Special Education
Abstract
If you want to familiarise yourself with special education without making it your main discipline at Bachelor level, this secondary studies programme will enable you to enrich, expand and diversify the knowledge acquired in your main studies programme.
This programme consists of two parts: an introduction to the theoretical foundations of special education, with courses in general special education and differential special education; and an introduction to the theories of development, with courses introducing you to factors, mechanisms and conditions that influence individual typical and atypical development.
This programme does not lead to a professional diploma in special education and social pedagogy, which requires opting for studies in special education and social pedagogy as a single discipline. However, it may be of value later in your training, for example in order to join the Master's programme in special education.
Profile of the study programme
The goal of the Bachelor studies programme in special education (60 ECTS credits) is to familiarise students with the foundations of special education.
This familiarisation has two parts:
- Introduction to the theoretical foundations of special education. This part consists of courses in general special education and differential special education. It includes the main models for understanding disability, learning and development theories, the issue of variability and differences in development, as well as the main neurodevelopmental disorders likely to interfere with development;
- Introduction to theories of development. This part consists of various courses enabling students to acquire a basic knowledge of the factors, mechanisms and conditions that influence individual typical and atypical development.
This study programme enables students to enrich, expand and diversify their knowledge by supplementing the knowledge acquired in their main study programme. The programme is chosen freely, but the courses to follow are compulsory.
Fribourg profile
This study programme is part of the wide range of courses in secondary disciplines. It is offered by the University of Fribourg with the objective of promoting conceptual bridges between different fields, linking different areas of knowledge, and addressing real world issues, in terms of more than one discipline. It draws on a wealth of knowledge and scientific work, in a teaching tradition that has been widely developed and recognised at the University of Fribourg.
Learning outcomes and career openings
This study programme enables students to broaden their knowledge and interests with an introduction to the foundations and the basic issues of special education.
Students who successfully complete this study programme will acquire and accumulate sufficient knowledge that they can use later in their training, for instance by joining the Master's programme in special education.
Studies in special education as a secondary studies programme are not equivalent to those that lead to a professional diploma in special education and social pedagogy (Bachelor of Arts, single discipline special education, special education and social pedagogy, recognised by professional institutions).
Studies organisation
Structure of studies
60 ECTS credits as a minor study programme
Curriculum
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/6bJ0s (French)
http://studies.unifr.ch/go/AC34U (German)
Comments
Students who choose this study programme must enrol with the department in the first three weeks of the first semester.
Admission
The following Swiss school-leaving certificates grant admission to Bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg:
- Swiss academic Maturity Certificate
- Swiss vocational or specialised Baccalaureate in conjunction with the supplementary exam certificate from the Swiss Maturity Commission
- Bachelor Degree from a Swiss university, from an accredited Swiss university of applied sciences (HES/FH) or from a Swiss university of teacher education (HEP/PH)
A complete list of all further recognized Swiss school-leaving certificates is to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities (in French and German only): http://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-swiss-certificates
Foreign upper secondary school-leaving certificates are recognised only if they correspond substantially to the Swiss Maturity Certificate. They must qualify as general education. Foreign school-leaving certificates are considered to be general education if the last three years of schooling include at least six general education subjects, independent from each other, in accordance with the following list:
- First language (native language)
- Second language
- Mathematics
- Natural sciences (biology, chemistry or physics)
- Humanities and social sciences (geography, history or economics/law)
- Elective (an additional language or an additional subject from category 4 or 5)
The general admission requirements to the Bachelor programmes at the University of Fribourg for holders of foreign school-leaving certificates as well as the admission requirements for individual countries are to be found on the webpages of swissuniversities: http://studies.unifr.ch/go/en-admission-countrylist
In addition, foreign candidates must present proof of sufficient language skills in French or German.
The assessment of foreign school-leaving certificates is based on the «CRUS Recommendations for the Assessment of Foreign Upper Secondary School-Leaving Certificates, 7 September 2007» (http://studies.unifr.ch/go/crus07en). The admission requirements are valid for the respective academic year. The Rectorat of the University of Fribourg reserves the right to change these requirements at any time.
