Date of Revision Date of Previous Revision
Programme Specification (2015–16)
A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be
registered.
All programmes of the University are subject to the University’s Quality Assurance
and Enhancement processes as set out in the DASA Policies and Procedures Manual.
Programme Title
Master of Education in Inclusion and Special Needs EducationFinal Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)Masters Degree (MEd) (Exit routesPGDip in Inclusion and Special Needs Education / PG Certificate)
Programme Code
EDU-MED-SN
UCAS
Code
N/AJACS
Code
X 300
Criteria for Admissions
(Please see General Regulations)
Candidates for admission to the MEd Inclusion and Special Needs Education programme should normally hold:
A 2.1 Honours degree or above or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University in any subject discipline.
Applicants with a 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may also be considered if they have at least two years of professional experience in an education, training or relevant context.
Applicants who do not meet the above academic criteria, but have an academic qualification which the School deems acceptable and relevant to the course of study applied to, will be considered on an individual basis. Such applicants will be required to demonstrate extensive (at least 5 years) professional experience in an education, training or other relevant context. This professional experience must have been acquired within the ten years preceding the date of application.
1
Applicants should also have a teaching qualification or, if not a teaching qualification, a minimum of one year of experience in a formal role within the school or classroom setting and access to a school and classroom working environment.
In line with University Regulations, there is a language requirement for applicants whose first language is not English (IELTS 6.5 or approved equivalent. For IELTs a minimum score of 5.5 is required in all four elements of the test.)
Type of
Programme
Education
SIngle
Length of
Programme Up to three years Total Credits for
Programme
180 M points
Awarding Institution/Body
Queen’s University BelfastTeaching Institution
Queen’s University BelfastSchool/Department
School of EducationFramework for Higher Education
Qualification Level
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/publications/informationan
dguidance
Level 7
QAA Benchmark Group
http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuringstandardsandqualit
y/subject-guidance/pages/subject-benchmark-statements
N/A
Collaborative Organisation and form of
Collaboration (if applicable)
N/A
Accreditations
(PSRB)
N/A
Date of next
scheduled
accreditation visit
N/A
ATAS Clearance
N/AExternal Examiner Name:
External Examiner Institution/Organisation
Dr Jennifer Spratt University of Aberdeen
Does the Programme have any approved
exemptions from the University General
Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)
Yes
□
No X
(If yes, please state here any exemptions to regulations which have been approved for this programme)
Programme Specific Regulations
The programme may either be completed over one academic year (full-time) or students may build up the required number of modules over a period of five years from initial enrolment (part-time). Postgraduate Certificate: Students must complete 60 CATS points from taught modules, either all from within this pathway or by taking modules from any other pathway where they meet the entrance requirements and/or receive approval from the relevant Pathway Coordinator.Postgraduate Diploma (Inclusion and Special Needs Education): Students must complete 120 CATS points from taught modulesof which at least 80 CATS points from this pathway. Students should also strongly consider completing 20 CATS points by taking the module EDU7250 as this will allow them to go on to the Master’s degree, if they are interested.
Master’s in Education(Inclusion and Special Needs Education): Students must complete 180 CATS points (120 CATS points from taught modules plus 60 CATS points from completing a Master’s dissertation). For the taught modules, 80 CATS points must come from modules within this pathway; the other 40 CATS points must be earned by completing the module EDU7250 and another module from the choice available.
Normally students should successfully complete all taught modules before progressing to dissertation.
All dissertations will be assessed by internal examiners and a selection moderated by the external examiner. Marks will be finalised at the Board of Examiners. The dissertation must be submitted within a period of no more than five years after commencement of the taught modules.
Students who fail one or more taught modules are permitted one further attempt to pass at the next available opportunity for a maximum mark of 50%.
Candidates who pass all the taught modules but who fail to achieve a mark of at least 50% in the dissertation shall be eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma. The School permits one attempt at dissertation resit for a maximum mark of 50% to be awarded the degree of MEd.
