Introduction to Special Education, autumn 2026
- Date:
- 8.10.2026 - 16.11.2026
- Credits:
- 5 ECTS credits
- Location:
- Joensuu
- Continuous learning category:
- Teaching, education and psychology
- Teaching format:
- Online teaching, Blended teaching, Distance teaching
- Price:
- -
Contents: The course introduces students to the basis and different approaches of special education and inclusive education and gives a general overview of the role of special education in the Finnish education system. The course also introduces the scientific basis of special education research, its key concepts, some research topics, and examples of research methodological approaches.
After completing the course, the student
• is able to understand the main concepts, ideas and ideologies of special education.
• is able to recognize the learning, growth and participation in diverse learning groups.
• is able to understands how special educational needs and support vary.
• is able to apply methodological approaches in the field of special education for research.
• knows the basics of scientific critical thinking.
This course is a part of the Basic Studies in Special Education. Please check the Peppi study guide for more information about the course.
The course includes:
1) recorded online videos (lectures, 10 h) and
2) tasks (5 hours) based on the videos. These are prerequisites (i.e., mandatory, must be completed) for the participation in the
3) hybrid seminars (i.e., face-to-face or online participation possible; online via conferencing platform e.g., Zoom or Teams; 12 h).
Please see the Peppi study guide for the seminar schedules.
The course is divided into two main topics, namely approaches to 1) special education, and 2) special education research:
- The first five weeks of the course are devoted to understanding different approaches to special education and include two pair assignments (20 hours) and individual work (e.g., reading course materials; 41 hours).
- The three weeks at the end of the course are designed to provide an understanding of the scientific basis of special education research, its key concepts, some research topics, and examples of research methodological approaches, and include a pair assignment (10 hours) and individual work (37 hours).
More information about the course can be found on the course Moodle learning environment. Majority of the materials (e.g., articles and handouts) are provided by lecturers in the Moodle learning environment.
This course is a part of the Basic Studies in Special Education study module. You may register for each course individually or by purchasing a study right for the whole basic studies module for the academic year 2026-2027. The price for individual courses is 20 €/ECTS credit and the price for the whole study module is 375€ (15€/ECTS credit point). This registration option for the whole study module is available until 30.9.2026.
After registration, please log in to the Open University Basic Studies in Special Education Moodle environment. You can find a link to the environment on the New Open University Student instructional site, which you will have access to after completing the course registration. You will receive the instructions via email.
The study fee is 20 euros per ECTS credit for individual study units, and 15 euros per credit for study modules. The study fee is paid at registration.
Please find more information: Registration, study fees and right to study | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi)
By paying the study fee, the student receives a temporary right to study that entitles them to attend a particular course. The right to study is course-specific, and is required to complete the course as specified in the syllabus for the term, covering both teaching and course exams. If the course is continuously open for registration, the maximum time to complete the course is from 1 August to 31 July for that academic year.
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