modules and placement

Successful applicants will be invited for an interview.

Read less

Shape the future of adult, child, mental health or learning disability nursing with this new masters which includes registration.

The Masters in Nursing (MN) enables you to achieve a post-graduate qualification and professional registration. The MN underpins all aspects of nursing practice and leads to eligibility for registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Council professional register in one of the four fields: Adult Health /Child Health /Mental Health /Learning Disability.

It is a full-time, three year, post-graduate degree course which aims to provide you with a range of learning, teaching and assessment experiences that will enable you to become a critically reflective, post-graduate nurse with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of your respective field of nursing.

Throughout this programme you will be in University studying theory (50%) and then have the opportunity to engage in clinical-based learning (50%) in a variety of hospital and community settings within the Lothian and Borders area. Integrated into this programme is the opportunity to engage in voluntary and elective practice placements locally or internationally.

What you'll learn

This new Masters in Nursing with registration is a full-time 3 year programme. It would suite highly motivated graduates who enjoy a challenge and want to shape the future of one of the four fields of nursing: Adult Health, Child Health, Mental Health or Learning Disability.

The Masters in Nursing (MN) enables you to achieve a post-graduate qualification and professional registration. The MN underpins all aspects of nursing practice and leads to eligibility for registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Council professional register in one of the four fields: Adult Health /Child Health /Mental Health /Learning Disability.

It is a full-time, three year, post-graduate degree course which aims to provide you with a range of learning, teaching and assessment experiences that will enable you to become a critically reflective, post-graduate nurse with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of your respective field of nursing.

Throughout this programme you will be in University studying theory (50%) and then have the opportunity to engage in clinical-based learning (50%) in a variety of hospital and community settings within the Lothian and Borders area. Integrated into this programme is the opportunity to engage in voluntary and elective practice placements locally or internationally.


Nurses today need to be able to demonstrate competence in nursing care across the patient’s lifespan. To deliver this, they need to be able to work flexibly, inter-professionally and collaboratively in a dynamic and ever changing health care arena.

Our nursing programme has been written to take account of the key drivers in health care at local, national and international levels and was developed in partnership with our clinical partners, students, service users and carers.

During each year of the programme you will learn alongside colleagues in all fields of nursing, and will work with peers from the MN and the undergraduate nursing programme. The course is designed so that you will acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding which gives you specific skills, knowledge and competences to work within a variety of health-care settings. There is increasing nursing field specialisation as the programme progresses which keeps you abreast of the current developments within your chosen field of nursing. On completion, this course will support you to become a creative, innovated and dynamic nurse with an excellent grounding in nursing theory and practice.

Year 1 lays the foundations about what the role of the nurse is and introduces you to the Nursing and Midwifery code as well as theories and models of nursing and nursing skills. It also focuses on anatomy and physiology, determinants of health across the life span, communication, compassionate care, and ethics and inter-professional working. You will also begin to develop academic and research skills.
Year 2 to builds on the work undertaken previously, but also introduces factors which influence health and well-being such as global and national public health priorities. You will explore the impact of altered health status on the individual and their family/carers over the life span. In addition, you will acquire deeper understanding of inter-professional healthcare delivery which includes looking at aspects of co-production, individuals’ rights and inclusion.

Year 3 builds and consolidates your knowledge within your specific field of nursing. Here you will looks more specifically at complex health care needs, health care delivery, interventions, governance, leadership and decision-making. You will undertake a literature review which provides opportunities to build upon your prior learning and experience in an area of interest to you.

