Special Education

undergraduate studies: full time day program and evening-weekend program;
graduate studies: full time day program and evening-weekend program;

The core curriculum involves instruction from the following disciplines: medicine, psychology, general education, special education, rehabilitation and therapy; a chosen subject of specialization is also an obligatory part of the curriculum. Upon a successful completion and presentation of a M.A. Thesis (graduate program) or a Licentiate Thesis (undergraduate program), the graduate / the licentiate should be able to demonstrate knowledge pertaining to the following curricular subjects:

- basics of human development;
- physiological and social deviations;
- existing education, rehabilitation and therapy opportunities for individuals with disabilities and for socially ill-adjusted persons;

The graduate / licentiate also should:

- have a functional command of a foreign language in order to be able to read and understand professional literature from the field of special education;
- be capable of independently solving compound, special education- related problems and tasks;
- be capable of preparing professional materials for publication;

In the course of study the future licentiate / graduate is trained to acquire and demonstrate some values and personality features that correspond to and successfully address the needs and well-being of children, youth and adults. These are best defined by: sensitivity, openness, friendly attitude and excellent communication skills that promote a dialogue and help establish successful social interactions. The graduate / licentiate also receives a thorough future career-oriented training within the frame of their specialization, as well as a wide array of methodology tools that help them carry on their work as special education professionals in an innovative way.


SPECIALIZATION:  Pedagogy of Ability and Information Technology

-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program


The training of special education teachers for specific purposes aims to provide specialists qualified in the following professions:

a. teacher’s aide, a specialist who looks after and tutors students of above average ability and skill;
b. instructor  qualified to teach Introduction to information technology;

The Curriculum:
Apart from a solid, overall training in general education, our licentiates receive additional instruction in the following subject areas:

- heuristics;
- methodology of heuristics;
- innovative strategies in education;
- pedagogy of ability;
- didactics of creativity;
- methods of individual tutoring of a child;
as well as a lot of other computer science related subjects (a total of 500 hours of instruction in the computer lab), such as:

- introduction to computer science, microcomputers and computer networking;
- use of hardware;
- use of software for teaching purposes;
- programming in LOGO, BASIC and PASCAL;
- methodology of teaching computer science, and other subjects.

Our licentiates are trained to act as pioneers of modern special education qualified to meet the requirements of the computer era. Owing to the quality and range of this training they will be guaranteed interesting and well-paid employment.


SPECIALIZATION: Education of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program and evening-weekend program
-graduate studies: evening-weekend program

Upon successful completion of the program the graduate / licentiate will be able to demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

- identifying and diagnosing the psychophysical features of individuals with intellectual disability;
- establishing an appropriate and efficient course of therapeutic action that best corresponds to an individual’s needs, family background, education and social environment;
- designing special programs as well as matching individuals with mental disability with the most appropriate education and /or rehabilitation programs offered by both integrated and non integrated schools as well as by special education centers.

Employment possibilities: various types of education and rehabilitation establishments, centers and facilities taking care of individuals with intellectual disabilities, in particular: integrated pre schools and schools, special education schools and integrated special education schools as well as residential special education centers.



SPECIALIZATION: Education of Individuals with Impaired Hearing

-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program and evening-weekend program
-graduate studies: evening-weekend program


Education of individuals with impaired hearing is one of the specific disciplines in the field of special education that focuses on both theoretical and methodological issues involving educating of deaf and hearing impaired individuals.
Special education studies focused on compensating for the disability of children with impaired hearing consist of a range of general subjects that establish a foundation of theoretical knowledge relating to the following:

- medical science
- philosophy
- general education
- psychology
and specialized subjects connected with the process of compensating, correcting and rehabilitating children with impaired hearing, i.e.
- audiology
- early stimulation of the development of children with hearing impairments
- speech therapy for the deaf and hearing impaired
- sign language
- methods of teaching of deaf and hearing impaired children at pre-school and early education levels.

Graduates /licentiates obtain qualifications to work as:

1. pre-school teachers and elementary school teachers qualified to work with both deaf and hearing impaired children;
2. teacher’s aides / supporting teachers in integrated pre-schools and elementary schools;
3. special education therapists in early intervention centers, rehabilitation centers, psychological health centers as well as centers providing professional, case-oriented counseling.