Mark Scales
For Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master’s Degree results there is a common mark scale as follows:
70+ Pass with distinction* 60+ Pass with commendation 50+ Pass
Below 50 Fail
*For Master’s Degrees, a pass with distinction will be awarded only when the following three conditions have been satisfied: an overall average of 70+ is achieved and a mark of 70+ is achieved in the dissertation module and an average of 65+ is achieved in the other modules.
Students with protected characteristics
n/aAre students subject to Fitness to Practise
Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)
Please indicate Yes/No
NoEducational Aims of Programme On completion of the programme the student will be able to:
Please list below the overarching aims and objectives of the programme.
On successful completion of the MEd Inclusion and Special Needs Education, students will be able to:
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of any educational research, policy, practice and theory covered in the programme;
analyse and apply critically examples of the research literature relating to the content of the programme;
show evidence of reflection on their professional practice;
demonstrate transferable skills such as writing and research skills;
demonstrate knowledge of a range of educational research methods;
choose fit-for-purpose methods for a research project within the context of their own professional role;
demonstrate engagement in the processes of research planning, data collection and analysis (as appropriate), and research reporting.
Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills
On the completion of this course successful students will
be able to:
Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies Methods of Assessment
Students will develop skills of critical thinking and reasoning in educational,theory and practice contexts based on challenging learning tasks, appropriate reading and personal research.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies are based on challenging learning tasks, appropriate reading and personal research.
The methods of assessment are based on challenging learning tasks, appropriate reading and personal research.
Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills
On the completion of this course successful students will
be able to:
Teaching/Learning Methods and
Strategies
Methods of Assessment
Many of the practical skills are transferable eg collaborative working,communication, general writing skills, library skills etc
Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding
On the completion of this course successful students will
be able to:
Teaching/Learning Methods and
Strategies
Methods of Assessment
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of any educational research, policy, practice and theory covered in the programme;
analyse and apply critically examples of the research literature relating to the content of the programme;
show evidence of reflection on their professional practice;
demonstrate transferable skills such as writing and research skills;
demonstrate knowledge of a range of educational research methods;
choose fit-for-purpose methods for a research project within the context of their own professional role;
demonstrate engagement in the processes of research planning, data collection and analysis (as appropriate), and research reporting.
Depending on the nature of the modules they choose, students experience a variety of pedagogic approaches including seminars, workshops and lectures.
Assignments of 4,000 words for each module are assessed against published criteria. The tutor’s assessment is subject to internal moderation and external examining. Blind double marking (for dissertations) and anonymous marking (for assignments) ensure fairness and consistency.
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific Skills
On the completion of this course successful students will
be able to
Teaching/Learning Methods and
Strategies
Methods of Assessment
Students will develop practical research skills. They may also elect to developtheir skills in writing and Internet searching through workshops provided in support of the programme.
Learning is, in general, independent and supervised by module tutors and has a practical as well as
conceptual/theoretical orientation.
Programme Requirements
Module Title
Module
Code
Level/
stage
Credits Availability Duration Pre-requisite
Assessment
S1
S2
Core
Option Coursework %
Examination %
The Intellectual Foundations of
Special Education EDU7254 7 20 S1 - 20 contact hours None X 100% Assignment
Collaborative Relationships for Inclusive Special Needs Education
EDU7243 7 20 - S2 20 contact
hours None X 100% Assignment
Special Needs Education and
Issues of Equity EDU7083 7 20 S1 20 contact hours None X 100% Assignment
Reimagining Special Needs
Education: Inclusive Pedagogy EDU7256 7 20 S2 20 contact hours None X 100% Assignment School Improvement &
Professional Development for Inclusive Special Needs Education
EDU7255 7 20 S2 20 contact
hours None X 100% Assignment
An introduction to research methods: children, young people and education
EDU7250 7 20 S1 S2 20 contact
hours None X 100% Assignments
Dissertation EDU7999 7 60 Si S2 120 M points x 100%
Dissertation
