Special education

prof. PaedDr. Miroslava Bartoňová, Ph.D

doc. Mgr. Mária Belešová, PhD.

doc. PhDr. Alexandra Biščo Kastelová, PhD.

PhDr. Katarína Cabanová, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Jitka Derková, PhD.

doc. Mgr. Zuzana Fábry Lucká, PhD.

Mgr. Mária Fuchsová, PhD.

doc. PhDr. Mária Glasová, PhD.

doc. PhDr. Marián Groma, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Ján Gunčaga, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Terézia Harčaríková, PhD.

Mgr. Barbora Jaslovská, PhD.

PaedDr. Zuzana Juráneková, MBA

PhDr. Jana Jurášková, PhD.

doc. Mgr. Zlatica Jursová Zacharová, PhD.

JUDr. Marta Kečkéšová, PhD.

Mgr. Viktória Kevická, PhD.

PaedDr. Klaudia Korvínová, PhD.

prof. PaedDr. Dušan Kostrub, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Jana Lopúchová, PhD.

doc. PhDr. Branislav Malík, CSc.

PaedDr. Lucia Minichová, PhD.

prof. PhDr. Erich Mistrík, CSc.

Mgr. Peter Ostradický, PhD.

PaedDr. Margaréta Osvaldová, PhD.

Mgr. Alexandra Partlová

prof. PhDr. Mária Potočárová, PhD.

PaedDr. Andrea Prečuchová Štefanovičová, PhD.

doc. PaedDr. Eva Severini, PhD.

PhDr. Mgr. Romana Schunová, PhD.

MUDr. Judita Slezáková, CSc.

PaedDr. Valéria Stašiaková

Ing. Mgr. Jozef Strakoš, PhD.

prof. PaedDr. Darina Tarcsiová, PhD.

Mgr. Kristína Tkáčová, PhD.

Mgr. Miroslava Tomášková, PhD.


Graduate study advisor (tutor):

Mgr. Miroslava Tomášková, PhD., tomaskova@fedu.uniba.sk


The Departmental Coordinator of the Erasmus+ and international mobility programs:   

Mgr. Miroslava Tomášková, PhD., tomaskova@fedu.uniba.sk


Special educational needs coordinators

Students with visual impairment + faculty coordinator:
doc. PaedDr. Jana Lopúchová, PhD.
02/9015 9123, e-mail: lopuchovafedu.uniba.sk

Students with hearing impairment:
prof. PaedDr. Darina Tarcsiová, CSc.
02/9015 9128, e-mail: tarcsiovafedu.uniba.sk 

Students with physical disabilities and students with learning disabilities:
doc. PaedDr. Terézia Harčaríková, PhD.
02/9015 9121, e-mail: harcarikovafedu.uniba.sk

The study program special education at the master's level of study, thanks to the number and composition of compulsory, compulsory optional and optional subjects, enables a high variability of study paths depending on the student's interest, possibilities, work performance, and the diversity of needs and possible motivation.

Study program special education - second degree (Mgr.) is designed to arrange comprehensive educational, professional, didactic-methodic and methodological training of future special educators - teachers and counselors for children, pupils and individuals with special educational needs in both special and inclusive education and their relevant special eduational intervention support. The disciplines represented in it present the necessary professional information and data from general pedagogy and didactics, special education, specializations of special education and related disciplines.

The study program consists of theoretical subjects and practical subjects. Theoretical subjects are implemented in the form of lectures and seminars, in which students gain knowledge from individual areas of the study program, at the same time they learn to analyze, synthesize and compare them with knowledge from subjects of the common pedagogical-psychological and methodological component, related to the intact population. Subjects of a practical nature are implemented in the form of seminars and exercises, in which students should master the application of theoretical knowledge and acquire skills and abilities related to educational activities and the specifics of educational rehabilitation, as well as a set of diagnostic and counseling activities in the population of disabled children, youth and adults.

Part of the study program is special education practice in special schools and institutions, where these individuals are educated both in specialized facilities and in an inclusive environment, or in facilities providing complex rehabilitation of individuals with a health handicap.

