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Special Education: Certificate

The online graduate certificate in Special Education – General Curriculum is designed to help educators develop the critical skills needed to teach students with disabilities. Opportunity to pursue an add-on endorsement to your existing teaching license.

At a Glance

Program Results

Certificate

Special Education - General Curriculum

Program Type

  • Part Time

Location

  • Online

Estimated Length

1-5 semesters

Application Deadline

Spring entry: December 1

Summer entry:

  • February 1 (early notification deadline)
  • May 15 (final deadline)

Fall entry:

  • March 1 (early notification deadline)
  • July 15 (final deadline)

Credits

15

About This Program

The graduate certificate in special education – general curriculum is designed to equip licensed elementary, middle, and high school teachers with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the distinct learning needs of students with disabilities. This graduate certificate will provide teachers with research-based strategies to support these students in the general curriculum settings.

Completion of the program provides an official designation on your UVA transcript that you have completed the Special Education - General Curriculum certificate. This certificate is aligned to the VDOE approved program regulations for the Special Education add-on endorsements in K-6, 6-8, and 6-12. 

Teachers holding any other endorsement, including K-12 or preK-12 endorsements, are not eligible to add the special education endorsement through this course series.

Requirements for Add-On Endorsement Candidates: 

To learn more about the VDOE requirements for an add-on endorsement in Special Education, review the Administrative Code.

Important Notes:

  • This certificate program does not satisfy initial teaching licensure requirements. If you are seeking an initial teaching license, visit our Become a Teacher page.
  • For students who may desire to pursue a master’s degree, coursework for this certificate program can contribute to the M.Ed. in special education.

Program Overview

Admission Requirements

Students may enter the program during the summer, fall, or spring semesters. 

Prerequisites 

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

Admission requirements that apply specifically to this program are listed below: 

All applicants must submit the following as part of the online application: 

  • Two letters of recommendation
  • A statement of professional goals (1-2 pages)
  • Resume
  • Transcripts from prior post-secondary degree(s). Applicants may submit unofficial transcripts with their application; however, official transcripts are required prior to matriculation. 

Transferring Credits

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 the completion of the course of study. This includes any courses that are part of this program if completed prior to admission to the program. All other University of Virginia coursework must be earned after admission to the certificate program. Students are responsible for knowing the requirements for admission to, and completion of, the Instructional Design & Technology certificate and reaching out to the contact listed on this page for planning purposes.

Visit our Graduate Admission page for the full admission process.

Graduate Admission

Application for admission is made to the School of Education and Human Development Office of Admission & Enrollment. For more information about the graduate admission process, please visit our Graduate Admission page.

Graduate Admission

Coursework

The graduate certificate in special education – general curriculum is designed to equip K-12 teachers with the knowledge and skills to address the needs of students with learning disabilities (e.g., autism, traumatic brain injury, dyslexia, specific learning disabilities, and emotional disabilities) in the general curriculum classroom. Students will be educated in the historical, ethical, and legal aspects of educating students with disabilities. Students will study how to identify, educate, and evaluate students with disabilities. Students will learn to develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs). Students will gain knowledge in implementing instructional strategies in reading, writing, and mathematics. Graduates will be prepared to teach students with learning disabilities in general curriculum settings

Certificate in Special Education - General Curriculum Courses

Special Education-General Curriculum K-6

  • EDIS 5000: The Exceptional Learner
  • EDIS 5142: IEP Development and Implementation
  • EDIS 5060: Math Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5230: Reading and Writing Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5040: Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education 

Special Education-General Curriculum 6-8 

  • EDIS 5000: The Exceptional Learner
  • EDIS 5142: IEP Development and Implementation
  • EDIS 5060: Math Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5230: Reading and Writing Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5143: Transition Planning

Special Education-General Curriculum Secondary

  • EDIS 5000: The Exceptional Learner
  • EDIS 5142: IEP Development and Implementation
  • EDIS 5060: Math Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5230: Reading and Writing Instruction for Special Education
  • EDIS 5143: Transition Planning

In addition, students pursuing the Special Education - General Curriculum add-on endorsement must fulfill a practicum requirement:

  • 45 instructional hour teaching practicum with students with disabilities in the general curriculum, OR
  • One year of successful full-time teaching + form (Report on Experience Form in the VDOE Teaching Licensure application) filled out by the appropriate school official noting successful completion.

For those opting for the practicum route, a practicum will be embedded into the methods courses (EDIS 5230 and/or EDIS 5060) during the spring or fall semesters. EDIS 5060 is offered in the spring and fall, EDIS 5230 is offered in the spring and summer. A practicum is not available in the summer section of EDIS 5230. Please plan your schedule accordingly.

Special Education - General Curriculum Course Descriptions

Information on courses that are part of the Special Education - General Curriculum graduate certificate can be found on the UVA Graduate Record website.

Curriculum

Professional Learning Opportunities

Courses that are part of the certificate in special education - general curriculum are available to be taken as a course series. Prospective students may also request permission to enroll in individual courses as a non-degree student seeking open enrollment.

Taking these courses as an online course series:

  • Educators and practitioners will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to design instruction that meets specific learning goals for students with learning disabilities.
  • For the grade-level coursework, students will gain additional knowledge and skills in assessment and evaluation, or transition planning, for their grade-level of interest.
  • Courses can be used for professional development and licensure recertification points.
  • Students can transfer one course from this course series into the Special Education - General Curriculum Certificate. 

Non-degree student seeking open-enrollment:

  • Not sure about committing to a graduate degree or certificate program? Sample our courses by enrolling as a non-degree seeking student. Most of our courses are fully online. Students should fill out the non-degree student application at least a week prior to the start of the desired term. Early submission is recommended to secure spots in desired classes.

Students interested in pursuing the course series or taking individual courses as a non-degree student must fill out a Non-degree Student form at least a week before the start of the desired term; no application is needed. Early submission is recommended to secure spots in desired classes.

Visit our Professional Learning page to learn more about course series or non-degree student admission.

Course Series and Non-degree Student Application

Students interested in pursuing the course series or taking individual courses as a non-degree student must fill out a Non-degree Student form at least a week before the start of the desired term; no application is needed. Early submission is recommended to secure spots in desired classes.

Non-Degree Application

Program Faculty

All Program Faculty
Bryan Cook headshot

Bryan Cook

  • Professor
Lysandra Cook Profile Photo

Lysandra Cook

  • Professor
Michael Kennedy Profile Photo

Michael J. Kennedy

  • Commonwealth Professor of Education
LaRon Scott

LaRon A. Scott

  • Professor

Contact Us

Information Sessions

All Admission Events

The school hosts a variety of admission events including information sessions and open houses for prospective students as they explore our degree program offerings. View upcoming opportunities to engage with faculty and staff.

Online Graduate Certificate Programs - Virtual Information Session - October 7, 2026

  • - EDT
  • Virtual: Zoom
Register

How to Become a Teacher - Virtual Information Session - October 14, 2026

  • - EDT
  • Virtual: Zoom
Register

Disclosures

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 https://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php.  

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 Add-on Endorsement in Special Education program 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).