Modules

Theory year 1
• Foundations of health and well-being {Masters} 1A
• Foundations of health and well-being (Bridging) 1B
• Developing Professionalism {Bridging} 2A
• Developing Professionalism {Masters} 2B

Practice learning disability year 1
• Nursing Practice 1
• Nursing Practice 2 (learning disability)

Theory Year 2
• Essential Theory and Skills for learning disability Practice {Masters} 3A
• Essential Theory and Skills for learning disability Practice {Masters} 3B
• Effective Interagency working in healthcare {Masters} 4A
• Effective Interagency working in healthcare {Masters} 4B

Practice year 2
• Nursing Practice 3 (learning disability)
• Nursing Practice 4 (learning disability)

Theory Year 3
• Critical Perspectives of learning disability {Masters} 5A
• Critical Perspectives of learning disability {Masters} 5B
• Effective Leadership in Healthcare {Masters} 6 Dissertation

Practice year 3
• Nursing Practice 5 (learning disability)
• Nursing Practice 6 (learning disability)

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Careers

Edinburgh Napier University is the largest provider of nursing professionals in Scotland. This new programme has the potential to deliver post-graduate nurses who have excellent career prospects across hospitals and local communities, voluntary organisations and the private sector.

As new registrants you will be taking up leading roles within education, practice and research within the NHS and in the private sector, and will be able to work anywhere within the UK and EU and in some cases even further afield.

How to apply

http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/how-to-apply

SAAS Funding

Nothing should get in the way of furthering your education. Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) awards funding for postgraduate courses, and could provide the help you need to continue your studies. Find out more: http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/saas-funded-courses

Read less

The Master of Health Science (Developmental Disability) is designed for practitioners from diverse backgrounds in disability services, including medical, nursing, dental, allied health therapies, social work, behavioural science and educational professions to develop specialist knowledge in the field of developmental disability.

Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and cerebral palsy. People living with developmental disability, across their lifespan, confront many issues, especially in communication, physical and mental health, learning, family life, social inclusion, sexuality, self-help, and independent living.

Underpinned by theory, scholarship and research, this program looks to expand the knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by people with developmental disability, and enhance the skills of professionals to respond to the challenges faced by the sector.

The Master of Health Science (Developmental Disability) is taught by world-class leaders in the field who are committed to advancing health and social policy and practice solutions to enable affected individuals and their families to participate fully in society.

This program tackles some of the difficult questions in developmental disability, including sexuality, end-of-life issues, and parenting to ensure that people receive the support they need in these crucial aspects of their life that are all too often overlooked.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

Read less

Why take this course?

The term 'learning disabilities' is used interchangeably with 'intellectual disability' to describe those who have significant problems with learning and who need support with many aspects of life.

This distance learning course enhances knowledge and skills of graduates and experienced practitioners wishing to develop their understanding of people with learning disabilities.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Be taught by academics who are active researchers in learning disability
Participate in live web-based chat forums, e-conferencing, and individual tutorials, to discuss your work with lecturers and with other students
Tap into the Library’s vast selection of electronic resources or access library facilities and borrow books locally via the SCOLNUL scheme

What opportunities might it lead to?

This course provides an opportunity for those supporting children and adults with intellectual disabilities and their families to enhance their knowledge and skills, and gain an academic qualification.

Module Details

Full-time students will study all 180 Level M credits (i.e. six units) in one full year. Part-time students will normally study three units each year, and will begin to explore potential research ideas and research methodologies in the first year. All units are Level 7, 30 credits, and are core units.

Here are the units you will study (part-time students will study these in the first year):

Critical Disability Studies and Intellectual Disability: The perspective of Critical Disability Studies (CDS) is about how society and its agents respond to the labelled person's circumstances rather than how intellectual disability inhabits the person. This unit will address the relationship between workers and disabled people that CDS might call for. Here disability and intellectual disability in particular will be a standpoint or position from which to view society, in contrast to disability as a categorisation of people.

Autistic Spectrum Conditions: A Critical Approach: this unit aims to provide knowledge about autistic spectrum conditions and promote understanding of the key issues in providing support to people with autistic spectrum conditions and their families.

Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods: This unit provides an introduction to experimental and survey-based research methods, and quantitative data analysis techniques. It covers qualitative methods for data collection and analysis, as well as to how to write research reports in both traditions.

The following units will be studied in the first year by full-time students and in the second year by part-time students:

Families and Systemic Therapy: This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of families including an appreciation of experiences of families with an intellectually disabled member. It aims to enhance your abilities to support families via theoretically informed, partnership-based empowering practices.