The study program is structured into three components.
The first of the components is the pedagogical-psychological and methodological component. By completing the subjects of this component, the student can obtain 14 credits.
The second component are the subjects of the common special pedagogical bases. By completing the subjects of this component, the student receives 28 credits. All subjects in this component are compulsory.
The third component of the Master's study program are the subjects of individual specializations: special pedagogical counseling, pedagogy for the mentally and multiple disabled, pedagogy for the physically disabled, sick and physically impaired, pedagogy for the hearing impaired, pedagogy for the visually impaired, pedagogy for individuals with learning and behavioral disorders and impaired communication skills. The student chooses two of the specializations offered. A student in each of the specializations will receive 22 credits for the compulsory part of the subjects.

The study program also includes compulsory optional subjects, for which the student must obtain at least 8 credits out of the 16 credits offered.
The entire program is supplemented by ten optional subjects for which the student can obtain 20 credits and which are mainly oriented towards the use of therapies in special education and subjects oriented towards alternative forms of communication.

In the master's degree, based on the chosen specializations, students also complete a special teaching practice in each of the chosen specializations. The scope of special pedagogical practice is 26 hours for each practice, i.e. a total of 2x26= 52 hours of practice. The study program also offers an internship that the student can choose from among the mandatory optional subjects - special pedagogical practice G - pedagogy for the intellectually gifted, also in the scope of 26 hours per semester.
An integral part of the study plan is also the defense of the diploma thesis (compulsory subject), state exams in compulsory subjects, state exams in subjects of chosen specializations, or optional state exam.

STUDY PLAN - full-time form

STUDY PLAN - part-time form

The basic condition for admission to master's studies is completion of a first-level study program (bachelor's study program) in the same or a related study program or field. In case of greater interest of applicants in the chosen study program than the planned limit approved by AS PdF UK, the order of admissions will be processed on the basis of the study average for the entire bachelor's study of the first degree, calculated only from completed subjects, including the state exam.
Graduates of the Faculty of Education, UK Bc. study of Special Education can be accepted without admission interviews. The order of success of the applicants will be created on the basis of the achieved study average in the bachelor's degree.
Graduates of the study program Special Education (baccalaureate degree) from other education faculties will take differential entrance exams in the following subjects:

• written test in special education,

• a written test from subjects that will depend on the chosen two specializations.

Graduates of bc. studies in related study programs (e.g. preschool inclusive pedagogy, therapeutic pedagogy, social pedagogy) can only be accepted on the basis of the performance of differential entrance exams and other conditions set out by the university.
Applicants who choose the specialization pedagogy of the hearing impaired are required to take a practical exam, the purpose of which is to assess:

• the content and formal side of the spoken language,

• prerequisites for mastering manual forms of communication.

The practical exam will take place in front of the admission committee, whose members are experts in the given field.

