Purpose

The purpose of the Graduate Certificate in Special Education – General Curriculum Add-On Endorsement is to provide candidates who hold an active teaching license issued by the Virginia Board of Education, an avenue to earn an add-on endorsement in Special Education General Curriculum. Emphasis is placed on advanced studies pertaining to differentiated instruction and assessment in reading, language acquisition, and mathematics. Additionally, the characteristics of students with disabilities, collaboration with other professionals in the field, and planning for the successful transition of students to their post-school lives are addressed. This program is defined by the federal guidelines, state guidelines of the Virginia Department of Education, the Council for Exceptional Children, and national accreditation. The guidelines for this certificate are subject to change based on federal and state regulations or national accreditation for the licensure of special education. This certificate is intended to better equip teachers and administrators to serve exceptional students.

Program Learning Outcomes

The student will be able to:

• Identify the knowledge of instructional and behavioral pedagogy to meet the unique needs of students in special education.

Admission Requirements

Please refer to the Admissions Requirements Matrix for Certificates in the Graduate Admissions section of this Catalog.

Delivery Format: Online Only

• Instructional Coordinator
• K-12 Curriculum Developer and Manager
• Special Education Teacher
• Teaching Product Developer

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Additional education or training may be required for some jobs or occupations. Conferral of a certificate does not guarantee job placement.