Bachelor of Special Education / Bachelor of Disability Studies

Welcome to the Bachelor of Special Education (Primary)/ Bachelor of Disability Studies.

This degree is unique in that it provides students with a course of study in special education and disability studies and can lead to multiple career pathways for students on successful graduation. The origins of this degree came about through extensive and consistent community engagement and research connections of UNE academic staff and industry partners.

The area of disability studies is broad and covers a number of sectors including the compulsory education years, early childhood and early intervention, post-school and community options. Special education has a key place in the area of disability studies and typically other university degrees have focused on either special education or disability studies.

At UNE we believe, as do our industry partners, that the two areas are explicitly linked. No child attends school without having had a prior experience and that experience continues outside of school hours and long after compulsory schooling has ceased.

The profile of professionals in the disability sector includes teachers, social workers, psychologists, speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists. The informed educator understands about the need to look beyond the pre-school setting, the school setting the further education setting to focus on the person rather than the disability.

In addition professionals working in the field need to be able to be informed about life needs, quality of life, adequately preparing for adulthood, employment, independent living, literacy, numeracy and communication just to name a few areas. This course covers these areas by having a combined approach of several Schools teach into the degree.

The School of Education, The School of Health, The School of Cognitive Science,  The School of Business, Economics and Public Policy all contribute to this degree. A key element of this degree is the professional experience which is in total 120 days that occur in 7 placements. These placements include community placement, primary school settings and two special education settings where students must work closely with a school-aged child in an inclusive setting.

The units in this degree are and will continue to be delivered using the latest interactive technology. UNE is committed to being a national leader in interactive e-learning. Academics who teach into this degree are active researchers. Their research informs their teaching. In addition there are explicit links with industry groups as part of framing the program and the research undertaken. UNE actively engages with industry partners in school education and community education particularly further education and funded non-government service providers. At UNE we believe this degree demonstrates what education for the 21st century is about, an active engagement with the broad education sector and actively engaging in research and community links.

Link to the Course and Unit Catalogue for further information.

I wish you well in your studies.

Dr Stephen Winn