Research Project: The research project requires you to initiate, conduct and report upon an original piece of research. The work is conducted to deadlines agreed with a project supervisor and project must include empirical quantitative or qualitative research – data collection and relevant analysis must be included. Any statistical analysis must be both descriptive (e.g. means, standard deviations and graphs etc.) and inferential (i.e. statistical tests).

Communication and Investigative Interviewing of People with Intellectual Disabilities: This unit aims to promote communication skills and opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities and outline the status of the law concerning vulnerable adults as witnesses/victims. It aims to provide you with the opportunity to examine issues that arise when people with intellectual disabilities are interviewed as witnesses/victims of crime.

Programme Assessment

Despite its distance learning mode, this course is still extremely student focused. You will be given resources, materials, help and guidance to complete your studies to your full ability. Using our virtual learning environment you can participate in group discussions with other students in a friendly yet challenging online class environment. Plus real-time text based 'chat sessions' with lecturers will ensure you receive all the support you need for the topics you study.

You are assessed in a variety of ways to reflect the individual topics, however there are no examinations and all assessment is coursework based. Here’s how we assess your work:

Practice files
Essays
Wikis
Statistical analysis and reports
Literature reviews
A research project

Student Destinations

When embarking on this course, you may benefit from having completed paid or voluntary work with children or adults with intellectual disabilities.

Previous graduates of the course frequently make significant progress in their careers. Some are just in the beginning stages while others move on to senior manager positions and upwards. Past students have also progressed to advanced academic qualifications such as PhDs or professional doctorates.

Read less

Learning disability nurses enable individuals to live their lives to their full potential within the social context they choose, through collaborative interventions across a variety of health and social care settings and by using specialist input, through person centred practice, underpinned by the concept of partnership working.

This course teaches you to promote social inclusion, good mental and physical health and self-determination through developing your skills, knowledge and attributes. All learning is grounded in a strong evidence base of integrative health and social care modelling. Our placements are varied, offering you the chance to create a future career that will be rewarding both for your personal and professional advancement.

Modules

You will be taught separately from the three-year undergraduate students and will study the following:

Year 1

Improving quality, change management and leadership
Building practice skills for learning disability nursing
Applied physiology, growth and development
Contemporary issues in learning disability nursing

Year 2

Research in health and social care
Enhancing practice skills in learning disability nursing
Complexity in learning disabilities
Advanced communication

MSc pathway

You'll follow the same modules as outlined above for the PgDip, with the addition of a dissertation:

Dissertation
Assessment methods vary within each module, mapped against the professional standards as outlined by the NMC (2010) and assessed either through course work, and/or clinical placement assessments. Written assessments include essays, case study's, and critical reviews of evidence for example. Clinical practice assessments include achievements of identified competencies, a learning assessment portfolio, and problem based scenarios.

Teaching and learning

You'll be expected to work as an independent adult learner, working alongside academic staff to expand and extend your knowledge, skills and attitudes as a critical scholar in the field of Intellectual Disabilities.

You'll be allocated a personal tutor, a cohort leader, and a course director, plus clinical mentors, and link lecturers whilst on placement.

The course makes use of the virtual learning environment MOODLE, an interactive based system for accurate and rapid information sharing, so course materials are available whenever you need them. A range of learning styles are employed, including visits from service users and their carers, to ensure the course remains contemporary and applied to real life situations.

Placements

Every student will spend 50% of the course on placement. You'll have the opportunity to work in partnership with individuals with learning disabilities and their families using a health mentoring model. Alternatively you can work in partnership with community based organisations on projects where all parties increase their awareness, understanding and valuing of their roles, using strength based approaches.

The placement aim is to provide a broad range of experiences working with children and adults with learning disabilities in a variety of settings. This will enhance your knowledge and experience of the range of challenges people with a learning disability may face on a daily basis and what can be done to assist not only the individual but also their families.

You'll also gain insight into what is available to support workers and organisations providing services in the areas of physical and mental health, complex care needs, communication, behaviours of concern, sexuality, personal care and a range of other areas.

