Master in Child Neuropsychology and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Joint Master's Program between Bethlehem University and Hebron University

Introduction

The Master’s Program in Child Neuropsychology and Neurodevelopmental Disorders is considered the first program of its kind in Palestinian universities. The program is based on current scientific knowledge in neuropsychology aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practice in working with various neurodevelopmental disorders, such as, intellectual disabilities, learning disorders, autism spectrum, and other disorders. The program aims to prepare professional competencies, scientific research and knowledge production in this field at the national level.

This program targets graduates who work in rehabilitation institutions, and are graduates of the departments of psychology and health sciences. It also seeks to equip them with a set of theoretical knowledge and practical skills that allow them to work with children with developmental disorders, for the purposes of evaluation, diagnosis and intervention. This program will contribute to the development of psychological services provided to this group in Palestine. The program, which is prepared in an integrated manner, includes 36 credit hours divided into 10 courses (20 theoretical hours and 10 practical hours), along with 6 credit hours for a master’s thesis.

Mission

The program seeks to contribute to the establishment of a neuropsychology specialty in Palestine by qualifying specialists in this new field, filling the need for neuropsychology knowledge in the Palestinian society, and providing students with theoretical and applied scientific knowledge to work with children with neurodevelopmental disorders and delays, and develop psychological services provided to this group in Palestine. By employing specialized laboratories, the program also strives to develop scientific research and standardize psychological tests to be adapted for the Palestinian and Arab contexts.

Objectives

1. Provide students with scientific knowledge about neurodevelopmental disorders and delays.
2. Train the students on screening, evaluation, and diagnosis of some neurodevelopmental disorders and therapeutic intervention with children with neurodevelopmental disorders and delays.
3. Developing students’ research skills in standardizing tests in specialized laboratories established in both universities.
4. Train the students in evidence-based prevention and intervention programs for neurodevelopmental disorders and delays.

Significance

Child neuropsychology is one of the relatively recent specializations in the field of psychology. This explains the absence of academic programs and the scarcity of specialists qualified to diagnose, evaluate, and treat neurodevelopmental disorders in Palestine and the Arab world. This program, which is the first of its kind in Palestine, has been designed to respond to the Palestinian community’s needs and as a result of a collaboration between a team of specialists from Arab and European universities. The significance of the program lies in the establishment of a neuropsychology laboratory equipped with reliable assessment and diagnostic tools and an educational hub that aims to integrate technology into the learning and teaching process. These facilities would help train specialists in this field and allow them to communicate with specialists and interested people worldwide. This program adds to the theoretical and practical knowledge in dealing with a number of common developmental disorders.

Target Groups

This program targets providers of psychological services for children with neurodevelopmental disorders and delays in Palestine. The targeted specializations are:

The First Level: Psychology graduates, including different psychological specializations.

The Second Level: Graduates of related specializations/subject area, such as social work, special education, occupational therapy, and nursing. Applicants from such subject areas must have practical experience in addition to enrollment in certain remedial courses for the program.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, graduates are expected to have:

• Scientific knowledge in understanding and interpreting neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Practical skills in employing neuropsychological measures and applying them in the evaluation and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders.
• The ability to create intervention and prevention models for neurodevelopmental and delays.
• Positive values and attitudes towards children with developmental disorders.
• Scientific research skills in the field of neuropsychology with children and adolescents.

Graduate Job Opportunities

• Public and private institutions working in the field of developmental disorders.
• Private centers and related operating clinics.
• Private and public schools (resources room teachers, counselors, special educators, and health workers who provide therapy).
• Hospitals and rehabilitation departments.
• Universities and research centers.
• International organizations working in the field of childhood and neurodevelopmental disorders.