Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education

Admission

Please refer to “The Graduate Admissions Process” section for general graduate admission information.

Admission to the Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education requires the following:

1. Complete and submit the Graduate Application for Admission, accompanied by a non-refundable application fee. The application can be downloaded at here.
2. Provide an official transcript or transcripts from a regionally accredited college or university verifying completion of a bachelor's degree. Transcripts and all application documents should be sent to the Wilmington University Office of Graduate Admissions.
3. Provide official (and complete) score reports demonstrating mastery of general knowledge, including the ability to read, write, and compute. *This requirement can be met by providing an official score report showing scores (including all sub-scores) on the ETS Praxis Series Core Academic Skills for Educators (ETS #5712, 5722, and 5732). Minimum acceptable scores are:

Test	Score
ETS 5712 Reading	156
ETS 5722 Writing	162
ETS 5732 Mathematics	150

4. Submit a valid United States teaching certificate.
5. International students must provide results from the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) that meet current minimum score requirements.
6. Schedule a program planning conference with a Graduate Program Advisor or the Program Chair.

After completing all of the above requirements, register for MED 6102 (E-Folio) along with other appropriate course in the degree program.

Purpose

The Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education program is designed for educators interested in teaching and developing programs for gifted and talented students. Candidates study research-based practices to acquire the knowledge, skills, and experiences needed to enhance student learning and to ensure their effectiveness as teachers and leaders in the field of gifted and talented education. The program addresses research-based practices relating to curriculum development; promoting cognitive, social, and emotional development; and encouraging creativity, innovative and critical thinking.

Program Competencies

The standards and program competencies adopted for the Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education are the National Gifted Education Standards issued by the National Association for Gifted Children, Council for Exceptional Children, and The Association for the Gifted (2013). The Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education is designed to enable candidates to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the following program competency standards:

Standard 1: Learner Development and Individual Learning Differences

Beginning gifted education professionals understand the variations in learning and development in cognitive and affective areas between and among individuals with gifts and talents and apply this understanding to provide meaningful and challenging learning experiences for individuals with exceptionalities.

Standard 2: Learning Environments

Beginning gifted education professionals create safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments so that individuals with gifts and talents become effective learners and develop social and emotional well-being.

Standard 3: Curricular Content Knowledge

Beginning gifted education professionals use knowledge of general and specialized curricula to advance learning for individuals with gifts and talents.

Standard 4: Assessment

Beginning gifted education professionals use multiple methods of assessment and data sources in making educational decisions about identification of individuals with gifts and talents and student learning.

Standard 5: Instructional Planning and Strategies

Beginning gifted education professionals select, adapt, and use a repertoire of evidence-based instructional strategies3 to advance the learning of individuals with gifts and talents.

Standard 6: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice

Beginning gifted education professionals use foundational knowledge of the field and professional ethical principles and programming standards to inform gifted education practice, to engage in lifelong learning, and to advance the profession.

Standard 7. Collaboration

Beginning gifted education professionals collaborate with families, other educators, related-service providers, individuals with gifts and talents, and personnel from community agencies in culturally responsive ways to address the needs of individuals with gifts and talents across a range of learning experiences.

Outcomes Assessment

Multiple assessments are used to determine candidate growth toward achievement of the knowledge and skills described in the Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education program competencies and the university-wide graduation competencies. Performance-based assessments are used to evaluate fieldwork, projects, assignments, and research papers. Goals, learning outcomes and activities, external assignments, and assessment strategies are linked directly to program and graduation competencies as stated on each course syllabus. Other assessment strategies may include observations of performance-based projects in authentic settings and mentoring sessions. A standards-based presentation portfolio completed during the program will show the candidate’s level of expertise in acquiring the knowledge, skills, and dispositions described by the National Association for Gifted Education Standards. An exit PRAXIS II examination [Test Code 5358, Gifted Education, with a passing cut score of 157] is required to be taken and passed.  Scores must be submitted to Wilmington University prior to graduation.

Program Design

Course Requirements

Content Specific Courses (15 credits)

MED 6102	E-Folio	0
MSE 7400	The Gifted and Talented Child	3
MED 7802	Psychology of the Gifted and Talented Learners	3
MED 7804	Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies for Gifted and Talented Learners	3
MED 7807	Creativity and Critical Thinking	3
MED 7996	Practicum for Gifted and Talented Learners	3

Delaware Certification - Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and Talented

Current Delaware Department of Education regulations (DE Title 14, §1572) permit individuals who hold an initial continuing, advanced license, or a Limited Standard, Standard or Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003, and who hold a Standard Certificate in a subject (content), grade level, or area, to apply for a State of Delaware Standard Certificate as a Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and Talented after successfully completing five (5) Wilmington University College of Education courses: The Gifted and Talented Child (3 credits); Psychology of Gifted and Talented Learners (3 credits); Creativity and Critical Thinking (3 credits); Curriculum Design and Instructional Strategies for Gifted and Talented Learners (3 credits); and Practicum: Gifted and Talented Learners (3 credits). The candidate must apply to the Delaware Department of Education for the Delaware Certification.

NOTES:

Any changes in Delaware licensure and certification regulations could cause Wilmington University to make course and/or program adjustments in order to align with new or revised state requirements. Wilmington University reserves the right to change requirements to comply with any licensure/certification mandates of the Delaware Department of Education.

Qualifications for the Certificate

To qualify for a Wilmington University Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education, a candidate must successfully complete all required courses with a GPA of at least 3.0, complete a standards-based presentation program portfolio, and earn a passing score (157) on the PRAXIS II, Test Code 5358, Gifted Education exit assessment. The standards-based presentation program portfolio shows the candidate’s level of expertise in acquiring the knowledge and skills described by the National Gifted Education Standards. The certificate must be completed within two years.

Candidates completing the requirements listed above with a course GPA of 3.00 will, upon application to the Wilmington University Office of the Registrar, be issued a Wilmington University Graduate Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education. Applications may be found on the Wilmington University Registrar’s webpage. An application for the Wilmington University Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education does not satisfy application requirements for the Delaware Certificate ((DE Title 14, §1572) Teacher of Students Who Are Gifted and Talented.