1 Special Education Degree Programs in Italy

Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is a second-level degree (Laurea Magistrale) in Linguistics (LM39-Linguistica), taught entirely in English, offered by the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries of the University of Parma. It devotes specific attention to aspects related to language learning and teaching, with particular reference to Special Educational Needs affecting communication and language, such as developmental language disorders, learning disorders and sensory disabilities. A strength of the course is the acquisition of competences in the field of inclusive language education. It is a two-year course and on successful completion, graduates are awarded the “Laurea Magistrale” (second cycle degree certificate). Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is designed for candidates from different academic backgrounds and aims to provide a thorough grounding and advanced linguistic and cultural competencies in English and in a second foreign language (including Italian as an FL/L2), and research skills in the field of Language Sciences, in particular Educational linguistics. The course dedicates specific attention to aspects related to language learning and teaching, mainly as regards educational contexts which include learners with special needs, such as language impairments and disadvantages, learning disorders, or sensory disabilities.