Gifted Education: Professional Learning

Students interested in taking courses in this series must fill out a Non-degree Student form; no application is needed. The form must be submitted at least one week prior to the start date of the course in which you would like to enroll.

For Students Seeking the Graduate Certificate

Prerequisite: undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent) with an overall GPA of at least 3.00

Any student who wishes to apply for the Gifted Learners in PreK-12 Education certificate must submit an online application, two letters of recommendation, a statement of professional goals (1-2 pages), resume, and transcripts from prior post-secondary degree(s). Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts with their application; however, official transcripts are required prior to matriculation. The GRE is not required for admission.

It is possible to apply up to three (3) graduate credits toward a certificate, with advisor approval and provided the coursework is no older than five years at completion of the course of study. All other University of Virginia course work must be earned after admission to the certificate program. Students are responsible for knowing the requirements for admission to, and completion of, the Gifted Learners certificate and for contacting their advisor for planning.

Course requirements for both the Gifted Learners certificate and the VDOE endorsement are as follows:

Courses (4 courses/12 credits): 

Required: 

• EDIS 7220: Intro to the Gifted (Take as first course)
• EDIS 7250: Models and Strategies for Teaching the Gifted
• EDIS 5770: Social, Emotional, and Counseling Issues in Talent Development
• EDIS 7230: Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented

In addition, students pursuing the Gifted Learners endorsement must fulfill a practicum requirement:

• 45 instructional hours or one year of full-time teaching supervised by a teacher who holds a current VDOE gifted endorsement. Note that UVA does not supervise the practicum for working teachers. Instead, working teachers typically work with their school to identify a supervisor and submit the documentation to VDOE verifying a year of supervised full-time teaching.

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=55&poid=7412.

As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement (SARA), the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)). Although California does not participate in SARA, it allows students to enroll in out-of-state programs.

Upon completion of the Teaching Gifted Learners in Prek-12 Education Certificate at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.

Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial 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).