SPECIALIZATION: Therapeutic Pedagogy – Education of Individuals with Chronic Diseases and Impaired Mobility

teacher specialization
undergraduate studies full time day program
graduate studies: evening-weekend program

Upon completion of this specialization, graduates /licentiates are qualified to work as educators of individuals with chronic diseases and impaired mobility, who temporarily reside in treatment centers and integrated learning centers for children and youth as well as in specialized rehabilitation and palliative care facilities. The graduates /licentiates can also seek employment in various associations, foundations, and programs carried out by therapeutic and organized support groups.

Positions that the graduates /licentiates may fill are:
- teacher and tutor in pre-schools and elementary schools;
- tutor in education centers for school students beyond the elementary level.

They can also find employment teaching in special programs run at school common-rooms, therapeutic groups (classrooms), integrated classrooms and various socio-prophylactic programs carried out in local communities. Additionally, there are employment opportunities in a wide sector of non-governmental organizations as well as, directly, in the natural environment of chronically sick and disabled individuals.

SPECIALIZATION: Education of Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals

teacher specialization
undergraduate studies: full time day program

Special education studies focused on educating blind and visually impaired individuals enable the students who have chosen this specialization to:

- obtain necessary knowledge and skills to be able to tutor, educate and rehabilitate blind and visually impaired persons of different ages;
- carry out further research in this specific field of special education;

Specialized curricular subjects involve:
- theory and practice of education and psychology of the blind and the visually impaired;
- introduction to ophthalmology (basics of medical science referring to eye diseases);
- early intervention;
- methods of teaching of blind and visually impaired persons;
- mobility and (spatial) orientation training;
- low vision rehabilitation;
- teaching  Braille techniques;
- rehabilitation of visually impaired persons with additional impairments;
- computer assisted training of the visually impaired;
- methods of teaching activities of daily living;

Students gain practical experience in the course of internships carried out in specialized centers for the blind all over Poland.


SPECIALIZATION: Social Rehabilitation – Education of Socially Ill-Adjusted Individuals

-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program and evening-weekend program
-graduate studies: evening-weekend program


Social rehabilitation is the area of special education focused on training specialists to work with socially ill-adjusted individuals. Students acquire knowledge and skills involving both the theory and methods of carrying social rehabilitation work. Owing to a wide range of interesting specialized subjects on the curriculum, students are guaranteed a solid and thorough preparation for their future profession. Major curricular subjects involve:

- social rehabilitation: theoretical knowledge underlying the subject area;
- methods of social rehabilitation;
- social pathologies;
- criminology;
- penal law;
- diagnostics;
- social prophylactics and many other subjects.

Students gain practical experience in the course of internships carried out in the following institutions:

- penitentiaries
- correctional facilities
- education and rehabilitation centers
- orphanages
- local community centers and common-rooms

Graduates /licentiates are readily employed by various education centers, shelters and correctional institutions. They are also qualified to work for Police as consultants and for Law Courts as probation officers.


SPECIALIZATION: Pedagogical Therapy

-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program
-undergraduate studies: evening-weekend program (additional specialization to major teacher specialization)


Upon completion of this specialization, licentiates will demonstrate knowledge and skills required to work with individuals with special needs in education. Specifically, students will be trained to address and accommodate special education needs of individuals with intellectual disability ranging in age from an infant to an elderly adult.

Instruction involves:

- assessment of needs
- providing appropriate rehabilitative and therapeutic treatment to individuals with intellectual disability;

The licentiates will be qualified to conduct specialized corrective, compensatory and therapeutic classes and workshops (involving socio-therapy and psychological counseling) for both students and their parents.

They will find employment in pre schools and in specialized education centers where they will serve, primarily, as therapists, consultants and counselors providing professional support and counseling to students, parents and teachers.


