Special needs education
The special needs education teachers program allows students to gain the knowledge, operational abilities, and personal competences, which qualify them in the field of early remedial education for preventive and instructional support of children, whose development is endangered, disrupted or hindered, as well as appropriate familial intervention, and in the field of scholastic remedial education, for instruction and educational work with pupils who have special education needs.
According to the Regulations on the Recognition of University Degrees in Special Education (in the field of early remedial education and in the field of scholastic remedial education) (in German), a special needs education study programs corresponds to a Master’s degree (cf. EDK degree title regulations, in German).
The following institutions offer study programs in special needs education: PHBern, PH VS, PH FHNW, University of Fribourg, FAPSE, HEP Vaud, PHZ, HEP-BEJUNE, HfH (cf. Overview of study programs).
In order to be accepted in a special education program, in the field of scholastic remedial education, the following minimum qualifications set by the EDK must be met: a teacher’s certificate for normal classroom work or a Bachelor’s degree in speech and language therapy or psychomotor therapy, or a Bachelor’s degree in a related field of studies. Students, who have received a Bachelor’s degree through an integrated course of studies for a secondary I teacher’s certificate, may also be accepted for this program.
Graduates of the teacher training program for special needs education receive a “Special Needs Teaching Certificate” and a reference to their chosen area of specialization as well as the academic title of Master of Arts in Special Needs Education.
Please visit the homepage of one of the universities of teacher education or review the EDK regulations for detailed information about application requirements.
