Open New Doors With a Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education

Online

8 Months

12 Credit Hours

$490 per Credit

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Elevate Your Skills With a University That Understands Gifted Education

Create the optimal classroom experience for exceptional students by upgrading your expertise with the online Professional Studies Certificate in Gifted Education. This CAEP-accredited program helps you apply cutting-edge gifted education practices through data analysis, authentic assessments, coaching, reflection and critical thinking.

Shenandoah is a member of NC-SARA, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, and the program is approved by the Virginia State Board of Education, so you will meet the educational requirements for the VA gifted education add-on endorsement.

Certificate Details

No application fee
Flexible, asynchronous courses
Personalized attention from expert faculty
Develop research-based best practices
College of Distinction for SU’s Division of Education and Leadership¹

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Our Inquiry-Centered Curriculum Focuses on Your Needs

4 Total Courses

Flexible Schedules

The SU gifted education certificate online curriculum is designed to meet the current and changing needs of Virginia teachers and school systems. You must complete a practicum totaling a minimum of 45 hours (nine to 12 hours per course) to graduate. In this practicum, you will teach gifted students in either a heterogeneously (mixed ability) or homogeneously (single ability) grouped classroom.

Faculty are ready to help plan your required practicum hours; however, you are responsible for finding your own practicum placement and a mentor certified in gifted education. One year of teaching gifted students full time in a public or an accredited private school may be accepted in lieu of said practicum. If you exit the gifted education program for more than one year, you may be required to retake courses.

Required Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education Courses

GTD 611 Understanding and Educating the Gifted Learner 3 Credits

This course provides candidates with an understanding for meeting the needs of children identified for services through gifted and talented programs. The course provides an overview of current and historical issues in the field, including those related to the intellectual and social-emotional development of gifted students, and research-based educational practices recommended as service options that meet the cognitive and affective needs of identified students. Candidates will continue to build a foundation for understanding the field of gifted education and the varied needs of gifted learners.

GTD 612 Curriculum for Gifted Learners 3 Credits

This course examines curriculum issues for gifted learners in the classroom. The primary emphasis will be on content organization and presentation in a manner that ensures that students encounter and explore depth and complexity within the disciplines and understand theories and principles differentiating curriculum. Theories of learning will also be examined as they relate to curriculum, particularly Constructivism.

GTD 613 Social and Emotional Issues of Gifted Children 3 Credits

This course will explore current research and discuss best practices to be used in schools to address the unique social-emotional needs of gifted learners. Affective characteristics, personality traits, growth and adjustment of gifted children, and relevant instructional needs will be discussed. Topics include: Characteristics and Specific Development Traits; Guidance Needs; Underachievement; Special Populations: Asynchronous Development; Twice Exceptional Students; and Perfectionism. Many classroom activities and techniques designed to enhance the social, emotional, and affective development of gifted students will be provided. Of particular interest will be how the gifted child constructs an understanding of “self” within what is often the very turbulent and difficult context of society. Special issues of underachievement, gender, and cultural differences will also be explored.

GTD 615 Strategies for Gifted Learners 3 Credits

Effective strategies for gifted learners are offered through this course. A variety of research-based strategies that are brain-compatible and brain-friendly, and that help differentiate instruction for gifted students, are examined and practiced. Specific techniques will be studied that will provide a basis for identifying gifted students through the use of diagnostic and prescriptive approaches of assessment, including multiple assessment instruments and identification strategies through a review of portfolios or performance, or both.

Increase Your Impact on Student Lives as a Gifted Teacher

As teacher shortages continue in Virginia², you can help meet the demand for specialized educators with Shenandoah’s online graduate certificate in gifted education. Whether you want to become a certified gifted teacher or learn how to differentiate your general education classroom instruction, this CAEP-accredited program will expand your career opportunities while also increasing your earning potential.

Gain a Career-Boosting Credential

Elementary School Gifted Teacher $56,544 per year³

High School Gifted Teacher $65,430 per year³

Value of a Certificate

Equipped with this certificate, you will be able to become a licensed Virginia gifted education teacher through the state’s add-on endorsement. Additionally, you will participate in engaging discussions led by committed Shenandoah instructors who’ve taught in K-12 classrooms themselves. You’ll benefit from small classes and faculty who know your name, care about your success and advise you as you pursue your goals.

Take advantage of teacher-oriented, inquiry-based coursework that addresses the complex field of giftedness through well-rounded courses. Acquire the tools needed to create real change in students’ lives with a convenient program designed to fit a busy teacher’s schedule.

Support High-Achieving Students When You Learn How To:

Develop educators’ awareness of the unique intellectual, emotional and social characteristics of gifted learners.
Recognize and assess giftedness using multiple criteria and culturally responsive practices.
Explore evidence-based instructional strategies that are proven to be effective with gifted students.
Tailor instruction to meet the diverse academic levels, interests and learning styles of gifted students.
Utilize a variety of instructional methods specifically suited for gifted learners, such as Socratic questioning, tiered assignments, compacting and independent study.
Design and adapt curriculum to meet the advanced learning needs of gifted students.
Implement a range of program models and service delivery options, such as pull-out programs, cluster grouping, full-time gifted programs and mentorships.

What’s Needed To Apply for the Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education

Application Deadline 08/17/26

Start Date 08/31/26

Online Application Form	Apply Now
Degree and Minimum GPA	Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Transcripts	Unofficial transcripts for initial admission. Official transcripts are required prior to enrollment but may also be sent earlier if preferred.
Official GRE/GMAT Score	Not required
Additional Requirements	Applicants must have: A current teaching license valid in any U.S. state One letter of recommendation One statement addressing your background and educational goals (two to three pages in length) Résumé with two years of teaching experience (three years by completion of the program) If you are an international student, you must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. To do so, you may be required to meet the minimum requirement for one of the following exams: TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo English Test (DET). Fill out a Request for Information form to speak to an engagement specialist and learn more.

Admissions

How This Certificate Fits Your Budget

$490 Cost per Credit

12 Total Credits

Maximize your return on investment with an online graduate certificate in gifted education that strengthens your teaching knowledge — and moves you up the pay scale. Shenandoah prides itself on putting students first, which is why our tuition is competitive and paid for by the course. Earn a credential that elevates your ability to help gifted students, expands your career options and sets your résumé apart.

Tuition & Aid

Sources

Colleges of Distinction. “Shenandoah University.” Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://collegesofdistinction.com/school/shenandoah-university/.
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC). “Virginia’s K-12 Teacher Pipeline.” Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://jlarc.virginia.gov/landing-2023-virginias-k-12-teacher-pipeline.asp.
Payscale. “Salary for Certification: Gifted Education Endorsement.” Retrieved August 19, 2025, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Gifted_Education_Endorsement/Salary.