Special Education, Motor and Cognitive Domain

Introduction

The aim of the Masters in Special Education, Cognitive and Motor Domain is to train specialists (teachers and other technicians) in Special Education who, from an Inclusive Education perspective, can develop their action in the school environment and other educational and professional settings. Through the deepening of conceptual, instrumental, interpersonal and systemic competences, this course enables:

• The development of a professional practice that is based on deep theoretical and practical knowledge and whose methods and technical skills provide a solid basis for intervention and research in the field of education for students with special educational needs (SEN) in the cognitive and motor domain.
• The qualification of professionals in methods and techniques of analysis, observation, assessment and intervention in the educational process of students with SEN, from an individual, group or institutional perspective.
• The acquisition and development of skills to support and assist teachers and other educational agents in educational projects and differentiation of tasks to work with or teach pupils with SEN
• The development of research skills and abilities to interpret research data and acknowledge its relevance to the theory and practice in the field of Special Education.

Professional Careers

The Masters in Special Education, Cognitive and Motor Domain is designed for people who hold, or seek to hold, positions of responsibility for the education of children and young people who experience difficulties in learning.

Under the law, and in accordance with the provisions of Art. 56, paragraph a), of Decree-Law No. 15/2007, of 19 January, the 1st year of the course confers a post-graduate diploma that meets the requirements of the Portuguese Ministry of Education. This post-graduate diploma certifies that the teacher has a level of specialized training in Special Education which, after recognition by the Scientific and Pedagogical Council for Professional Teacher Training, gives access, for professionals with a minimum of five years of previous teaching experience, to specialized functions in this domain.

The completion of studies, which involves a a dissertation/or an intervention project, and corresponds to a Masters degree, requires an in-depth level of knowledge and enhances capacities for independent research or professional practice. Under the provisions of Article 54, of Decree-Law No. 15/ 2007, of 19 January, the Masters diploma gives the possibility of career promotion and reduction of service time.