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Graduate Certificate in Special Education K-12 Teaching

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$2,000 scholarship for SEDP 630

 
This fully online certificate is suited for provisionally licensed special educators in Virginia schools who are focused on teaching students with disabilities who are learning the general education curriculum. Read our Application Checklist - Certificate in Special Education K12 Teaching for a complete list of the admissions items required as you complete the online application process. If you do not currently hold a provisional teaching license, you can complete the SEDP 630: Trends in Special Education course to become eligible for employment as a special education teacher (general curriculum focus) within a Virginia school division. To find a good fit, contact local school divisions with your special education employment interests.

SEDP 630 is offered every semester in an online, asynchronous format through the VCU School of Education. Students can complete the VCU non-degree application to gain access to this certificate program prerequisite course. The schedule of classes is your resource as you review course offerings and availability in any semester.

Certificate students are able to apply for financial aid if they meet certain eligibility requirements. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website to learn about the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.

Through the certificate program, students will complete all coursework required for full licensure as a special education teacher who supports children and youth with high-incidence disabilities (e.g., learning disabilities, emotional disabilities, and mild to moderate intellectual disability) who are learning the general education curriculum. This certificate is designed so that participants can complete requirements within an average of 18 months or five semesters, though this timeline can be flexible to meet students’ individual needs and timelines. Program courses are consistently offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall semesters.

Eligibility requirements

  • Current employment as a special education teacher under the Special Education, General Curriculum endorsement
  • Provisional teaching license with endorsement in Special Education, General Curriculum K-12
  • At least one of the three required letters of reference is from an administrator or human resources representative from the hiring school division who can verify employment as a provisionally licensed teacher under the Special Education, General Curriculum
  • Note: No entrance exam (i.e., GRE or MAT) required

VCU BULLETIN INFO

PROGRAM BASICS

How to apply: Graduate application
Semester of entry: Fall, spring or summer
Application deadlines: Fall: Aug. 1; Spring: Dec. 31; Summer: Mar. 1
Late applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Resources and Checklists

Application Checklist - Certificate in Special Education K12 Teaching [PDF]

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

FOR MORE IN-DEPTH INFO

Certificate in Special Education K-12 Teaching alumni - Application to M.Ed. in Special Education, General Education concentration

Certificate in Special Education K-12 Teaching completers are able to apply courses completed toward the M.Ed. in Special Education-General concentration program. This means that you may only need 12 (4 courses) graduate credit hours to complete a master’s degree in special education. There is a time limit to your courses to transfer into your program. It must be within 7 years of when you began your certificate, thus we recommend you apply in your final semester of your certificate program. Note: This transfer only applies to the general education concentration.

Please utilize this Checklist and FAQ document and reach out to soeinfo@vcu.edu or the program coordinator with any additional questions.

Curriculum Requirements

The VCU Bulletin has a list of curriculum requirements for this program.

The School of Education (SOE) degree programs that lead to professional licensure are designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for professional licensure in the Commonwealth of Virginia as outlined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). The SOE has determined that the curriculum includes applicable educational prerequisites for the following professional licensure(s) and/or certification(s) as outlined on this page of our website.

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Brandon Norris, Recruitment And Enrollment Counselor
Patrick Mullen, Ph.D.
Serra De Arment, Ph.D.