Gifted Education
Mary Bowser, Professor of Curriculum & Instruction
Bowman Building, Office 111; (540) 545-7277; mbowser@su.edu

The Professional Studies Certificate in Gifted Education prepares teachers to implement best practices in gifted and talented instruction through collaboration, reflection, critical thinking, coaching, data analysis and authentic assessments. It is designed to meet the current and changing needs of regional teachers and school systems as they strive to upgrade professional skills and teaching effectiveness. This certificate program is flexible enough to adapt to individual school or teacher needs. It is also designed to meet state endorsement add-on requirements in Gifted and Talented.

This certificate program is a teacher-oriented and inquiry-centered program that addresses the complex field of giftedness by offering four-core gifted courses for all participants in the program. These courses use research-based best practices to inform the teachers’ decisions, provide guidance in addressing problems they will encounter in educational roles, and present opportunities to effect change in the environment in which they work. The program is developed so a student may begin with any of the four courses.

Program Admission Requirements

Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree prior to admission to the program. Applicants who want to achieve the add-on gifted endorsement must hold an appropriate and valid teaching license since this certificate is an Approved Virginia Licensure Program. International applicants must meet Shenandoah University admissions and language certification requirements. For
further information, contact the School of Education and Leadership.

The certificate program requirement is the completion of a 12-semester hour program (see below). Students are required to have graduated with a baccalaureate degree with an endorsement in a teaching area. Students must also complete a practicum of at least 48 instructional hours in the area of gifted education. This practicum shall include a minimum of 45 instructional hours of
successful teaching experiences with gifted students in a heterogeneously grouped (mixed ability) classroom or a homogeneously grouped (single ability) classroom. One year of successful, full-time teaching experience of gifted students in a public or accredited nonpublic school may be accepted in lieu of the practicum. A mentor holding a valid license with an endorsement in gifted
education must be assigned to the teacher.

Gifted Courses

• GTD 611 Understanding and Educating the Gifted Learner Credit(s): 3
• GTD 612 Curriculum for Gifted Learners 3 Credit(s): 3
• GTD 613 Social and Emotional Issues of Gifted Children 3 Credit(s): 3
• GTD 615 Strategies for Gifted Learners 3 Credit(s): 3

Participants who take a leave from the gifted education program and return after more than one year may be required to retake certain courses to update their knowledge, or take additional courses to comply with new program or Virginia licensure requirements.