Profound & Complex Learning Disability: The University of Manchester

Course description

This Distance Learning course is aimed at students who come into contact with individuals with severe or profound learning disabilities or other complex needs, and those who have a desire to gain specialized knowledge in this area. A theoretical framework is reinforced through consideration of practice related issues.

The course aims to promote strategies that enable individuals with learning disabilities to share the same rights, opportunities and choices as other people.  This is achieved by studying a range of subjects including:

• Methods of communication (including alternative and augmentative systems);
• Effects of sensory loss and dysfunction;
• Management of challenging behaviour;
• Values and attitudes towards disability;
• Issues in education from infancy through to adulthood, including Lifetime Learning;
• Family issues;
• Effective advocacy and
• Multi-disciplinary working.

Participants on this course come from a range of professional backgrounds and include Care Workers and Managers, Social Workers, Teachers, Nurses, Foster Carers, Speech and Language Therapists and Psychologists.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities are many and varied.  At undergraduate level, the Certificate in Higher Education will enable you to make the first step towards a degree or entry into a vocational course in a related area.  It can also exempt you from the first year of study in similar HE courses at college or university.  Students achieving this qualification frequently go on to study degrees in psychology, education and social care with the Open University.

Entry requirements

• English language: Students whose first language is not English require a minimum of IELTS 7.0 with 7 in the writing component or TOEFL 600 paper based or 250 computer based, with 4.5 on Test of Written English.
• Unit grade information: The University of Manchester welcomes the provision of unit grade information which, like all other available information, will inform the consideration of applications.
• Key Skills qualification: The University warmly welcomes applications from students studying the Key Skills qualification.