Special Needs Education

The Master in Special Needs Education trains special needs teachers to carry out full teaching responsibilities for students aged 4 to 20, taking into consideration academic targets and the particularities of special education contexts (assistance with integration into ordinary classes, specialised classes, specialised institutions). At once academic and vocational, this Master's programme trains professionals by giving them scientific knowledge of the facts of special needs education. A particular stream is reserved for students with ordinary teaching diplomas who are working professionally as special needs teachers.

Programme length

2 years (4 semesters)

Language of instruction

French

Candidates must have Level A2 language skills in German and English in accordance with the Common European Framework of References for languages.

Study Programme

4 semesters (max. 8 semesters) | 120 ECTS credits

Section 1 (9 credits)
Political, social and historical context of special education.

Section 2 (12 credits)
Professional role and identity of the special needs teacher.

Section 3 (42 credits)
Training in research in special needs education:

Training in methodology
Thesis

Section 4 (57 credits)
Teaching and learning in special needs education contexts:

Contributions to cooperation, teaching and learning in various professional contexts
Internships and analysis of professional activity

Conditions of registration

www.unige.ch/conditions/MA

Admission Conditions

Candidates must hold a recognised ordinary teaching diploma for pre-school, primary or secondary school teaching
or, must take 30 to 60 credits of supplementary study courses, BA in a related field (for example: Educational Sciences, Social Education, Special Education, Speech Therapy, Psychology or Occupational Therapy) awarded by a recognised Swiss or foreign third-level institution.

Admission is application-based.