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Autism MA


Image: Autism COURSE INFORMATION (2010 ENTRY)

1 to 3 years part-time

School of Health, Community and Education Studies
Coach Lane Campus

This postgraduate programme offers experienced teachers and other professionals an opportunity to:

- explore and discuss current educational developments in relation to the needs of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders;

- develop structures for the dissemination of good practice in the education, care and support of children and young people.

A major emphasis of the course will be the application and analysis of appropriate professional knowledge for teaching and life long learning, including critical analysis of good practice as outlined in current government reports. Students on the course will have opportunities to further their understandings of autism and will be encouraged to develop knowledge and skills which will enable them to reflect critically on current practice, particularly their own, and to analyse their work for pivotal teaching or intervention points which will support their development. The course will be of particular interest to professionals working in mainstream, or special, settings with children with Asperger's syndrome or with autism. Parents are welcome to apply.

Course Structure
The MA extends over 3 years, part-time. The course comprises modules or units each of which addresses a different aspect of the education and development of young people with this pervasive developmental disorder. Course participants who successfully complete the first year of the course may exit with a Postgraduate Certificate. Those who successfully complete two years may exit with a PG Diploma or proceed to the final third year as candidates for a Masters degree.

The course is open to professionals and parents who are working with children or young adults with autism.

N.B. This information applies to 2010 entry - if you are interested in 2011 entry, please contact us

COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT

This Masters course allows progression from Postgraduate Diploma. Professionals who have successfully accumulated 120 points at M level may enter a third year of study. At the progression point to the master’s year, participants, in consultation with their tutors, elect to follow one of two pathways, the practice researcher pathway or the advanced practitioner pathway.

The \'Practice Researcher\' pathway -
The movement towards research and evidence based practice in the professions is based, at its simplest, on the argument that professionals have a moral responsibility to practise in ways that are underpinned by the best research knowledge available and that are improved by building an evidence base for that particular practice in the particular setting. This element of the provision, therefore, will improve practice through the improvement of teachers\' and other professionals\' capacity to operate effectively in a research and evidence-based profession. The overall aim of this route, then, is to enable professionals to examine critically quantitative, qualitative and multi-methods approaches to practice-based research so that they develop both their understanding of the range of methodologies used to research educational practice and their skills in engaging in small-scale research studies themselves.

The \'Advanced Practitioner\' pathway -
The pathway to MA aims to develop participants’ capacity to improve practice and to facilitate their professional development. It is based on the view that whilst the practice of competent professionals with be appropriate, the advanced practitioner will have a creative approach to her/his role, and will have the ability to respond imaginatively in situations which are not routine, and for which there are no recognised or established procedures. This involves making judgements which optimise learning in complex, uncertain and fluid encounters with learners. Often professionals will need to respond creatively to situations that are rapidly changing.

This element of the CPD provision will improve practice by advancing practitioners\' understandings so that they are able to act as \'advanced practitioners\' in their professional contexts.

OTHER INFO

When applying for this programme, can you please state in the Personal Statement section of the application form whether you have Qualified Teacher Status and if so, what your registration number is.

COURSE MODULES


Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5


 

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Northumbria University has taken reasonable care to ensure that the information published is accurate at the time of publication. However, the University gives no warranty or representation as to the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information.



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