Professional links

The learning disability nursing programmes at LSBU have a long history of partnership working with agencies in the NHS and independent and voluntary sector. The Professional Lead for Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at the Department of Health England is a frequent guest speaker who inspires Learning Disability nurses to influence and innovate.

Learning disability nursing as a career

The course will enable you to develop a wide range of employability skills through the emphasis on a vocational approach to teaching which leads to a professional qualification leading to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

There is an increasing body of research that shows the need for learning disability nurses as a specialist resource to address health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities. The course will give you the specialist knowledge and skills to work in a wide range of services, and the confidence to work collaboratively with people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, and other professionals and agencies.

Role and responsibilities

As a learning disabilities nurse you would work with people of all ages to give them the skills and confidence they need to live as independently as possible. You'd be working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and be responsible for co-ordinating care plans with other healthcare professionals, as well as monitoring progress. A learning disabilities nurse would be responsible for making an initial assessment of a patient's health and social care needs.

Day-to-day duties would be likely to include help and encouragement with tasks such as personal hygiene, dressing, using public transport, shopping, leisure interests, making and attending appointments, and finding a job. Learning disabilities nursing also involves campaigning on behalf of those with learning disabilities, supporting the agenda for equality and trying to improve healthcare services for those with learning difficulties.

Career progression

Successful graduates of the PgDip can top-up to MSc in one year and will be qualified to study a range of further specialist postgraduate pathways. With additional experience, advanced practice is available at Masters level with the potential to progress to doctorate studies. Once you are a registered nurse browse our online CPPD prospectus to find out what courses are on offer to help with your professional development.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

Read less

This award provides the opportunity to engage with theoretical perspectives and research in the field of inclusion and disability, both nationally and globally. The programme is relevant to both UK and *international applicants and starts from the premise that terms, such as inclusion, disability and special needs are contestable.

Students are encouraged to critically engage in those social, political and global debates relating to the education of marginalised groups of children and young people.

The question of how can education promote greater equity in an increasingly diverse society is central to the award. In this way the MA provides outstanding professional development for those working in education, enabling them to deepen their understanding of how to develop more inclusive practice within their own professional setting or country context.

Sessions are led by highly qualified tutors from the Faculty's Education and Social Research Institute who have relevant expertise and professional experience.

About the Course

In term one, students take two core units. The unit 'Introduction to Educational and Social Research Design' is interconnected with the other full time Masters awards in the Postgraduate Research in Education, Community and Society programme and enables, from the outset, a consideration of the ways in which knowledge is generated in the field of inclusive education and disability.

The second core unit 'Understanding Inclusive Education' provides opportunities for students to reflect on their understandings of disability and special educational needs and to consider alternative approaches in the context of recent research on inclusion and diversity in education.

In term two, students are able to choose two options from the selection below:
-Collaborative Research Project
-Globalisation, Social Justice and Social Change
-Identity, Equality and Empowerment in Childhood
-Independent Study
-Key Issues in Managing Diversity, Disability and Special Educational Needs
-Practice Based Project
-Transformative and Ethical Leadership in Educational Settings

Taught units offered develop students' ability to critically engage with published research and to develop their own research skills in support of their own fields of interest. The option unit, ‘Key Issues in Managing Diversity, Disability and Special Educational Needs’ examines issues of exclusion and marginalisation, disability and difference, race and culture. Here, there is a focus is on critical issues for equity and diversity rather than on particular categories of need. Drawing from such fields as critical pedagogy, disability studies and multicultural education, the unit explores critical theory and research and examines a range of alternative approaches to promoting social justice in education.

Every student undertakes a (60 credit) dissertation, allowing in-depth and extended study in an area of interest and relevance.

Throughout the award, students are encouraged to pursue their own areas of interest using analysis, reflection and evaluation. Interconnecting themes across the option units (for example, promoting equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and developing understanding of social justice) allow students to choose units that reflect their own academic interests and connect with their particular professional context whilst still retaining academic relevance with the award.

