Special Education – Cognitive-Motor Domain

Special Education – Cognitive-Motor Domain

Course Type:
Master’s Programme

Programme Introduction

The Master’s in Special Education – Cognitive-Motor Domain has as its main focus the updating and deepening of knowledge and skills in Inclusive Education, as well as the development of recommended and evidence-based practices, resulting from research carried out in this domain. It also aims to develop knowledge, skills to diagnose and evaluate situations within the scope of specific needs, provide tools to intervene pedagogically in specific situations, and also develop skills to identify inclusion difficulties, define intervention strategies and their evaluation.

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Programme Coordinator

Célia Maria Adão de Oliveira Aguiar de Sousa
celia.sousa@ipleiria.pt

Reference

2077

School

City

Language

Portuguese

Type

B-learning

Length

4 Semesters

Vacancies

General and International Student Contingent: 25

Notice

Edital 2026 (PT Doc retf)

DGES certification

Objectives

Programme

Intended learning outcomes of the curricular unit

  • Problematize knowledge about human development – childhood and adolescence;
  • Develop theoretical and methodological knowledge of neurobiological factors of development;
  • Clarify the concept of disability;
  • Clarify the concept of Intellectual Disabilities;
  • Clarify the concept of adaptive behavior (functionality and dysfunctionality);
  • Raising awareness of the complexity of Intellectual Disabilities study;
  • Promote a set of theoretical knowledge that may develop in the professionals’ skills to work with children and young people with Intellectual Disabilities;
  • Adoption of appropriate strategies for problem solving and making decisions in practical situations of their everyday education.
1st Year
ID Name Semester ECTS Length
1st Semester 7.5 47h
  1. Research Methods
    1. The research process: nature and characteristics; elements of a research.
    2. Methods of research in different paradigms – characterization and fundamentals.
    3. Methods and techniques of research
    4. Data analyses
    5. Ethics of research in education.
  2. The development of a research project.
    1. Bibliographic reference standards.Data bases
    2. The rearch report.
  3. Ethical issues in research
1st Semester 7.5 47h
  1. Differentiated pedagogy: a study of the concept and its historical evolutionPurposes of pedagogical differentiation in light of the decree law 54/2008.
  2. Dimensions and diversified teaching strategies: inclusionLearning theories and pedagogical differentiationDecreeLaw No. 54/2018 – Theory and Operationalization Project analysis differentiated pedagogy implemented in organizations where trainees carry out their activity.
1st Semester 7.5 47h
  1. Learning problems: causes, characteristics and typologies
  2. Behavior problems
    1. Behavior learning processes
    2. Stimulation and modification of behaviors; behavior management in an educational context
  3. Specific learning disorders: definition, warning signs, diagnosis, assessment and intervention
  4. Prevention and intervention strategies in an educational context
    1. Self-control, self-instruction, cognitive restructuring and problem solving
1st Semester 7.5 47h
  1. Intelligence: Theoretical Perspectives.
    1. Psychometric;
    2. Developmentalist;
    3. Cognitivist;
    4. Comprehensive Theories: Multiple Intelligences, emotional intelligence and social intelligence.
  2. Human Development: Conception.
    1. Definition of Problem and disorder in human development;
  3. Approach of cognitive neuroscience.
  4. Neurodevelopmental Disorders andDevelopmental Psychopathology:
    1. Developmental perspective of the most common disorders in children and adolescents
      1. 4.1.1 Neurodevelopmental Disorders
        1. Disturbance of Intellectual Development
          1. Other Disorders concomitant with Intellectual Development Disorder.
        2. Autism Spectrum Disorder;
        3. Hyperactivity Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder;
      2. Common developmental psychopathology in childhood and adolescence
        1. Disruptive Disorders of Impulse Control and Behavior: Oppositional Challenge Disorder and Behavior Disorder;
        2. Anxiety disorder in childhood;
        3. Mood Disturbance.
Intervention Techniq. in Comunication&Motricity 2nd Semester 9 62h
Artistic Expressions as Intervention Technique 2nd Semester 7 47h
Intervention methodology distinguished in mathematics and Nature Sciences 2nd Semester 7 32h
Assistive Technologies 2nd Semester 7 47h
2nd Year
ID Name Semester ECTS Length
1st Semester 15

The contents vary according to the theme of the project, in the domain of the thematic areas of the Course and must mobilize the contents and the theoretical-practical knowledge taught in the curricular units of theprevious semesters of the course. Each student will develop a project in the scientific field in which he/she fits his/her work and will deepen his/her knowledge of methodological strategies, under the guidance of his/her scientific advisor.

  1. Project design (objectives, theoretical foundation, methodology).
  2. Project implementation.
  3. Preparation of the written report.
1st Semester 15 30h

Starting from theoretical frameworks and research methodologies in the specific field of Inclusive and intervention Education – Cognitive-motor domain, the programme addresses the following contents:

  1. The elaboration of a research report, with particular emphasis on defining the research plan;
  2. In the preparation of research instruments;
  3. In the specific data collection process and procedures appropriate to the research questions;
  4. In the definition of specific methods of data analysis suited to the research questions;
  5. In the interpretation of empirical research data;
  6. In the synthesized, perceptible, and stimulating exposition and discussion of research.
Project II 2nd Semester 30

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

  1. Nursery, Basic & Secondary Education teachers who are professionalized and holders of an undergraduate degree, and other graduates with an undergraduate degree in related areas or who have professional experience relevant to the objectives of this MA;
  2. Holders of foreign academic degree of a 1st study cycle organized according the principles of the Bologna Process offered by a State that has adhered to this Process, in the area mentioned in paragraph;
  3. Holders of foreign academic degree recognized by the scientific body of the establishment of higher education as an undergraduate degree, as long as it is in the area mentioned in paragraph
  4. Holders of an educational, scientific or professional curriculum, recognized as attesting the capacity to carry out this cycle of studies by competent scientific body of the establishment of higher education (subparagraph d)) of paragraph 1 of article 17 of the Dec. Law 74/2006, of 24 March, with changes introduced in subsequent normative.

International Student
All information related to the  international student application should be consulted on our International Students webpage.

Accreditation

State: Accredited
Nº of years of accreditation: 3
Date of Publication: 23-03-2023
Accreditation A3ES

More Information

Observations
The study cycle will have duration of 4 semesters and has been structured in the following manner:
The 1st semester comprises 4 curricular units, for a total of 30 credits;
The 2nd semester has a total of 4 curricular units and 30 credits;
In the 3rd semester, the students attend the curricular unit “Seminar” and start and carry out their Professional
Use Project (Project I), for a total of 30 credits;
The 4th semester will be the conclusion of the Professional Use Project (Project II), which also will amount to
30 credits.

Contacts
E-mail: studywithus@ipleiria.pt

Application Fee

60€

Enrolment Fee

General contingent: 50€
International student contingent:  100€

Tuition Fee

General contingent: 1140€
International student contingent: 3000€


Online Application

Use the button bellow to start your application.