Academy of Special Education (ASE) is a university of an 85-year-old teaching tradition. Among its biggest assets are highly qualified staff, diverse programs of study and improved conditions of studying (new premises as well as well good quality IT equipment). We provide a range of varied study opportunities including acquisition of respectful jobs which are highly demanded in the job market.

Nowadays, we have approximately 7,000 students enrolled in both full-time and part-time study programs. In addition, the Academy offers various postgraduate programs which enable to acquire complimentary qualifications allowing working in education as well as other job tasks.

The Faculty of Pedagogical Sciences offers the following faculties: Special Education, Pedagogy and Artistic Education in the field of fine arts.

Within the Special Education program we focus on training of teachers and teacher assistants to children, adolescents and adults with learning difficulties, hearing, speech or sight impediment, motor impairment, physical disabilities as well as emotional and behavioral disorders. Our pedagogical courses prepare for working both at school (a school pedagogue) and other special education centers.

It also aims to educate in the general field of social pedagogy. This refers to family support services, cultural and educational activity in a local area, continuing education of adults, job counseling, community prevention (i.e. street pedagogy) and psychopedagogy of creativity, which is designed to prepare for non-standard educational work with children or at school.

Artistic Education in the field of fine arts is a course which enables to acquire artistic competence in fine arts as well as prepare to work in various education and therapeutic institutions (artherapy).

As far as the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences is concerned, we are the first high education institution in Poland to have started a full-time social work study program. The course is designed to meet the needs of the growing population of the elderly, disabled or chronically ill who need professional care and support. Our university educates professional social workers within a full study program, which is comparable to similar courses of the European standards (previously, social work faculty was incorporated into other social science courses).

The sociology course is aimed at training education counselors as well as reducing inequalities in education for people socially isolated. In 2008/2009 we began educating students in the major of psychology within a 5-year tier MA studies program.

Beside educational activity, our university is involved in a wide range of interdisciplinary scientific research. In addition, AES conducts various projects under the auspices of the European Social Fund. We own a modern library operated by a computerized service system as well as offer online access to our catalogues.

AES apparently places great importance on the disabled students offering them simplified study system, facilities enabling to move around the campus (wheelchair access ramps, lifts and Braille orientation signs) as well as the Bureau for the Disabled Students and Job Counseling.

The Academy has two faculties which offer six study majors:

Faculty of Pedagogical Sciences– majors: Pedagogy and Special Education (first and second level studies), and Artistic Education in the field of fine arts (first level studies)

Faculty of Applied Social Sciences
– majors: Social Work and Sociology (first level studies), and Psychology (one-tier, 5-year studies, from 2008/2009).

Currently, about 7,000 students are enrolled in fulltime and part time programs. There are 287 faculty members. The Academy holds the Erasmus University Charter and has participated in the Erasmus mobility program since 2005. Although it does not offer fulltime study programs in English yet, a number of courses in foreign languages are conducted. On demand, the Academy has also conducted several international postgraduate programs in English.