Assessment details

Assessments are based around your workplace and relevant to your own practice. All assessed work is returned to students with both formative and summative comments, which are intended to present clear guidance for future assessment. There are no formal examinations.

Read less

Disability Studies is a relatively new but rapidly growing academic discipline, as illustrated by the international proliferation of courses, events, networks, journals, book series, monographs, edited collections, and so on. Though drawing on this progress substantially, the Disability Studies MA differs from similar programmes insofar as it places particular emphasis on cultural issues. We are not only interested in the policies, prejudices, and professions around disability but also its representation in literature, media, film, art and so on. Liverpool Hope University is particularly well suited as a host for this programme on many counts. Most obviously, and indeed most importantly, we have a wealth of specialist staff and resources. We have a number of experts in Disability Studies, award winning tutors, and internationally recognised scholars and researchers. What is more, the regional, national, and international profile of the programme is enhanced greatly by the Centre for Culture & Disability Studies–and, by extension, the Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies, the Literary Disability Studies book series, the on-going seminar series, and the International Network of Literary & Cultural Disability Scholars–that is housed at the Graduate School in the Faculty of Education, Liverpool Hope University.

Read less

The MA in Education - SEND is relevant to a wide variety of settings and across the age range from early years through to post compulsory education in college, university and other contexts. There is a strong focus on social justice and inclusion and the opportunity to reflect on your own professional practice throughout the courses.

MA in Education SEND is designed for people with an interest in autism and critical disability studies and for practitioners across the age range into post compulsory education. Based on the principles on 'nothing about us without us' content is informed by the experiences of people who identify personally with autism and /or SEND.

You'll develop a particular strand of interest into the dissertation and have opportunities to disseminate your findings to the work place and throughout the course. The Centre for Educational Research has a number of ongoing disability focused research projects and hosts the Disability Equality Research Network (DERN). This provides a vibrant supportive environment for your research and ensures that course content is always research-informed.

The programme will take place at LSBU (K2 Building) or in Special Educational Needs partners' schools and be delivered by academics and experts from the Special Educational Needs sector. Evening and weekend taught sessions are complemented by an extensive virtual learning environment and delivered on campus or elsewhere by arrangement. Students, wherever located, become part of diverse and stimulating LSBU community and the vibrant Centre for Education Research.

National Award for SEN Co-ordinator

You can also choose to take the recognised award of 'National Award for SEN Co-ordination' or options that will further deepen your understanding of SEND.

Modules

All modules are assessed by a mix of assignments, presentations, research projects and portfolio development.

Year 1

Students take two of the optional modules list below in year 1:

Special educational needs and disability
Part 2 SENCO National Award
Teaching and learning:
Understanding autism and learning
Autism individuality and identity
Part 1 SENCO National Award

Year 2

In addition to one of the modules listed above

Research Methods (compulsory)

Year 3

Dissertation (compulsory)

Timetable

Weekly evening seminars during term time.

Bespoke CPD sessions can be delivered on request.

Teaching and learning

You'll be taught by Dr Nicola Martin who has substantial experience in the field of autism including working with Professor Baron-Cohen on the Cambridge University Autism Project. She was also formerly director of the Autism Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. Dr Martin is currently a lecturer at LSBU and is a Principal Investigator for Research Autism.

You'll also be taught by Gianna Knowles who has considerable experience of working with school staff to develop their Special Educational Needs Departments. Gianna has published a range of academic textbooks that support staff development in this area.

You'll benefit from an up to date Virtual Learning Environment via Moodle and be actively encouraged to make use of the extensive range of support services across the university. You'll have access to a supervisor during the dissertation phase.

Placements

Access to the workplace (including voluntary work) is essential for most of the modules within the MA.

Professional links

The department has wide professional links within and beyond the university and the UK. Examples include:

• The Equality Challenge Unit
• The Alliance for Inclusive Education
• Equality and Diversity Forum Research Network
• The Leadership Foundation
• Research Autism
• Theorising Autism Project
• Teacher Education for Equality and Sustainability Network (TEESNet)
• National Association of Disability Practitioners
• Commonworks (for a just and sustainable world)

Recent guest lectures have been given by disabled academics and parents of pupils who have experienced special education.

