Master of Arts Degree in Special Needs and Inclusive Education

• Analyze current issues and trends in special needs and inclusive education on a national and global level.
• promote legal and policy issues and practice that supports high quality education in inclusive settings  and improves outcomes for individuals with disabilities
• Assess and identify students with special needs and render professional back up support at all levels of a community.
• Use scientific-based methodology to research, evaluate and improve curriculum, instruction and interventions for students with disabilities.
• Undertake research and development project in the area of special needs and inclusive education, and

Participate actively in awareness rising, capacity-building, and information dissemination activities undertaken in the area of special needs and inclusive education

• empower regular teachers to use alternative and supportive teaching approaches and hence improve quality of learning of all children
• conduct teaching and training at all levels with special emphasis given to inclusive education
• identify and assess the needs, problems and potentials of children with special needs and intervene accordingly
• facilitate and realize inclusive education  at schools and local society
• render counseling and rehabilitation services for children with special needs and their  parents/ caregivers and  the local society at large
• design, manage and evaluate projects and educational programs related to special needs and inclusive education
• conduct problem solving research and development projects in the field of special needs and inclusive education
• design curriculum in the field of special needs and inclusive education and disability issues
• serve as special needs and inclusive education curriculum experts, educational advisors, and officers at various levels of the education system
• apply theories, concepts and principles of education to practices in special needs education
• collaborate with families, colleagues and the community to improve support programs and services for persons with special needs
• Adapt, modify, select and use appropriate assistive and adaptive technology and make use of local resources to enrich students learning
• coordinate, manage and monitor special needs and inclusive education program at inclusive schools, resource  centers and community based programs
• render consultancy and policy advisement services in the area of special needs and inclusive education and disability issues
• collect, organize and analyze data pertaining to disability for policy making, planning and implementing inclusive education, community based rehabilitation programs, and family based intervention programs
• prepare manuals for practitioners working with children with special educational needs in different settings
• organize and run workshops, seminars and other training programs in inclusive education and rehabilitation
• serve as a social worker in community in providing support for vulnerable and at- risk children and individuals with HIV/AIDS and other psychosocial  crises

The Master of Art in Special Needs and Inclusive Education program is designed for prospective teachers or a professional with education background who want to obtain advanced degree that enables them meet their individual needs and helps them ensure quality of special needs education practices in schools and other educational settings. Admission to the masters program of special needs education shall be carried out based on the guidelines and criteria set by school of graduate studies of Haramaya University. Nonetheless, the following criteria shall be considered in selecting candidates for the program:

• • BA/ BEd in Special Needs Education or related
  • BA in Psychology or related
  • BA/BEd in General Education or related
  • At least a CGPA of 2.00 in the undergraduate study
  • Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis; and,
  • Other things being equal, females and candidates with disability will be given priority.

The duration for the program shall normally take two-year full time regular study. When this program is offered through continuing education program (CEP) and summer, it will take 2 -3 years.