SPECIALIZATION: Speech Therapy

-non-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program
-undergraduate studies: evening-weekend program

Upon graduation students are granted a degree in special education with the specialization of a speech therapist qualified to work with school students. In the course of three years of studies, students acquire knowledge closely relating to the basic field of speech therapy, which comprises:

- basics of medical science
- psychology
- general education
- applied linguistic
- process of speech development: understanding of norm and pathology in speech development of children and adults.

In the course of practical classes students are given an opportunity to:
- meet and observe individuals with different types of speech disorders;
- learn to recognize and diagnose various forms of disorders that affect verbal communication;
- acquire knowledge and skills regarding appropriate treatment and rehabilitation;

A considerable emphasis is put on the students’ practical training. They acquire hands-on experience during regular classes and obligatory internships, which are held on a regular basis throughout the course of studies.

Important information: Candidates for this specialization are carefully selected based on an expert evaluation of their natural linguistic predispositions, i.e. their articulatory apparatus must be correctly built and there cannot be any speech defects. The features also looked for in a successful candidate involve: broad interest in the humanities, as well as musical and artistic talents.


SPECIALIZATION: Early Intervention for Child Development

-teacher specialization
-undergraduate studies: full time day program

This specialization is focused on training special education teachers qualified to support and rehabilitate disabled children ranging in age from an infant to the school age. It also provides instruction on how, effectively and on long term basis, to assist the families raising such children.

Upon graduation students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills pertaining to the following subject areas:

- aspects of human mental ( psychological) and physical development (normal and impaired), with special emphasis on the period from birth to the age of seven;
- effective early intervention strategies to support mental ( psychological) and physical development of a child: the learning process and its underlying mechanisms, adjusting the learning process to the developmental capabilities of a child, and other related subjects;
- challenges faced by functional and dysfunctional families raising a child with limited abilities: support, assistance, counseling;
- diagnosing a child to ensure early intervention for development, launching intensive support,  and ensuring adequate educational opportunities;
- devising and carrying out special programs to help improve a child’s mental and physical development and, thus, secure the child’s chances for making progress in learning;
- systems of care taking and providing for children with disabilities and for their families as they function in the world and in Poland;

Employment possibilities:

- early intervention centers for child development;
- special education and rehabilitation centers;

SPECIALIZATION: Occupational Therapy

non-teacher specialization
undergraduate studies full time day program

The aim of this specialization is to train special education professionals to carry out social rehabilitation of individuals through the medium of creative work.
This specialization offers workshops in the following areas:
- technical project work (soft and hard techniques);
- handicrafts and various activities related to handicraft work;
- wide understanding of the concept of education through esthetic arts and quasi-theatrical techniques;
- Upon completion of this specialization licentiates will be qualified to work as occupational therapy instructors.

SPECIALIZATION: Special Andragogy – Special Education of Adults and Career Advising
teacher specialization
undergraduate studies: full time day program
undergraduate studies: evening-weekend program

This program, based on lectures, classes as well as classroom observations (the latter carried out in selected learning centers) prepares students to work with adults with disabilities in order to:
- provide them with necessary education;
- offer counseling on career opportunities;
- assist in the process of professional and social advancement;


SPECIALIZATION: Rehabilitation and Vocational Counseling

non- teacher specialization
graduate studies: evening-weekend program

This specialization offers instruction and training in the following areas:

- acquiring knowledge relating to both the theory and practice of modern social rehabilitation with a particular emphasis on the issue of vocational counseling for individuals with disabilities;
- acquiring necessary diagnostic skills to help individuals with disabilities to identify their employment potential and (employment) needs and, thus, support them in their efforts to pursue their own careers;
- acquiring qualifications necessary to meet the fundamental aim of modern social rehabilitation for career purposes, i.e. carrying out life-long counseling and assisting individuals to find a school and obtain qualifications for a job as well as providing them with  information about employment opportunities.

The counseling, available in the form of both individual and group instruction, will involve the analysis of an individual’s health condition and living situation, as well as the actual demands of the job market.


SPECIALIZATION: Social Rehabilitation of Convicted Individuals

non -teacher specialization
graduate studies: evening-weekend program

SPECIALIZATION: Prophylactics and Social Rehabilitation for the Purpose of Law Courts

non- teacher specialization
graduate studies: evening-weekend program