Employability

MA Education Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) is designed to deepen your understanding of working with pupils /students in any educational setting, across the age range into adult education. It is therefore relevant to employment in school, college, alternative education settings and to work with disabled students at university. Content is applicable to teachers and staff in non- teaching roles, such as mentor, disability officer or learning support assistant. The content is also relevant to staff in strategic and operational leadership roles.

It is a professional and academic degree that provides an in-depth understanding of inclusive practice in education across the age range (in keeping with the 0-25 framework in the Children and Families Act 2014). The degree is relevant from early years to post-compulsory education in a wide variety of settings. The diverse requirements of learners identified with SEND and best practice to support inclusive learning and achievement will be explored. You'll be encouraged to critically engage with relevant theory and legislation contextualised and applied in practice.

This programme will contribute to your employability and the National SENco award may be a requirement of your workplace.

Students wishing to achieve promotion or develop a career in education benefit from having a higher degree. Progression from the MA to the EdD further enhances employability and promotion prospects, particularly in academia and research. CVs are improved by having publications in refereed journals and this is encouraged and supported on the MA as well as the Doctorate in Education.

LSBU Employability Services

LSBU is committed to supporting you develop your employability and succeed in getting a job after you have graduated. Your qualification will certainly help, but in a competitive market you also need to work on your employability, and on your career search. Our Employability Service will support you in developing your skills, finding a job, interview techniques, work experience or an internship, and will help you assess what you need to do to get the job you want at the end of your course. LSBU offers a comprehensive Employability Service, with a range of initiatives to complement your studies, including:

• Direct engagement from employers who come in to interview and talk to students
• Job Shop and on-campus recruitment agencies to help your job search
• Mentoring and work shadowing schemes.

Read less

The MSc Professional Practice (Learning Disability) is open to all professionals working with people who have a learning disability. Professionals working with this client group need to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in order to meet the clients’ changing needs.

The aim of this degree is to transform your practice and thus improve the quality of care for service users. Module content and delivery is underpinned by the latest research evidence, which ensures that this award meets the challenges of the demanding and dynamic environments that health and social care practitioners work in today.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/609-msc-professional-practice-learning-disability

What you will study

Modules
Core modules:
- Research methods
- Dissertation

Specialist modules:
There modules relate directly to this degree.

- Autistic Spectrum Disorder
This 20 credit module covers areas such as Introduction to Autistic Spectrum Disorders; autism; Asperger’s syndrome; incidence and prevalence, diagnosis; assessment strategies; related syndromes and conditions; bio-psycho-social factors; diet; pharmacotherapy; environmental considerations; communication methods; TEACCH; therapeutic approaches;

- Contemporary Issues in Learning Disability
This 20 credit module covers areas such as local, national and international policy developments; inter-professional practice; quality of life; frameworks and philosophies of care; anti-discriminatory practice; vulnerability and abuse issues; stake holder involvement; developments in research and service delivery; person centred approaches; developments in technology.

- Advocacy
This 20 credit module covers areas such as – What is Advocacy and the different types of advocacy- independent; self; group; citizen and professional; Legislation and duties; Mental Capacity Act 2005 and consent; the role of the IMCA; DOLS; Human Rights Act 1998 and Equalities Act 2010; Power, Empowerment and Participation; Practical skills – supporting people to self advocate; Communicating concepts; listening, negotiation skills; Developing, marshalling and presenting coherent arguments on behalf of others; Policy and Guidance e.g. POVA; advocacy within the policy process; ethical principles, frameworks and decision making; interagency working, confidentiality and sharing information; thresholds for intervention/referral; creating an advocacy culture.

Learning and teaching methods

To gain the MSc Professional Practice (Learning Disability) degree you will need to study at least 80 credits (including your dissertation of 60 credits) relating to the support and care of people with learning disabilities. This means that you must choose to study at least one of the specialist modules. To graduate from a masters’ degree course you must study a total of 180 credits which must include a 40 credit research module.

