Special Education Studies BA (Hons)

This programme is for those looking to progress to teaching, social work or management in the special education and social care sectors and will give you the skills and knowledge you need to create safe, stimulating and supportive learning environments.

Overview
About the course
Structure
Fees
Entry requirements
Applying

Special Education Studies is about making sure that everyone, regardless of their needs, is given the opportunity to participate in learning experiences that are tailored and delivered in ways that address their needs, interests and ambitions. This programme is for those looking to progress to teaching, social work or management in the special education and social care sectors and will give you the skills and knowledge you need to create safe, stimulating and supportive learning environments.

Why should I do this course?

The programme benefits by having a mixture of staff, from those with specialisms in special education to those from wider disciplines such as early years education and social work. This unique multidisciplinary nature widens the exposure you will have to a range of career options and also grants opportunities for you to collaborate with students from other degrees on joint workshops, projects and scholarly visits.

One very special aspect of this programme is the opportunity to undertake a work placement at various stages of study. This balance between theory developed at the College and practice in the workplace ensures that by the time you graduate, you will be ready and confident to progress to relevant employment.

What's covered?

Subjects studied on the course include:

Year 1

developing the effective learner
research
equality, diversity and rights
human growth and development
social science
legislation and policy frameworks
communication and interpersonal skills
effective working practices

Year 2:

specific learning needs
identifying and supporting individual needs
developing and delivering learning support programmes
analysing the work environment

Year 3:

advocacy and empowerment
multidisciplinary working
project activity management
protection and vulnerability
continuing personal and professional development
dissertation

How will my work be assessed?

A wide variety of teaching methods are used, including lively seminars, group discussion of issues arising from work placements, tutor-led lectures, presentations, simulated case conferences, assignment-based activity, practical exercises, role-plays, reflective work, supervision and tutorials.

The programme is assesed in coursework-based assessments and examinations. Examinations are all in the first year of the programme and attribute about 24% of the assessment. Remaining assessment comprises of portfolios, literature reviews, case studies, reports, essay, seminar papers, reflective reports and action plans, oral presentations, project proposals and a dissertation.

What can I do after this?

Possible career routes include teaching in mainstream education (possibly as a specail education needs co-ordinator), teaching in schools designated for children with mild and severe learning disabilities, or managing special units, community care centres or training centres. This degree also prepares you for employment in a wide range of other social care or educational settings.Students wishing to pursue further study may continue at postgraduate level or continue in vocational training at another institution.

Careers

Social services

This course includes modules in Year 1 on theoretical perspectives such as legislation and policy frameworks for specific needs, Human Growth and Development, Applying the Social Sciences to Specific Needs, Introduction to Specific Needs and Introduction to Research as well as some work placed based modules such as Communication and interpersonal Skills and Effective working practices and a Skill based module Developing the Effective Learner.

Year 2 enables learners to further develop their skills in research methods, specific needs, identification and Supporting Specific Needs and in Developing and Delivering Learning Support Programmes.

Year 3 includes module son Advocacy and empowerment, Multidisciplinary working, Protection and Vulnerability (Safeguarding), and to build a Continuing Personal and Professional Development Portfolio based on the culmination of evidence collected over the degree and work placement. In addition in the third year there will be the opportunity to conduct an in-depth individual research study into an area relevant to the main curriculum of the course.

The transferable skills gained from studying this degree enable graduates to feel confident in creating a safe, stimulating and supportive environment in which to support those with a variety of specific needs (I.E. Special Educational Needs, Disability, Mental Health) in different contexts (Educational, Care and Community settings).

A wide variety of teaching methods are used, including seminars, group discussion, tutor-led lectures, presentations, case conferences, assignment-based activity, practical exercises, role-plays, reflective work, supervision and tutorials.

All learners on the programme are required to undertake a work placement that can be in a variety of settings ranging a specialist or main stream school, respite institution, care setting or community centre. There is also an element of work placement based assessment.

Low-cost higher education

Our fees are well below the national average and are among the lowest in the region, so studying with us is great value for money!

Click for more about higher education funding.

Entry requirements

160 UCAS Points
GCSE Maths and English at grade C or above (or equivalent)

CRB check

As this programme may involve regular access to children and vulnerable adults, you are legally required to complete a CRB check for which you will pay an administration fee. Further details will be issued as part of the admissions process.

Full-time courses

Applications for full-time courses should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), quoting institution code S43 and the UCAS code for your chosen course.

Part-time courses

Applications for all part-time Honours Degree, Foundation Degree, Certificate of Higher Education and Diploma of Higher Education courses at South Essex College should be made directly to the College using the online application form or by completing a paper application form and mailing it to our freepost address:

HE Admissions
South Essex College
Freepost SMU 110
Luker Road
Southend on Sea
Essex
SS1 1BR

Click for more about applying for your course.