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Gifted and Talented Education

Specialized Certificate

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About the Gifted and Talented Education Program

UCSD Extension's Specialized Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education offers training for educators who want to teach and develop programs for gifted and talented students. The program meets training requirements for educators, counselors, psychologists, administrators, and others responsible for GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program services.

The online program is designed for those new to gifted education and for experienced educators. The required coursework offers a comprehensive examination of characteristics and identification, curriculum differentiation, teaching strategies, and program development for gifted and talented students in an online setting. Several courses also feature investigation and study in such specialized areas as technology, serving the second-language gifted student, and underachievement.

Target Audience
The Specialized Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program is offered to help educators meet educational training requirements for teaching gifted and talented students and to keep educations informed about recent research and curriculum development in the field.

Industry Certification
In the State of California, certification in gifted and talented education is the exclusive purview of school districts and Universities. At the time of this writing, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing does not approve programs in this area, nor does it issue authorizations or endorsements. The GATE certificate program at the University of California, San Diego Extension carefully adheres to established standards and best practices in gifted and talented education, including those supported by the California Association for the Gifted (CAG); Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG); and the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC).

All teachers who wish to receive the Specialized Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) are required to:

  • (1)Enroll in the GATE certificate program.
  • (2)Pay the certificate fee.
  • (3)Complete all required online courses with a grade of "C" or better.
  • (4)Coursework must be completed within 5 years of beginning the program.

The required coursework offers a comprehensive examination of characteristics and identification, curriculum differentiation, teaching strategies, and program development for gifted and talented students in an online setting. Several courses also feature investigation and study in such specialized areas as technology, serving the second-language gifted student, and underachievement.

Complete the application and pay application fee.

Format: Online

Estimated Cost: $1,600

Duration: 3-6 months

Contact
Department
Education
Phone
858-534-9286
Email
unexeduc@ucsd.edu

Courses

Delivery Method
Show Legend
  • Live Online
  • In-Person
  • Online
  • Hybrid
The Program
  • # of courses required: 4
  • Total units: 12

All four courses are required

Teaching the Gifted and Talented: Differentiating the CurriculumEDUC-40099

Units: 3.00

$385

This course provides approaches for differentiating the curriculum for gifted and talented learners. These approaches are based on core-curriculum modifications that work within the regular classroom ...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Teaching the Gifted and Talented: Recognizing Individual DifferencesEDUC-40090

Units: 3.00

$385

Familiarity with clusters of characteristics common to gifted people provides a basis for recognizing and understanding the individual differences and varied profiles that gifted students may exhibit....

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Strategies for Teaching the Gifted and TalentedEDUC-40101

Units: 3.00

$385

This course focuses on teaching & learning strategies that have proved successful with gifted students, including the Hilda Taba teaching strategies, the Parnes creative problem-solving strategy, and ...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Program Development for the GiftedEDUC-40100

Units: 3.00

$385

This course explores various program models for educating gifted students. As participants study major issues and factors affecting program development (philosophical views, general attitudes, parent ...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

0 units required - for professional development

Differentiation System Design: District InitiativesEDUC-41382

Units: 3.00

$385

This course provides the student with a perspective of neuroscience as it relates to education, with the purpose of developing a depth of understanding for district-level decision-making. The scientif...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Differentiation System Design: School PracticesEDUC-41391

Units: 3.00

TBD

Differentiation System Design: School Practices, develops the focus of the differentiation lens on the development of a school learning community organized around the concept of 21st Century skills at...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Differentiation System Design: Classroom LevelEDUC-41429

Units: 3.00

TBD

This course will focus more specifically on developing the understanding of classroom teachers and school leaders to better tailor instruction through differentiated approaches, based on the cognitive...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

Practicum in Gifted and Talented EducationEDUC-41518

Units: 4.50

$475

The Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education is an optional course for candidates requiring at least 45 hours of documented teaching of gifted and talented pupils in an educational setting. Candidat...

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Upcoming Start Dates:
Typically Offered:

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer

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Next Steps Experience

Connect your classroom education with real-world experiences through a Next Steps Experience course. These courses allow students to gain hands-on experience by working closely with instructors and/or peers on real-world projects.

Enrich your understanding of Gifted and Talented Education and explore topics such as differentiating curriculum, recognizing individual differences, strategies for teaching the gifted, and program development for the gifted throughout the program.

Candidates are also encouraged to take a next step by taking advantage of our electives such as Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education. Candidates enrolled in this course will undertake supervised practice in a classroom that provides effective, balanced and comprehensive instruction with gifted and talented learners. During his/her tenure in the course, the candidate will provide regular updates on the experience and solicit feedback as well as work with an on-site mentor and the course instructor.

Industry Requirement

The Specialized Certificate in Gifted & Talented Education (GATE) program is offered to help teacher meet educational training requirements for teaching gifted & talented students and to keep teachers informed about recent research and curriculum development in the field.

If you wish to take one of the GATE online courses for professional development without registering for the program, you may do so.

Benefits

Click here to see when the next Quarter courses will be available.

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This certificate requires an application before taking any courses. There will be a $0 fee to apply to this program. Students will also be required to pay a $95 certificate fee upon enrollment into the program after acceptance. View the complete Certificate Registration and Candidacy Guidelines.

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