These modules run yearly depending on demand and are usually delivered via weekly four-hour sessions throughout the academic year.

Teaching methods include facilitated discussions, seminars, workshops and presentations. You will be required to undertake background reading to develop a broad knowledge base and encouraged to become a critical thinker, enabling you to question theories and develop your own ideas informed by evidence and research.

We offer a range of support services for students with a disability. We encourage you to discuss your individual requirements with an adviser as early as possible when you apply.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

To date, students undertaking this course have normally been qualified nurses. However, other professionals such as psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and social workers have undertaken modules. Currently, there are attempts being made to include this pathway or elements of it in the post qualified social work framework and childrens nursing post registration programme. Feedback received from students undertaking modules has so far been very positive especially the use of service users and carers as well as specialist practitioners and leading academics.

Assessment methods

Assessments will take the form of written assignments (one linked to publication).

Read less

This programme is known for its grounding in a social justice model of inclusive community and educational practice and is relevant for a variety of professionals working in community organisations and schools, and those concerned with disability advocacy and rights.

Studying the Master of Disability and Inclusion Studies (MDInS) you'll gain a stronger understanding of social life and the differences between us, and challenge current approaches used in the education sector and beyond.

The programmes takes on an interdisciplinary approach which draws from education, psychology and social science.

As a graduate, you'll demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of concepts, issues and debates in the area of disability studies, particularly in your own research. Thinking critically and creatively, you will evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in the field of disability studies and work proactively to develop professional relationships with others in the field.

Complete coursework at a pace that suits you – part-time while you work, or full-time over 18 months.

The Faculty of Education offers a postgraduate study award to associate teachers in recognition of their work in supporting the Faculty’s initial teacher education programmes and students. More information on Associate Teacher Postgraduate Study Award

Course Structure

Students are required to complete 180 points and there are three options regarding how study can be planned.

Required

• HDCO521 Contemporary Issues in Disability and Inclusion Studies

Research Methods/Research

• DSOE557 Research Methods

OR

• MAOED500 Rangahau Kaupapa Māori  - Kaupapa Māori Research

OR

• EDUCA500 Culturally Responsive Methodologies  incorporating kaupapa Māori and critical theories

And at least one from:

• TOED590 Directed Study Directed Study Guidelines and application form
• TOED592 Dissertation Dissertation Guidelines and application form
• TOED593 Masters Thesis Masters Thesis Guidelines and application form
• TOED594 Masters Thesis Masters Thesis Guidelines and application form
• Research Ethics Application

Optional

• HDCO502 Educational and Life Transitions: Changing Roles and Changing Contexts 
• HDCO504 Difference and Diversity in Human Development 
• HDCO524 Intelligence, Creativity and the Development of Talent 
• HDCO540 Working with Groups 
• HDCO546 Conflict Resolution: Restorative Approaches 
• HDCO565 Restorative Practices in Education not offered in 2018
• PROF513 Early Intervention for Children with Special Needs
• PROF523 The Development of Kotahitanga.

Other papers can be substituted with approval. These may include 15 and 30 point papers from other discipline areas such as Psychology, Sociology/Social Policy, Cultural Geography and Women's Studies. The MDInS Programme Advisor will assist you in developing your programme of study.

Read less

Taught at our Riverside Campus in Chester, our MA in Special Educational Needs and Disability will provide you with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become an advanced practitioner and leader in your setting.

The MA in Special Educational Needs and Disability is a postgraduate course designed in response to a changing agenda for special education. It aims to provide you with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to become an advanced practitioner and leader in your setting.

You can receive credit on the Special Educational Needs and Disability course at three different levels.

You may wish to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in Special Educational Needs and Disability. The Postgraduate Certificate comprises three specialist special educational needs (SEN) modules from the course (60 credits). If you wish to undertake a Postgraduate Diploma, you can then add three more specialist modules from the SEN options, including Autism, Dyslexia or Dyscalculia (another 60 credits). Your final 60 credits would then be your Dissertation based around a topic within SEN. Successful completion of all of these would then give you a full MA in SEN.

The MA takes as its ideology the notion that person-centred, inclusive thinking that foregrounds individual interests and needs of children, young people and adults with SEN and/or disabilities is at the heart of all practice. It is based on the premise that parents and carers are equal partners in securing achievement, progress and well-being, and that value-free understanding of social and familial contexts is crucial in responding to a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

Read less

This programme will equip you with the skills, knowledge and ability to plan and carry out academic research relevant to disability studies. You will gain a particular awareness and skill set associated with emancipatory and participatory models of research, where disabled people themselves take active roles in the research process. Parts of the programme are delivered by, or co-taught with, people with disabilities, including those with learning difficulties.

You will take core units about research design, quantitative methods and qualitative methods along with students on the MSc in Policy Research and the MSc in Social Work Research, plus an additional core unit about inclusive research with disabled people. The core units are part of the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Centre at Bristol, and as such are a good grounding for those who wish to carry on to a PhD or take up research posts. The optional units will give you a chance to consider research about inclusion for disabled people in relation to international rights, as well as UK structures in society.

Programme structure

Core units
-Philosophy and Research Design in the Social Sciences
-Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences
-Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods in the Social Sciences
-Inclusive Research with Disabled People

Optional units
-Global Contexts of Rights and Disability
-Disabled Childhoods
-Health and Social Care Research
-Researching Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion

Dissertation
In order to gain an MSc, you will undertake a research dissertation, which is the equivalent of a further three units. Part-time students will normally take two core units and one optional unit in year one, and two core units and one optional unit in year two.

Careers

This programme is primarily about research, which means successful graduates often move on to PhD research. Some graduates are already employed in the disability sector, and use their qualification to progress their career or makes changes in their own organisation. For example, social care managers or self-advocacy group coordinators have gone on to carry out research with the disabled people their organisation works with.

Other graduates gain employment in social and health care, self-advocacy and user-led organisations, education, universities or academic research.

Read less

The MA Disability Studies programme is designed for practising teachers, educators and others with a personal or professional interest in the field of education. The programme aims to provide opportunities for engagement with the key theories, concepts and ideas in education.

This programme is part of the ‘Interdisciplinary Studies in Education’ suite of research-informed Masters provision. It offers each student a choice of awards that means they can tailor the available provision to their own research interests.

By studying at Liverpool Hope University, you will be joining an academic community with a strong record in educational research. You will study in a supportive learning environment and be encouraged to develop your own research profile.

Our Disability Studies block must be combined with one of the following blocks:

Developmental Psychology
Early Childhood
Education Leadership and Management
Education Policy, Pratice and the Professional
International Education *subject to availability
Pedagogy (part-time only)
Religious Education

* Please note, Special Educational Needs is not available as an option to study with Disability Studies

Read less

The question of how education can promote greater equity in an increasingly diverse society is central to this MA. It provides the opportunity to engage at the forefront of theoretical perspectives and research in the field of inclusion, disability and SEN to deepen understanding of how you might shape, approach and develop practice for your own professional setting. Students are encouraged to develop their own narrative in relation to the balance, and tensions, between inclusive practice in mainstream settings and more targeted provision or specialised areas of SEN, reflecting critically on your own experience and alternative perspectives. The award draws on the specialist expertise and research in the Faculty's Education and Social Research Institute.

About the Course

MA Inclusive Education and Special Educational Needs and Disability is for a wide range of education professionals (and in adjacent areas eg relevant health/social care settings) who are interested in professional development, understanding and practice in the award area.

Assessment details

Assessment is by coursework for each unit and a full assignment brief is available for each unit. Assessment tasks always allow you to pursue your own thinking and interests within the parameters of the unit and award. Formative feedback is available and built in for every unit.

For taught units (30 credits) the assessment is 5000 words equivalent. The final (60 credit) dissertation is 12-14,000 words.

Read less