Inclusive Studies in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Diversity BA (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  This course has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: SDG4 Quality Education.

  You will learn through seminars, small group teaching contexts and active blended learning. We regularly have external speakers from the inclusive field talk about current practice. Additionally, this course will give you the opportunity to undertake work based learning and visits across all three years of your degree in a range of settings, facilitating a focus on your future career throughout your degree. Opportunities may be available for you (Government guideline dependant) to go on international visits and exchanges to explore special educational needs, disability and diversity in other countries and contexts, making lasting professional connections. There are also optional specialist routes that explore the use of ICT for working with individuals with special educational needs and/or disabilities and the use of media and creative arts approaches to exploring inclusion.

  This course is underpinned by a selection of key themes:

  • Inclusion as an integral element of a human rights agenda encompassing recognition of difference and the intersectionality of diversity
  • Comparative and international perspectives of special educational needs, disability, diversity and inclusion
  • Historical, legislative and policy dimensions impacting on current agendas
  • Professional contexts and roles across the available services leading to career pathways
  • Development of creative skills and experiences to facilitate and support others’ learning and social development
  • Focus on approaches to supporting advocacy, empowerment and social action for diverse individuals
  • Emphasis on inclusive and participatory approaches that encourage the voice of children, young people and adults with special educational needs and/or disabilities

  You will be able to choose your own dissertation topic. Subjects that have been covered recently have included a wide range of interests and issues:

  • How has having a sibling with SLD/PMLD impacted the lives of typical individuals? A birth order study.
  • Understanding the perceptions of teachers and parents in the role of imaginative play and social and emotional development in children with special educational needs
  • The inclusion of children with special educational needs and disabilities during unstructured times – A case study
  • Individuals with autism found wandering in the community; exploring the skills and responses of UK police officers
  • An exploration of sleep related issues for children with autistic spectrum disorder: a parental perspective
  • Does a whole school approach to mindfulness produce observable impacts on behaviour for children with social, emotional and mental health issues?
  • Teachers’ attitudes of the impact of ADHD on learning and the strategies used to support the individual as well as their peers

  Information about the modules on this course can be found on the Inclusive Studies in Special Educational Needs, Disability and Diversity award map.

  Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 22/23. The modules relating to the academic year 23/24 will be available from June 2023.

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• Entry Requirements

  In addition to standard entry requirements, applicants are normally expected to hold English and Mathematics equivalent to a GCSE grade C/4. A typical offer is CCC at A Level or MMM at BTEC. For details about CACHE qualifications and entry requirements please contact our Admissions Team. Applicants are expected to demonstrate commitment to inclusive practices. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance is required.

  For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  Integrated Foundation Year Entry Requirements

  Admission to this  foundation programme is normally DEE at A Level or MPP at BTEC. However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

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• Fees and Funding

  2022/23 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,500 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BSc rate).
  • International – Full Time: £14,000
  • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £14,000

  2021/22 Tuition Fees

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK – Full Time: £9,250
  • UK – Part Time: £1,465 per 20 credit module
  • UK – Integrated Foundation Year: £6,780 as part of a four year programme (subsequent years will be charged at standard BSc rate).
  • International – Full Time: £13,000
  • International – Integrated Foundation Year: £13,000

  Additional Costs

  All the study trips are optional and the costs vary year on year. Typically, this is £250 for Romania (first year) and £450 for Sweden (second year). Students normally allow an additional £100–250 for their expenses.

  Scholarships and Bursaries

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

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• Postgraduate Opportunities

  Our postgraduate courses are a great way to enhance the skills you have already learnt. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on postgraduate fees to give yourself a CV that will catch the eye of employers.

  • Special Educational Needs and Inclusion MA
  • Primary Education 5-11 (QTS) PGCE
  • The National Award for SEN Co-ordination PGCert
  • Social Work MA
  • Child and Adolescent Mental Health MSc

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time degree at Northampton you will receive a laptop when your course begins. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks visit our Student Perks page.

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  We adopt a range of teaching approaches including active blended learning. You will be expected to complete pre and post session tasks to support your engagement in taught sessions. The taught sessions will involve teaching from the lecturers, opportunities for small and whole group discussion as well as various interactive activities.

  How am I assessed?

  The range of assessments you will undertake has been chosen to reflect the diversity of our student cohorts and to support your development of employability skills. The assessment types typically include traditional written formats such as essays, reports and case studies, but you will also be asked to complete e-portfolios, posters, presentations, assessed interviews and professional dialogues.

  How long does it take to get a Special Educational Needs and Inclusion degree?

  You’re most likely to complete your course with the University of Northampton within 3-4 years.

  Are there work experience opportunities?

  Work based learning including work shadowing and visits in a wide range of settings are typically offered throughout the course

  • First year formal work based learning in educational contexts (SEN1002)
  • Second year formal work shadowing in a range of multi professional contexts (SEN2001)
  • Third year work based learning in a range of multi-professional contexts (SEN3004, SEN3005, SEN3006, SEN3008, SEN3009)

  Are there international opportunities?

  International study visits* are typically offered at the end of year 1 and the end of year 2.

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Careers and Employability

This degree allows you to keep your career choice open, as it will support you to go into different professional and work contexts in the inclusive field to support children, young people and adults in various settings.

Some examples of roles available to those graduating with a special educational needs qualification include;

• Special Education Advocate
• SEN and Disability specialist in local authorities
• Special Educational Needs teaching assistant or teacher
• SEN and Disability educational support

With additional study you could become a:

• Teacher in a mainstream or special education school
• Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator
• Social Worker
• Speech and language therapist
• Specialist dyslexia teacher and assessor