Teaching Gifted Learners in PreK-12 Education Certificate

Return to: School of Education and Human Development: Certificate Programs

This certificate prepares teachers and administrators to lead the development, implementation, and supervision of gifted education curriculum and programming that equitably serves talented learners. Candidates will build specialized knowledge, from shaping instructional strategies to creating research-based program options, that encourages gifted learners to reach their full potential.

The key objectives for the Teaching Gifted Learners in PreK-12 Education Certificate are to:

Develop educators’ understanding of the field of gifted education;

Prepare teachers and administrators to make research-based decisions in developing programs and curriculum for gifted students;

Prepare teachers and administrators to teach gifted students;

Increase educator appreciation of the wide range of giftedness and the issues in identifying and serving gifted students from diverse populations; and

Strengthen and enhance leadership capacity in the field of gifted education.

Program Requirements

Total Credits: 12

Required Courses

EDIS 5770 - Social, Emotional, and Counseling Issues in Talent Development Credits: 3
EDIS 7220 - Intro to the Gifted Credits: 3
EDIS 7250 - Models and Strategies for Teaching the Gifted Credits: 3
EDIS 7230 - Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented Credits: 3 OR EDIS 5080 - Differentiating Instruction Credits: 3

Program Specific Policies

This certificate program provides the coursework necessary to satisfy the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Gifted Education endorsement. The program does not provide the field experience requirement for the endorsement. To obtain the VDOE Gifted Education endorsement, graduates of the certificate program need to complete a 45-hour practicum or one year of teaching under the guidance of a mentor teacher endorsed in Gifted Education.

This certificate program does not satisfy initial teaching licensure requirements.

Public Professional Licensure Disclosure

UVA participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), which establishes comparable national stan- dards for interstate postsecondary distance education without additional regulatory authorization from member states. SARA also provides limited authorization to place students in supervised field experiences. Except for California all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S Virgin Islands participate in SARA. Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs. Additional information is available on the NC- SARA website.

Upon completion of the Teaching Gifted Learners in Prek-12 Education Certificate at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates are eligible for an add-on endorsement in Virginia with completion of the required practicum or experience.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))

Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).