Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation Sciences
(Master of Arts)

Profile

Course type

Postgraduate studies (Master)

Standard Course Duration

4 semesters

Course Start

Winter semester

Language of Instruction

German

Language Requirements

German HZB: English B1
International application: German B2 AND English B1
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Special Requirements

An academic degree in special needs education or a closely related study programme is required to apply for the Master's degree programme.

In addition, specific knowledge in the area of learning support and educational assistance or speech and communication therapy must be proven.

Admission

Restricted admission

International

Stay abroad possible, but not obligatory.

Short Description

The tiered system of special needs education support mechanisms in Germany ranges from inclusive and/or integrated support to individual measures in special needs establishments or clinical institutions. Special needs educationalists determine in each individual case where the best possible support or rehabilitation can be provided; they coordinate and implement the necessary measures.

The Master’s degree programme in Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation Sciences leads to a professional qualification, specialising in “Learning and Educational Support” or “Speech and Communication Therapy”, enabling students to academically address practice-oriented research issues in non-school-based special needs education settings. The areas of diagnostics as well as intervention and evaluation play a major role in both specialisations. In Hannover, particular attention is also paid to the area of research theories and methods. Courses in scientific research methods and student involvement in current research projects related to the area specialisation at the Institute of Education for Special Needs ensure that students gain an education with a high proportion of theoretically sound practical elements, that they engage in a reflective discussion of research results and gain research experience.

Further information on the website of the programme Special Needs Education and Rehabilitation Science (German language only)

Course Content

At the beginning of the degree programme, students select one of the two area specialisations – Learning and Educational Support (LE) or Speech and Communication Therapy (SKT). Various entry requirements specific to the area specialisation govern access to the programme.

Course Structure

The degree programme comprises the core area “Research Theories and Methods” as well as two areas of competence: “Diagnosis” and “Intervention and Evaluation”. Students start by acquiring a solid foundation in these areas as well as more specialised knowledge of a topic linked to current research issues (compulsory area). They then expand on and apply this basic knowledge, and acquire specific skills in the specialisation Learning and Educational Support or Speech and Communication Therapy (compulsory elective area). In these courses, students explore additional research trends and issues, special projects and their presentation, diagnostic procedures and their evaluation as well as specific intervention measures and strategies, and their evaluation in real-life settings.

Practical elements are integrated into the degree programme in the form of two periods of practical training and a (research) project.

	Kernbereich: Forschungstheorien und Forschungsmethoden	Kompetenzbereich: Diagnostik	Kompetenzbereich: Intervention und Evaluation
Pflichtbereich	MA 1: Datenquellen und Erhebungsmethoden	MA 2: Diagnostik in Theorie und Praxis	MA 3: Intervention in Theorie und Praxis
Wahlpflichtbereich („Lernförderung u. Erziehungshilfe“ oder „Sprach- und Kommunikationstherapie“)	LE 1/SKT 1: Aktuelle Forschungsfragen LE 2/SKT 2: Projekt LE 3/SKT 3: Masterarbeit im Studienschwerpunkt	LE 4/SKT 4: Diagnostik LE 5/SKT 5: Praxis der Diagnostik (inkl. Praktikum)	LE 6/SKT 6: Intervention LE 7/SKT 7 : Praxis der Intervention (inkl. Praktikum)

Recommended Abilities

An interest in academic issues and working practices in the context of special needs education is a requirement for the degree programme. Students should also be keen to work for and with people with disabilities and in problematic life situations. Key competencies such as cooperative and communicative skills, the willingness to work in a team and to reflect on their own research experience in the context of application play a central role.

Career Opportunities

Depending on their specialisation, graduates of this degree programme are qualified to work in areas of activity involving learning and educational support or speech and communication therapy. The degree also qualifies graduates to work in teaching and academic research in further and higher education. Additional areas of employment include concept development, academic documentation and evaluation as well as general organisation and management.

Admission requirements and application

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate degree in a related field of study, such as

For master's degree programmes with restricted admission, places shall be allocated according to the university’s own selection procedure, if there are more applicants fulfilling the admission requirements than there are places available. The exact admission requirements can be found in the admission regulations: