Master in Intellectual Disability

Show Menu

Diploma in Distance Teaching and Training Master in Distance Teaching and Training Doctor of Philosophy in Gifted Education Master of Science in Gifted Education Diploma in Gifted Education Diploma in Learning Disabilities Diploma in Intellectual Disability Master in Learning Disabilities Master in Intellectual Disability Diploma in Autism Master in Autism PhD in Innovation Management Diploma in Technology Management Master's Degree in Technology Management Diploma in Biotechnology Master in Health Biotechnology Master in Environmental Biotechnology Master in Agricultural Biotechnology PhD in Biotechnology Master in GIS & Remote Sensing Diploma in GIS & Remote Sensing Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources Master of Sciences in Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Master of Sciences in Environmental Management Master of Science in Desert Cultivation Technologies & Soilless Culture Master of Science in Water Resources Management Master of Science in Hydrogeology Master in Next-Generation Computing Track 1: AI and Formal Methods for Cybersecurity Track2: AI for Medicine and Health Care Track3: Quantum Technologies Professional Diploma in Waste Management Professional Diploma in Waste Management Course Description

INTRODUCTION
This programme offers postgraduate students the knowledge, skills and understanding of individuals with intellectual disability, in which issues such as characteristics, classifications, aetiologies, evaluation and instructional are addressed and discussed. Graduates of this programme should have the ability to demonstrate scientific knowledge of the cognitive impairment in order to contribute effectively to the field. The programme of intellectual disability at AGU is considered one of the forefront of learning and research in the region, with its role in preparing Gulf graduates with high level of personal and academic integrity.

OBJECTIVES

To provide both educational levels (high diploma and master's degree) of postgraduate students with up-to-date knowledge and skills connected to the field of intellectual disability.
To promote and enhance research skills for both educational levels of postgraduates students.
To provide professional development of teaching skills to ensure high quality learned by high diploma and masters' students.
To provide a scientific frame of reference, which contributes effectively to the field of intellectual disability.
To support the enhancement of learning and teaching academic and professional skills, which encourage continuous development in the area of intellectual disability.
To enhance the effectiveness of the programme's role in building community through preparation of highly educated and knowledgeable GCC citizens in the field of intellectual disability.
To develop diagnostic tools, scales and instruments required in the field.
To emphasize the value of research and work best to engage the students in research activities consistent with the strategic priorities related to the field of intellectual disability.

DEVELOPMENT OF RATIONALE AND PERSPECTIVES

Consider reports of internal, external and international evaluation committees of the intellectual disability programme.
To continue restructuring and developing plan of studies at the programme.
Enhance and develop specialized courses offered in the intellectual disability programme with respect to both quantity and quality.
Keep up-to-date knowledge in the field of intellectual disability offered by well-established international universities in this area.
Respond to the needs of the Gulf and Arab community as well as to the educational institutions in order to increase interest in the knowledge, skills and practical aspects demonstrated by the intellectual disability programme.
Provide academic knowledge, research skills and training competencies to create highly qualified competitive graduates.
Establish outstanding academic courses to ensure the programme's continuous development and growth.

DEVELOPMENT MECHANISMS

The objectives listed above may be achieved through the following mechanisms:

Support and development of cognitive competencies: This mechanism deals with forming and shaping the theoretical foundations for the field of intellectual disability in terms of concepts, definitions, problems and issues in this area, in addition to the principles and methods of early identification and diagnosis of individuals with intellectual disability, as well as the neurological and cognitive foundations of the disability and its factors and causes.
Support and development of educational competencies: This mechanism includes principles and methods of therapeutic training, programme planning, educational plans for individual model-based therapeutic and diagnostic approaches, in addition to identifying the most widely used and credible tests and diagnostic tools in the field of intellectual disability.
Support and development of skills and professional competencies: This mechanism addresses the educational applications of cognitive competencies, principles of applying tools, methods of analysis and interpretation of results and a list of appropriate professional reports. Furthermore, this mechanism seeks to establish communication with others concerned with intellectual disability such as parents, teachers, doctors, psychologists, sociologists and school administrators.
Support and development of skill and research competencies: This theme deals with training students to detect and identify research issues, select measurement instruments, identify participants for data collection, implement appropriate procedures, monitor and analyse data, present and interpret results. Based on that, credible and realistic recommendations as well as educational applications related to the field of intellectual disability can be made.
Support and development of specialized competencies: This theme deals with the formation, support and development of the use of terminology, tools and mechanisms, knowledge of intra-and inter-groups and categories of dual diagnosis addressed by specialists in this field through research and study.

Moreover, to convert competencies included in the categories mentioned above into an operational competencies as the following examples illustrate how students will be able to:

Express theoretical and practical knowledge applicable to the field of intellectual disability.
Understand the interconnections and relationships among different dimensions of knowledge in this field.
Employ knowledge, experience and skills gained in addressing realistic field issues.
Use written, spoken and perceived knowledge media.
Work with a group or individually with various categories of people with intellectual disability.
Link theory, research findings and studies to encourage practices and field applications.
Adopt positive professional attitudes and practical application mechanisms.
Assume the responsibilities of the social role assigned to the researchers.
Employ modern technologies in early identification and diagnosis of individuals with intellectual disability.
Plan programmes and services that help in the identification, diagnosis and treatment of people with intellectual disability.

Course reference		Course Title	Credit Hours
First year 1^st semester	LRD 522	Introduction to Special Education	2
	LRD 525	Applications of Tests and Scales in Learning and Developmental Disabilities	2
	LRD ID 533	Fundamentals of Intellectual Disability	3
	LRD ID 524	Fundamentals of Early Intervention	2
	LRD ID 537	Fundamentals of Autism Disorder	3
	GS ES 520	Introduction of Educational Statistics	2
	GS ES 501	English	0
	GS 500	Islamic Culture	0
Total credits for first semester			14
First year 2^nd semester	LRD ID 528	Diagnosis and Assessment of Developmental Disabilities	2
	LRD ID 529	Teaching Strategies of Developmental Disabilities	2
	LRD ID 626	Family Counseling for Developmental Disabilities	2
	LRD ID 621	Behavior Management and Modification	2
	LRD ID 521	Practicum	2
	GS ES 620	Inferential Statistics and its Applications	2
	GS ES 621	Educational Research Methods	2
	LRD 506	Research Seminar	0
Total credits for 2^nd semester			14
Total credits for 1^st year			28
LRD 680		Master Thesis	8
Total credits for Master			36

Courses Description

Shared Courses (learning disabilities, intellectual disability, autism)

LRD 522 Introduction to Special Education 2 Cr. hours

The objective of this course is to provide students with basic knowledge and information related to concepts in special education with special focus on different approaches in understanding, clarifying human behavior, identification, content, strategies, and application of special education, in addition to issues commonly encountered when addressing the needs of diverse students with disabilities. Emphasis will be placed on several issues, for example types of disabilities such as intellectual disability, autism and hearing impairment, as well as the causes and prevention. Furthermore, beliefs and attitudes such as the traditional beliefs, advocacy and support services will be explained and discussed. Students will learn how to form their own views and attitudes towards individuals with disabilities.

LRD 525 Applications of Tests and Scales in Learning and Developmental Disabilities 2 Cr. hours

The objective of this course is to provide students with general knowledge and important skills related to measuring psycho-educational aspects of learning and developmental disabilities. Students will become familiar with test structure and development and their application with intellectually disabled, autistic persons, and learning disabilities persons. The course will also provide students with important skills needed for proper use of educational and psychological tests including introduction to tests, measurement and their types, preparation and design of tests, general principles of measurement, reliability, validity, norms, test application in different aspects, cognitive, performance, as well as social and personality tests. This course will also focus on issues and problems related to the evaluation process of individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism disorders, and learning disabilities persons.

GS ES 520 Introduction of Educational Statistics 2 Cr. hours

This course introduces students to types of variables that are common in education and psychology such as quantitative, qualitative, continuous, discrete, nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio. In addition, the course focuses on methods of describing data using frequency tables, graphs, central tendency, variability, and kurtosis indices.

GS ES 620 Inferential Statistics and its Applications 2 Cr. hours

The course provides the basics of statistical estimation, statistical sampling, testing hypotheses, the level of significance, and statistical decision-making including comparisons of the two statistical errors: Type I and Type II errors. In addition, the course covers testing hypotheses of the differences between means, variances, correlations, and proportions for the independent and correlated cases using parametric and nonparametric techniques. SPSS is heavily used in the course.

GS ES 501 English 0 Cr. hours

This mandatory general English course aims to promote students’ skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking by focusing on comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and deriving word meaning from context. This course also teaches students the different writing stages while promoting critical thinking skills and expressing opinions, as well as building communication skills.

In addition, students are taught how to use the English language for other academic purposes including research writing, using charts, graphs and other diagrams to figure out general ideas from texts. Students are also trained to use presentation skills and are given the opportunity to deliver their own full presentations in English during the course of study.

GS 500 Islamic Culture 0 Cr. hours

This course is intended to acquaint students with issues pertaining to Islamic culture and civilization, the challenges of modernity, the requirements of development in the Islamic world and the main currents of modern Islamic thought. The analytical approach of the course enables students to think independently and participate in objective dialogue, with equal emphasis on connecting Islamic principles with issues of our modern age, and to enhance interactions between the requirements of Islamic culture and those of modernity in shaping the minds of modern Muslim students.

LRD ID 521 Practicum 2 Cr. hours

This course provides students with opportunities to implement what they have learned in their courses offered during the academic year in all three programmes. They spend sufficient time in specialized centers and schools to get hands on experience with the students struggling with learning and developmental disabilities. They are expected to be able to implement what they have learned in Teaching Strategies Course for all programmes, such as designing Individualised Educational Plan (IEP) and use teaching methods which best fit the students. In addition, learners have to produce and implement awareness programs to children, teachers and parents.

GS ES 621 Educational Research Methods 2 Cr. hours

The course familiarizes students with scientific thinking and research methods applied in educational and psychological studies. It also equips students with the knowledge and skills needed in conducting research. Students are expected to be able to identify research problem, construct research questions and discuss relevant assumptions, and define and classify research variables. Also, students are expected to design a research study and follow the appropriate procedures for carrying it out. Finally, students are expected to appropriately use and cite references.

LRD 506 Research Seminar 0 Cr. hours

The course familiarizes students with a methods of selecting a research topic and the necessary elements and resources of the research plan. In this course students will be trained on the scientific standards of criticizing other research studies and theses related to Learning and Developmental Disabilities. Also, students will be trained on summarizing and presenting Arabic and English research studies and theses. This course highlights some of the research problems that need further research as well as the importance of ethics in research. By the end of this course, students will have a suggested plan proposal for their master thesis.

Intellectual Disability Courses

LRD ID 533 Fundamentals of Intellectual Disabilities 3 Cr. hours

The objective of this course is to provide students with basic concepts, causes, classifications, characteristics, incidence, and the application of learning theories and rehabilitation of intellectual disabled individuals. This course focuses on the concept of intellectual disability, incidence, different definitions, classifications, causes, characteristics application of learning theories in this field, and rehabilitation and community life of individuals with intellectual disability.

LRD ID 524 Fundamentals of Early Intervention 2 Cr. hours

The objective of this course is to shed light on the importance of early intervention with intellectual disabled and/ or autistic young children by emphasizing the importance of the family. In addition, students are introduced to important theories, programs and strategies of early intervention in order to create an elevated state of mind that understands the concept and is able to deal with both the involved child and their family in a professional manner. The course's subject matter evolves around the theoretical foundations in identifying the concepts of early intervention, the importance and relevance of early intervention, programs of interventional therapy, strategies of early intervention, different manners of services, the importance of family when it comes to early intervention, evaluation of early intervention and training emphasized on real life case studies.

LRD ID 537 Fundamentals of Autism Disorder 3 Cr. hours

The objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and basic concepts in autism disorder, both in terms of definition, prevalence, clinical picture, causal factors, different characteristics of people with autism, and the methods and tools used in diagnosis and assessment of autism and similar cases. The theoretical approaches covered (Neural, Psychodynamic & Cognitive) explain the various symptoms of autism, as well as provide programs and methods of intervention used for the development of communication skills as well as social and academic skills.

LRD ID 528 Diagnosis and Assessment of Developmental Disabilities 2 Cr. hours

The objectives of this course are to provide students with knowledge and information related to theories and different strategies in diagnosing individuals with intellectual disability. Students also acquire basic skills in diagnosis and are trained to evaluate strengths and weaknesses on all aspects, cognitive, educational, social and emotional.

LRD ID 529 Teaching Strategies of Developmental Disabilities 2 Cr. hours

The objectives of this course are to provide students with different teaching strategies in the field of intellectual disability, with a focus on the identification of different concepts and terms which are related to teaching strategies in general, and to identify the different teaching in intervention strategies used with intellectually disabled individuals, such as visual, sensory, cognitive and social intervention strategies. Effective programs of teaching and intervention, such as social interaction and life skills are also covered. In addition, the course focuses on identifying the individual educational plan in terms of elements of behavioral objectives; specifically, identifying the appropriate educational plan for students with intellectual disability, steps to integrate the plan in regular schools, strategies that facilitate successful integration of these students, and identifying problems associated with the integration of students with intellectual disabilities and solving strategies.

LRD ID 626 Family Counseling for Developmental Disabilities 2 Cr. hours

The course focuses on family counseling concepts, different definitions of counselor skills, special needs of intellectually disabled and autistic individuals, strategies of counseling, challenges faced by parents of disabled children and their needs and how to deal with those challenges. It also focuses on the counselor parent relationship, and suitable training offered to parents of disabled individuals and how to establish sufficient communication among disabled individuals, their parents and the professionals.

LRD ID 621 Behavior Management and Modification 2 Cr. hours

The objective of this course is to provide students with theoretical concepts and its application in student behavior management, different strategies for managing and modifying student behavior, training students on basic skills, and designing a plan to modify the behavior of a child with developmental disabilities. Concepts covered include basic principles of behavior management & modification theoretical approaches, designing a behavior modification plan, and its applications in the field of developmental disabilities.

Tweets by AGUeducation