PdF P00201 Special Education
Name in Czech: Special Education
doctoral full-time, language of instruction: English English
Included in the programme: PdF D-SPZPA Special Education

Final state doctoral examination and defence of the doctoral thesis

Compulsory subjects
- Inclusive special education
- Psychology of Disability and Disorders of mental development
Selective choice courses – syllabus 1, 2 (1 course)
- Speech therapy, Education of individuals with hearing impairment, Education of individuals with mental impairment, Education of individuals with social-pathological phenomenon in behaviour, Specific learning difficulties, Multiple disabilities, Special andragogy, Addictology
The themes of state doctoral examination are given by the structured content of the relevant subject.
Part of the state doctoral examination is a debate consisting of dissertation propositions which represent the essential parts of the dissertation thesis. The alternative could be represented by the defence of rigorous thesis.

As the doctoral thesis there are accepted: original research theories, comparison from historical perspective, methodological and empirical thesis or thesis which represent appropriate combination of preceding designs. The expert committee of Doctoral study programme of Special Education stands for following requirements: empirical research preference; the doctoral thesis contains: definition of the topic and basic terms, summary of actual research and study process, description of research methodology (information about research process, design, research sample, methods of collecting and analysing the data), presentation of research results, discussion and interpretation of results, formulation of conclusion. The scope of the doctoral thesis is approximately 150 standard pages.

The state doctoral examination is focused on achieving the knowledge from the field of special inclusive education and pathopsychology. It deals with students' competences - to be able to express deep knowledge of the subject and the educational field, and also to describe pedagogy from historical and actual perspective; systematically know significant theories, concepts and methods which represent the main areas in the field in national and also international context; to be able to choose, plan, implement and evaluate the research process in the particular field of study and also in pedagogy itself; to recognize processes and phenomenon in educational reality; to enrich the academic knowledge along with the respect to the research ethics; be familiar with the organization of academic community and its varieties; to be able to be a part of the national and international academic community including publishing, planning research projects and gaining sources for the realization.

Requirements of the study

Part of the doctoral studies is continuous publishing; the minimal publishing standard is 4 studies of which the doctoral student is the main author or co-author - one of the studies is in the journal registered in the database WOS or SCOPUS, and one study in reviewed journal or chapters in publications. The active presentation (seminar papers) in four seminars or at conferences - 2 in the Czech Republic and 2 abroad (the scholarship is possible) and publication in collection. It is compulsory to be a part of the teaching the subject Inclusive special education and particular specializations (4 semesters). In four-year doctoral study programme - Special education contains compulsory foreign language at the level C1, optional at the level B1 and compulsory internship abroad (minimum of 7 weeks).
In the ISP (Individual study plan) the milestones are set as a requirements of the study programme (f.e. Defence of the Dissertation thesis project – during the first year of the study; defence of the Research theses – after the third study year if the Rigorous thesis procedure is undertook; The defence of the Dissertation thesis – usually after the fourth study year).

Proposal of dissertation topics and topics of defended dissertations

1. The use of student-centered teaching methods for students with learning disabilities
2. Facilitating Academic Achievements in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Learners in Inclusive Education Programmes Using Bilingual Educational Methodologies: A Case Study of Inclusive Special Schools in Akwa Ibom State – Nigeria
3. Inclusive Education the way for future for Fiji schools: A comparative case study of Inclusive Education in the Czech Republic Schools in Brno and Fiji Primary Schools
4. Analysis of social services provided to individuals with intellectual disabilities in Slovakia
5. The development of professional skills of children living in institutional care within the context of their preparation for independent life
6.The analysis of reading skills of pupils with specific learning difficulties
7. Peer social support of children with problem behaviour
8. Assessment and Self-evaluation in Foreign Language Teaching to Learners with Specific Learning Disorders

Recommended progress through the study plan

Required courses

Dissertation Preparation and Professional Orientation in the Field of Study

Students are expected to enrol in the course Work on the Dissertation Preparation 8 x, 120 credits in total. Students are expected to enrol in the course Professional Orientation in the Field of Study 8 x, 40 credits in total.

Code Name Guarantor Type of Completion Extent and Intensity Credits Term Profile Cat.
PdF:SPDA008Professional Orientation in the Field of Study M. Vítkovák 0/0/05 --
PdF:SPDA009Dissertation Preparation M. Vítkovák 0/0/015 --
20 credits
Code Name Guarantor Type of Completion Extent and Intensity Credits Term Profile Cat.
PdF:SPDA001Inclusive Special Education M. Vítkovázk 0/0/08 3-
PdF:SPDA002Methodology 1 K. Pančochazk 0/0/010 1-
PdF:SPDA003Philosophy of Education M. Vítkovázk 0/0/05 2-
PdF:SPDA004Psychology of Disability M. Vítkovázk 0/0/05 1-
PdF:SPDA005Disorders of Mental Development M. Vítkovázk 0/0/05 5-
PdF:SPDA006Internship Abroad M. Vítkováz 0/0/05 7-
PdF:SPDA007Methodology 2 K. Pančochazk 0/0/015 8-
53 credits

Selective courses

Speciality

Students complete at least two courses in a group of courses "Speciality" during their studies.

Code Name Guarantor Type of Completion Extent and Intensity Credits Term Profile Cat.
PdF:SPDA010Specialization - wider scientific basis - Addictology M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA011Specialization - wider scientific basis – Special Andragogy M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA012Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Emotional and Behavioral Dis M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA013Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Speech Impairments M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA014Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Visual Impairments M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA015Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA016Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Specific Learning Disabiliti M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA017Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Physical Disabilities M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA018Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Hearing Impairments M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
PdF:SPDA019Specialization - wider scientific basis - Education of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities M. Vítkovázk 0/0/010 3-
100 credits

Foreign language at C1 level

Students complete at least one course in a group of courses Foreign language at C1 level during their studies.

Code Name Guarantor Type of Completion Extent and Intensity Credits Term Profile Cat.
PdF:RCSZ_AJC1English for PhD Studies - C1 R. Heroutzk 0/2/07 6-
PdF:RCSZ_FJC1French for Academic Purposes K. Sedláčkovázk 0/0/0 konzultace.7 6-
PdF:RCSZ_NJC1German for PhD Studies - C1 R. Heroutzk 0/0/0 konzultace.7 6-
PdF:RCSZ_RJC1Russian for PhD Studies - C1 M. Ševečkovázk 0/0/0 konzultace.7 6-
28 credits