Target Audience

This programme is aimed at educators, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and professionals from related fields.

This specialized master’s program trains graduates to work with children and adolescents who have particular difficulties in acquiring reading, spelling, and/or numeracy and arithmetic skills, or who require support due to attention difficulties and behavioral issues.

Profil

The quality of schools is directly linked to the qualifications of those working in the education system. The increasingly complex challenges facing schools require highly trained staff who can address the problems and objectives of schools from multiple professional perspectives, create conditions that foster learning in a co-constructive manner, and strengthen the professional practices of all those involved. In this context, schools should not be understood solely as the domain of teachers in the narrow sense: Multidisciplinary teams—comprising, for example, therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists—also make a significant contribution to educational success and the holistic development of students.

Teachers are primarily trained in instruction and educational design. However, supporting children and adolescents with specific learning difficulties, attention difficulties, or behavioral challenges requires specialized expertise to ensure the effectiveness of preventive support for diverse learning needs and thereby help alleviate the burden on teachers and improve the quality of instruction. Therefore, collaboration within multidisciplinary teams is often a key component of success.

Program Structure

The special MA (CE) program in “Targeted Learning Support and Counseling” comprises 120 ECTS credits and includes a very high proportion of independent study to allow for sufficiently differentiated in-depth study and reflective engagement with the literature and empirical findings.

The master’s program consists of 5 modules, each worth 20 ECTS:

• M1: Reading and Spelling Difficulties
• M2: Difficulties with Math
• M3: Difficulty concentrating
• M4: Behavioral Problems
• M5: Master Module

Requirements

Pursuant to § 52f of the Higher Education Act of 2005, as amended, admission to the non-degree Master’s program in “Targeted Learning Support and Counseling” is subject to the following criteria:

• Completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree comprising at least 180 ECTS credits at a recognised domestic or international post-secondary educational institution, completion of another equivalent relevant degree programme at a recognised domestic or international post-secondary educational institution, or an equivalent qualification combined with at least three years of relevant professional experience,
• a mandatory letter of motivation, as well as
• a mandatory admission interview.

The decision on the equivalence of the qualification is made by the single-member body responsible for academic affairs at the admitting institution (PHT), based on a recommendation from the Academic Committee. To compensate for significant differences in subject matter, the Rector’s Office may, upon the recommendation of the Academic Committee, require supplementary exams as a prerequisite for taking the exams specified in the curriculum.

If not all applicants can be admitted, they will be ranked according to the criteria established by the Rector’s Office pursuant to § 50(2) of the Higher Education Act (HG) of 2005.

Student Affairs

This exceptional master’s program is offered in cooperation with the Department of Psychology at UMIT Tirol (Private University of Health Sciences and Technology).

The in-person sessions will take place primarily on Friday afternoons and Saturdays. The online sessions will take place primarily in the evenings. The in-person sessions will be held on campus (PH Tirol in Innsbruck or UMIT in Hall in Tirol) and, in some cases, in a virtual environment.

Study Management

Die wissenschaftliche Leitung verantworten

• HS-Prof.in Univ.-Doz.in Dr.in Silvia Pixner (PH Tirol) und
• Univ. Prof. Dr. Korbinian Moeller (UMIT Tirol).

The Rectorate establishes a study commission for this degree programme, which prepares decisions in the admission and recognition procedures.

Lecturers

The quality of the master’s programme is closely linked to the professional, didactic, and research-related expertise of its individual lecturers. The curriculum is shaped by recognised experts who combine many years of teaching experience with relevant academic research or professional practice at renowned universities, research institutions, and organisations. The involvement of lecturers with international teaching and research experience, as well as active networks in academia and professional practice, makes a significant contribution to the programme’s depth of content, current relevance, and practical orientation.

We have already been able to attract the following lecturers for you:

• HS-Prof. Univ. Doz. Dr. Silvia Pixner, psychologist, Professor of Inclusive Education, PH Tirol
• Univ. Prof. Dr. Korbinian Möller, Psychologe, Professor an der UMIT Tirol
• Dr.ⁱⁿ Verena Dresen, Klinische Psychologin, Akademische Legasthenie- und Dyskalkulie-Therapeutin, Universität Innsbruck
• Mag.^a Barbara Eckmayr, Akademische Therapeutin für Lese-/Rechtschreibschwierigkeiten, Akademische Therapeutin für Rechenschwierigkeiten und Wirtschaftspädagogin
• Dr.ⁱⁿ Carina Gander-Luidold, PH Tirol, Dozentin und Lerntherapeutin
• Univ. Prof.ⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Barbara Gasteiger-Klicpera, Psychologin und Professorin an der Universität Graz
• Alexander Geist, StD, Staatlicher Schulpsychologe, Supervisor/Coach (BDP)
• Franziska HÖLTL, MSc., Klinische Psychologin
• Mag.^a Veronika Kerschbaumer, selbstständige Legasthenie- und Dyskalkulie-Therapeutin, Obfrau des Berufsverbandes BALDT
• Mag.^a Eva Mark-Zangerle, Schulpsychologin Beratungsstelle Landeck
• Dr. Thomas Pletschko, Leitung des Institute Testified, Psych. Diagnostik, Beratung und Therapie
• Dr.ⁱⁿ Stefanie Rösch, Hector-Institut für Empirische Bildungsforschung, Universität Tübingen
• Dr.ⁱⁿ Brita Schirmer, Dipl.-Päd.ⁱⁿ, Fachbuchautorin und Dozentin
• Dr. Martin Schöffl, PH Oberösterreich, Entwicklungsmedizinisches Institut an der JKU
• Ute Temel, Akad. Therapeutin für Lernstörungen, Referentin PH Steiermark

und viele mehr….