A graduate of the Special Education study program (2nd degree) possesses high standard scientific knowledge in the profile issue, acquires cross-sectional and deep knowledge of special education as an integrated scientific field, as well as of its individual specializations.
All successful graduates of the 2nd degree of the Special Education study program are able to interpret special-pedagogical phenomena and processes through scientific language, they master the theoretical-philosophical starting points that are necessary for determining goals. They master the methods, methodologies and techniques of special pedagogic diagnostics, prognostics and counseling and can independently implement the diagnostic and counseling process. They master special methods of educating the disabled, know how to compare and analyze them. They control the content and procedural side of the process of educational rehabilitation of the disabled. At the same time, they are able to interpret special-pedagogical phenomena and processes, theoretically and practically master the communication systems of disabled people and the possibilities of their use in the process of education and educational rehabilitation as well as in ordinary social and working life.
In the field of practical skills, a graduate of the 2nd degree special pedagogy study program acquires the skills to implement the educational process with the disabled in various organizational units. Based on knowledge from diagnostics, graduate can choose adequate educational methods in relation to specific diagnostics of pupils, choose and apply adequate methodologies for individual teaching subjects. A graduate controls various forms of communication for disabled people and uses them based on the individual needs of individual pupils. It is also prepared for designing special educational, correction and stimulation programs. The graduate is qualified for complex diagnostic, educational and complex educational-rehabilitation work (education, diagnosis, correction, stimulation, compensation, re-education, pedagogical therapies, counseling interventions) in special schools, classes, in individual (home) teaching, in inclusive education, in social service facilities and special pedagogic or psychological counseling facilities. It is theoretically and practically prepared for achieving positive changes in the development of education and upbringing of children and youth with special educational needs. A graduate is theoretically and practically prepared for teamwork within complex rehabilitation care and for cooperation with family and various experts.
A graduate of the Special Education study program (2nd degree) possesses high standard scientific knowledge in the profile issue, acquires cross-sectional and deep knowledge of special education as an integrated scientific field, as well as of its individual specializations.
There are several specializations in offer: pedagogy for the mentally and multiple disabled, pedagogy for the visually impaired, pedagogy for the hearing impaired, pedagogy for the physically disabled, ill and persons with health disorder, pedagogy for the multiple disabled, pedagogy for persons with learning and behavioral disabilities, with impaired communication skills, with disorders on the autism spectrum, pedagogy for intellectually gifted persons and specialized in special pedagogic counseling. The entire preparation is characterized by the fact that special emphasis is placed on the theory and practice of special education,  special pedagogical diagnostics and counseling, making this degree preparation for the profession of teacher for primary and secondary education of children, pupils and individuals with special educational needs, which are the result of different categories of health handicaps and different age groups. This degree is also preparation for the profession of school special pedagogue, professional employee in the category of special pedagogue (advisory special pedagogue and terrain special pedagogue) of children, pupils and individuals with special educational needs, which are the result of various categories of health handicaps and different age groups.
A graduate of the second degree of university studies in special education is capable of solving complex problems in the field of special education, special pedagogic diagnostics and counseling within the chosen specializations. It controls the etiology and symptomatology of disabilities, disorders and threats with regard to the interpretation of special pedagogical phenomena and processes. Theoretically and practically, a graduate understand the methods of diagnosis and research, he knows how to apply the methods of educational rehabilitation and special education with particular regard to the relevant special didactics and in the relevant specialization to diagnostic and counseling activities. He knows how to effectively guide and help parents and other participating professionals in solving educational and educational problems and in efforts to achieve higher efficiency. It is also prepared for independent professional and qualified design of special educational, correction and stimulation programs.
This degree is intended for the training of teachers of special schools, teachers of inclusive education of pupils and students with special educational needs (school special educator) or counselors within the system of special pedagogical counselling. The study program is compiled individually by the student either as a combination of two teaching special pedagogic specializations or a combination of teaching special pedagogic focus with special pedagogic counseling.
All successful graduates of the 2nd degree of the Special Education study program can interpret special-pedagogical phenomena and processes through scientific language, they master the theoretical-philosophical resources that are necessary for determining goals. They master the methods, methodologies and techniques of special education diagnostics, prognostics and counseling and can independently implement the diagnostic and counseling process. They master special methods of educating the disabled, know how to compare and analyze them. They control the content and procedural side of the process of educational rehabilitation of the disabled. At the same time, they are able to interpret special-education phenomena and processes, theoretically and practically master the communication systems of the disabled and the possibilities of their use in the process of education and educational rehabilitation as well as in ordinary social and working life.
In the field of practical skills, a graduate of the 2nd degree special education study program acquires the skills to implement the educational process with the disabled in various organizational units. Based on knowledge from diagnostics, he can choose adequate educational methods in relation to specific diagnostics of pupils, choose and apply adequate methodologies for individual teaching subjects. A graduate controls various forms of communication for disabled people and uses them based on the individual needs of individual pupils. It is also prepared for designing special educational, correction and stimulation programs. A graduate is qualified for complex diagnostic, educational and complex educational-rehabilitation work (education, diagnosis, correction, stimulation, compensation, re-education, pedagogical therapies, counseling interventions) in special schools, classes, in individual (home) teaching, in inclusive education, in social service facilities and special pedagogic or psychological counseling facilities. It is theoretically and practically prepared for achieving positive changes in the development of education and upbringing of children and youth with special educational needs. He is theoretically and practically prepared for teamwork within complex rehabilitation care and for cooperation with family and various experts.

