The Master Program "Adapted Sport and Inclusive Education" starts operating from the academic year 2019-2020. It is offered by the Faculty of Public Health, Health Care and Tourism.
Normative foundation of the Program
The Master's program is in line with the principles and priorities which are currently applied at European level. The foundation for the Program creation is the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). These two acts set the framework for implementing a rights-based approach towards all students and other learners. Additional guidance is also provided by General Comment No. 4 (2016) on the right of inclusive education of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Those Conventions together with the UN Objective 4 on Sustainable Development standing to provide inclusive and equally accessible for all quality education and to expand the opportunities for everyone's lifelong learning " (UN, 2015) protect the rights of learners with disabilities. They ensure that they will not be marginalized or excluded from the general education (European Agency, 2015).
The scope of the Program
Adapted sport is a competitive or recreational sport for persons with disabilities. Adapted sports are often held in parallel with typical sports activities. However, they do allow for the modifications needed by persons with disabilities to practice as many sports as possible. "Adapted" and "inclusive" sports are often used interchangeably when it comes to sports for athletes with disabilities. Although alike, adapted and inclusive sports do not seem to be the same. Both types are aimed at providing persons with disabilities equal opportunities to participate in sports. Both types envisage the implementation of different adaptation strategies, such as the use of specialized equipment and / or assistive technologies to facilitate participation and make the sport more enjoyable. The purpose of adapted sports is to make it widely available for disabled athletes. The purpose of inclusive sports is to enable disabled athletes to play / participate along their able-bodied counterparts as equals. The goal of inclusive education is for all students of all ages to be able to receive adequate, high quality education in the community in which they live, together with their friends and peers.
The aim of the Program
The education in the master's program is aimed at expanding and deepening the basic theoretical, methodological and practical knowledge and skills acquired in the previous educational degree at Bachelor level by receiving interdisciplinary knowledge and specialized training in the field of adapted sports and inclusive education with special emphasis on inclusive physical education.
Who can apply
The applicants must have a bachelor's degree in sports science, physical education or kinesitherapy. Applicants with a bachelor's or master's degree in other pedagogical, health, social or human sciences are also eligible to apply but they must obtain additional specialized training prior the Program in order to acquire necessary knowledge related to sports science.
What you obtain
The Master's Degree qualification is acquired after full-time training of three semesters (90 ECTS) according to the accredited curriculum: General theoretical knowledge (2ECTS); Specialized theoretical and practical knowledge (58 ECTS) and Specialized practical training (30 ECTS). The education ends with a Master thesis defense or a State theoretical examination. The Program is thought in both Bulgarian and English language.
The Program is operated by sector “Adapted Physical Activity and Sport”. The APAS sector has many years of experience in the Master's program education, it is maintaining an international exchange of experience and good practices within the Erasmus + and other programs. It well known and preferred social partner at national level in providing consultancy or organizing sports events for persons with disabilities.
Contact us at e-mail: afas@nsa.bg
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