نظرة عامة على البرنامج

---

University of Fribourg Master of Science in Special Education

Abstract

The Master of Science in Special Education at the University of Fribourg is designed to equip students with strong research skills and a broad, diversified knowledge of special education. The program explores alterity, difference, disability, normality, life trajectories, and the creation of environments that promote personal development. Benefiting from a dual humanist and scientific tradition, the course enables students to develop a deeper understanding of issues and transformations in special education.

Profile of the Study Programme

This master program is intended for students with experience in special education or related disciplines, aiming to develop and enrich their perception of the field. The course is distinct from the Specialised Master of Arts in Special Needs Education, focusing on special teaching in school environments. The generalist nature of the training allows students to explore special education beyond the classroom, studying its deployment in pre-, para-, and post-school periods and contexts.

Fribourg Profile

The program is based on a solid scientific tradition established at the University of Fribourg, offering in-depth training and research in special education. The training benefits from collaborations with the Departments of Education Sciences and Psychology.

Learning Outcomes and Career Openings

Upon completing the program, students will:

• Know the challenges and changes in special education and their implications at national and international levels.
• Have a solid knowledge of theoretical fields relating to special education.
• Be able to carry out conceptual analysis and summarize theoretical knowledge.
• Assess, select, and create tools for assessment and intervention.
• Develop research scenarios using qualitative and quantitative methods.

The training is suitable for careers in teaching, research, management in specialized educational institutions, and positions in cantonal or federal administrations.

Option Speech-Language Therapy

The Option Speech-Language Therapy is intended for candidates with a degree in speech-language therapy, aiming to deepen their knowledge and gain advanced qualifications. The program includes a dissertation on speech-language therapy issues and can be taken part-time.

Studies Organisation

• Structure of studies: 90 ECTS credits + 30 ECTS credits as an option in a minor study program, 3-4 semesters.
• Curriculum: Not specified.
• Admission: Master's degree programs are built on the knowledge and abilities acquired during the bachelor's degree. Holders of a bachelor's degree from a Swiss university are admitted without preconditions if they have earned 60 or 90 ECTS credits within the corresponding discipline.

Minor Study Programs to be Chosen

A list of minor study programs is available, including:

• Art History
• Business Informatics
• Chemistry
• Communication and Society
• Comparative Literature
• Computer Science
• Contemporary History
• Culture, Politics, and Religion in Pluralist Societies
• Eastern European Studies
• Economics
• Education Sciences
• English Language and Literature
• Environmental Biology
• Environmental Sciences and Humanities
• Ethics and Economics
• European Studies
• French as a Foreign Language / French as a Second Language
• French: Foundational Curriculum
• Gender, Society, Social Policy
• Geography
• German
• German as a Foreign Language / German as a Second Language
• Greek Studies
• History
• Interreligious Studies
• Islam and Society
• Italian
• Latin Studies
• Management
• Mathematics
• Medieval Studies
• Multilingualism Studies
• Musicology and History of Opera
• Pedagogy / Psychology
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Politics and Society
• Psychology
• Rhaeto-Romance
• Slavic Studies
• Social Policy and Social Work
• Social Problems, Social Policy, and Risk Prevention
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Sport Sciences
• Theology

Key Points

• Degree conferred: Master of Science in Special Education
• Languages of study: French or German
• Options: An Option Speech-Language Therapy is proposed within this master program (study in German only).
• Commencement of studies: Autumn Semester (September) or Spring Semester (February)
• Access to further studies: Ph.D.