From the point of view of Act No. 138/2019, The Act on Pedagogical Employees and Professional Employees and on Amendments to Certain Acts and Decree No. 1/2020 - about the qualification prerequisites for teaching staff and professional staff, the graduate is ready to independently work professionally qualified in the positions of teaching staff in the categories and subcategories:

• pedagogical employee in the category of school teacher and school facility for pupils with special educational needs,

• teacher of the first grade of a primary school for pupils with special educational needs,

• teacher of the second grade of a primary school for pupils with special educational needs,

• teacher at practical school,

• school special educator,

• professional employee in the special education category,

• teraine special educator.

In accordance with the strategy of inclusive education in the Slovak Republic, the graduate is qualified to be a full member of the school support team in the sense of the School Act (inclusive education and support team).

By successfully completing the second stage of the Special Education study program, the student will achieve higher education II. degree (767) in an academically oriented master's study program of universities, will receive a master's degree (Mgr.) and a qualification corresponding to level 7 according to the Slovak Qualification Framework (SKKR). Proof of qualification is a university diploma (2nd degree), a certificate of state examination and an addendum to the diploma.
On the basis of Act no. 138/2019 on teaching staff and professional staff and on amendments to certain laws and decree no. 1/2020 The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic on the qualification requirements for teaching staff and professional staff:

• in accordance with §1 of decree no. 1/2020, paragraph 1 and Annexes no. 8, a graduate of the second degree meets the qualification prerequisites for performing the work of a pedagogical employee in the category of school special educator

• in accordance with §1 of decree no. 1/2020, paragraph 2 and Annexes no. 1, a graduate of the second degree meets the qualification prerequisites for the performance of the work of pedagogical staff at schools and school facilities for children and pupils with special educational needs in the category of teacher

• in accordance with §1 of decree no. 1/2020, paragraph 3 and Annexes no. 11, a graduate of the second degree meets the qualification prerequisites for performing the work of a professional employee in the category of special educator and teraine special educator

A graduate of the second stage of the Special Education will obtain a qualification and be qualified for the following employment and profession:

1. pedagogical employee in the category of school special educator
2. pedagogical employee in schools and school facilities for children and pupils with special educational needs in the category of teacher
3. professional employee in the category of special educator and teraine special educator

Competences, knowledge and skills of a master's degree graduate, including transferable skills acquired during studies, enable them to be employed in occupations requiring an adequate level of communication competences, knowledge, skills and competences of the listed jobs and occupations corresponding to level 7 of the Slovak Qualifications Framework.
The qualification obtained by completing the second level of the study program Special Education and the educational outcomes meet sector-specific professional expectations for the performance of professions for which the Specil Education prepares graduates as a matter of priority. By completing the second stage of the Special Education study program, the graduate will be employed on the labor market as:

• Pedagogical employee – special school teacher

• Pedagogical employee – kindergarten teacher of children with special educational needs

• Pedagogical employee – 1st grade elementary school teacher for pupils with special educational needs

• Pedagogical employee – teacher of the 2nd grade of elementary school for pupils with special educational needs

• Pedagogical employee – teacher of practical school and vocational school teacher

• Pedagogical employee – secondary school teacher for pupils with special educational needs

• Professional employee – special educator and teraine special educator

The list of partner/training schools is regularly updated. The Faculty of Education of Comenius University/Department of Special Education has a cooperation agreement with the following schools/institutions, for example, in which students of the special education study program carry out special education practice:

• Dr. Ivan Dérer Primary School, Jelenia 16, 811 05 Bratislava

• ROSA Social Services Facility, Dúbravská cesta 1, 845 29 Bratislava

• Research Institute of Child Psychology and Pathopsychology, Cyprichova 42, 831 05 Bratislava

