Disability and Special Education

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MA in Disability Studies and Special Education gives you the unique opportunity to study the various theories and research methodologies available to scholars and professionals working, or planning a career, in education and related services.

The programme introduces you to a range of epistemological positions, theoretical perspectives and research tools, and considers competing views on educational policy and practice for disabled children and students.

The MA provides a general overview that forms a firm foundation upon which you can consider and critically analyse specific disability and education issues within the context of educational policy, practice and research.

The course highlights particular topics so you construct an understanding of key conceptual issues, and current developments in mainstream and special educations systems.

The course also places particular emphasis on the recent trend towards mainstreaming and 'inclusion' within schools and colleges of further and higher education at the local, national and international levels and their implications for professionals and practitioners.

MA in Disability Studies and Special Education draws on the expertise of scholars and researchers based in the internationally renowned Centre for Disability Studies in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, and the School of Education.

If you are working, or planning a career, in Special Education * And wish to bridge the gap between your understanding of theory and practice.

If you are a service provider, practitioner or policy maker for disabled children and students

* And want to update your knowledge of the legislative framework, and review current concepts of special educational need.

then MA in Disability Studies and Special Education is the programme for you.

Compulsory ModulesDebates on Disability Theory and Research gives you the opportunity to critically evaluate recent debates and developments within social research on disability. Not only will you discuss positivist, interpretative and 'emancipatory' methodologies, alongside associated data collection and analytical strategies, you will also examine their significance for disability research.

Through the module, you will investigate theoretical perspectives, the various definitions and approaches to impairment and disability, and disability as an equal opportunities and policy issue. You will explore the impact of myths and prejudices, industrialisation and the welfare state upon cultural representations of disability.

Disability and Special Education Dissertation allows you to tailor your own programme of training and research in consultation with a member of staff drawn from the department's MA/PhD supervisory panel. Through the dissertation, you demonstrate your ability to develop and complete an in-depth analysis, select and use appropriate research methods, deploy advanced theoretical concepts and relate a focused study to broader Disability and Special Education debates and concerns.

Optional modulesYou also choose one modules from the following list:

* Special Educational Needs: Principles and Practice
* Special Educational Needs: International Perspectives

Finally, you choose two more modules from this list to complete your programme:

* Teaching Children with Learning Difficulties
* Research Strategy and Design
* Quantitative Research Methods
* Qualitative Research Methods
* Contemporary Social Thought
* Researching Care in Comparative Perspective
* Social Policy, Politics and Disabled People
* Disability and Development
* Negotiated Study in Disability Studies
* Evaluation Research

Postgraduate Diploma in Disability and Special EducationAvailable on a 12-month full-time or 24-month part-time basis, the Postgraduate Diploma in Sociology covers similar ground to the MA, but does not include the dissertation module. On the basis of a good performance in a full-time student's first semester, or a part-timer's first year, students initially registered for the Diploma may be transferred onto the corresponding MA.

If you wish to apply for our postgraduate taught programmes, you should normally hold a good honours degree (upper second class or first class) in a Social Science discipline, or an equivalent professional qualification. Relevant experience will be taken into account where appropriate.Candidates who have narrowly missed securing an upper second result may be considered on their merits. We also welcome applications for the Social and Public Policy programme from good candidates from the Humanities that are keen to enter the public or voluntary sectors, or who work in these fields already.Postgraduate diploma routes are available for candidates that do not wish to take the full MA programme. It is also possible to consider candidates for the Diploma who are not appropriately qualified for immediate MA study. Such candidates may be considered for subsequent transfer to an MA programme, depending on performance.Successful completion of a postgraduate degree demands facility in English. It is a requirement that essays and dissertations are well-written.Prospective and intending students whose first language is not English will need to ensure that their linguistic proficiency is adequate. They may need to undertake some language training in the University or elsewhere.Minimum requirements * Internet Based TOEFL: 92 with not less than 23 in speaking, 21 in reading, 22 in writing and 21 in listening * A minimum IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 with at least 6.0 in all components.The School keeps its requirements under review and may request a higher level of proficiency. The University of Leeds Language Centre can provide more details on your English requirements. The Language Centre also provides the Academic English for Postgraduate Studies pre-sessional course which is designed to help international students develop the necessary language and academic study skills required for successful study on a taught postgraduate degree programme.Pre-sessional courses start in September, January, April, July or August. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL iBT® test: 92 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

You can find further information on fees at University of Leeds Postgraduate Fees and Finance.

Information on Economic and Social Research Council Awards and School scholarships can be found at funding and scholarships.

Information on Scholarships can be obtained from Scholarships at Leeds.