Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Facilitating Inclusive Education (Top-Up Degree)

Overview

The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Facilitating Inclusive Education (Top-Up Degree) is a program designed to help students build professional skills required by Learning Support Educators to assist and support teachers in the general classroom. The program equips students with the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to support teachers in creating an effective classroom experience for all students.

Program Details

• MQF Level: 6
• Duration and Credits: 2 Years (using both summer semesters), 120 ECTS
• Mode of Study: Part-time Evening

Course Objectives

The course aims to improve the competencies, skills, effectiveness, and confidence that learning support educators seek to bring to their work. It focuses on knowledge and skills to support individuals with mild to severe disabilities, learning difficulties, and challenging behavior.

Curriculum

The program includes compulsory and elective units, with students required to choose their Primary or Secondary specialization. Key areas of study include:

• Practice Placement
• Parental Involvement
• Inclusive Language Practices in Academic Research
• Exclusion, Inclusion, and Schooling
• Curriculum Knowledge
• Research Methods in Inclusive Education
• Observation Techniques for Assessment and Support for Learning
• Aids for Daily Living
• Early Childhood Intervention

Year 1 and Year 2 Study Units

Year 1

• Compulsory Units:
  • IAL2002: Practice Placement 2
  • IAL2005: Parental Involvement
  • IAL2021: Inclusive Language Practices in Academic Research
  • IAL3009: Exclusion, Inclusion, and Schooling
• Elective Units:
  • EPE2014: Curriculum Knowledge: Early Years (Primary specialisation)
  • IAL2009: Curriculum Knowledge: Language Learning in Secondary Years (Secondary specialisation)

Year 2

• Compulsory Units:
  • IAL3000: Practice Placement 3
  • IAL3001: Long Essay
  • IAL2023: Supporting Students with Severe Communication Disabilities
  • IAL3002: Children and Social Welfare: Rights and Legal Issues with Special Reference to Persons with Disabilities
• Elective Units:
  • IAL3005: Curriculum Knowledge: Primary Years (Language and Humanities) (Primary specialisation)
  • IAL3006: Curriculum Knowledge: Secondary Years (Math and Science) (Secondary specialisation)

Admission Requirements

• The Diploma in Facilitating Inclusive Education of the University of Malta
• The MCAST Level 5 Higher Diploma in Facilitating Inclusive Education or any other comparable and equivalent recognized qualification
• Passes at SEC level at Grade 5 or better in English Language, Maltese, and Mathematics

Fees

• Non-EU Applicants: Eur 4,250 per academic year

Career Opportunities

Graduates can work as Learning Support Educators (LSEs) at the graduate level (LSE 3) or apply to become Inclusion Coordinators (INCOs). They can also pursue an academic career or further studies at the Master's level in related areas.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Define their role as a Learning Support Educator
• List their responsibilities within the transdisciplinary team
• Identify specific skills and teaching strategies for effective support
• Demonstrate self-direction through the completion of assigned tasks
• Plan according to the diverse needs of children
• Use augmentative and alternative technologies to support learning

Governance

This program of study is governed by the General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019, and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Facilitating Inclusive Education - B.A. (Hons) - under the auspices of the Faculty of Education.