• DSS Rozsutec, Furmanská 4, 841 03 Bratislava

• PRIMA n.o., Banšelova 3988/4, 821 04 Bratislava

• United boarding school, Československej armády 183/1, 967 01 Kremnica

• DSS Andreas n.o., Galandova 7, 811 06 Bratislava

• United boarding school, Nám. Štefana Klubert 2, Levoča

• Pavol Sabadoš Boarding School, Duklianska 2, 080 01 Prešov

• United boarding school, Karola Supa 48, 984 03 Lučenec

• Social Services Centre prof. K. Matulaya for children and adults, Lipského 13, 841 01 Bratislava

• DSS for children and adults, Javorinská 7a, 811 03 Bratislava

• Sibírka Social Services Centre, Sibírska 69, 831 02 Bratislava

• United boarding school, Vlastenecké nám. 1, 851 01 Bratislava

• United School, Beethovenova 27, 917 08 Trnava

• Primary school with kindergarten at the Health Centre, Dolný Smokovec 70, 059 81 Vysoké Tatry

• United boarding school, M.R.Štefánika 323/1, 914 01 Trenčianska Teplá

• Special Primary School, Mládežnícka 3, 977 03 Brezno

• DSS Plavecké Podhradie, No. 19, 906 36 Plavecké Podhradie

• United School, Opatovská cesta 101, 040 01 Košice

• Primary school with kindergarten for children and pupils with hearing impairment boarding school, Drotárska cesta 48, 811 04 Bratislava

• DSS for children and adults INTEGRA, Tylova 21, 831 04 Bratislava

• Organisation of Muscular Dystrophics in the Slovak Republic, Vrútocká 8, 821 04 Bratislava

• Rohožník Primary School, No. 399, 906 38 Rohožník

• United School, Školská 5, 968 01 Nová Baňa

• Special Primary School, Zvolenská cesta 59, 984 01 Lučenec

• Primary school with kindergarten, Borodáčova 2, 821 03 Bratislava

• Primary school, Prokofievova 5, 851 01 Bratislava

• United boarding school, Hrdličkova 17, 833 20 Bratislava

• Primary School, Turnianska 10, 851 07 Bratislava

• Autistic Centre Andreasn.o., Galandova 7, 811 06 Bratislava

• Centre for Educational and Psychological Counselling and Prevention, Brnianska 47, 811 04 Bratislava

• Centre for Pedagogical and Psychological Counselling and Prevention, Švabinského 7, 851 01 Bratislava

• Centre for Educational and Psychological Counselling and Prevention, Vajnorská 98/D, 831 04 Bratislava

• Centre for Educational and Psychological Counselling and Prevention, Fedákova 1943/3, 841 02 Bratislava

• United School, Mokrohájska 3, 844 13 Bratislava

• United School, Dúbravská cesta 1, 845 25 Bratislava

Students in the study program Special Education can also take advantage of the offer to carry out special education practice within the Erasmus+ student mobility in the following countries of European Union:

• Czech Republic, Charles University, Faculty of Education, Prague

• Czech Republic, Jan Amos Comenius University Prague, Prague

• Czech Republic, Masaryk University, Faculty of Education, Brno

• Czech Republic, Palacký University in Olomouc, Faculty of Education, Olomouc

• Czech Republic, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Education, České Budějovice

• Finland, University of Jyväskylä, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Jyväskylä

• Hungary, Loránd Eötvös University, Faculty of Therapeutic Pedagogy, Budapest

• Germany, Humboldt University of Berlin, Faculty of Culture, Social Sciences and Education, Berlin

• Germany, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Munich

• Germany, Technical University, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Dortmund

• Poland, Pedagogical University Krakow, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Krakow

• Poland, Jagiellonian University, Faculty of Philosophy, Krakow

• Tarcsiova_VTC_EN.pdf
• Tarcsiova_VUPCH_EN.pdf
• Lopuchova_VTC_SK.pdf
• Lopuchova_VUPCH_EN.pdf
• Nemcek_VTC_SK.pdf
• Nemcek_VUPCH_EN.pdf
• Bisco_Kastelova_VTC_EN.pdf
• Bisco_Kastelova_VUPCH_EN.pdf
• Harcarikova_VTC_EN.pdf
• Harcarikova_VUPCH_EN.pdf

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