Location:

Chicago, United States

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Master

Specialty:

Special & Gifted Education

Program Overview

Program Description:

The Department of Special Education offers the Master of Arts in Gifted Education to address the needs of gifted and talented learners. This advanced degree is designed for candidates who are interested in advanced preparation supporting, teaching, and guiding gifted children and their families. Coursework includes a solid foundation in the nature of giftedness, identification of the gifted, program planning, gifted curriculum, differentiated educational strategies, and program evaluation. Careers • Classroom teacher; differentiation specialist • Gifted specialist • Gifted coordinator • Gifted/talented program planner for afterschool/summer • Advocate for gifted children/programming • Parent specialist with emphasis on high ability learners • Gifted policy specialist • Researcher with emphasis on gifted issues Program of Study Required Courses GIFT 450 Psychology of Individuals Who are Gifted and Talented .........................................3 cr. SPED 500 Research I: Critical Writing & Research in Special Education .................................3 cr. SPED 451 Creativity.................................................................................................................3 cr. GIFT 454 Gifted Education Seminar: Teaching Gifted Students in the Inclusive Classroom…. 3cr. GIFT 456 Parenting & Advocacy for Individuals Who are Gifted and Talented ......................3 cr. GIFT 462 Identifying and Providing for Underserved Gifted Students ......................................3 cr. GIFT 458 Meeting Gifted Students’ Social-Emotional Needs.......................................................3 cr. GIFT 453 Seminar in Curriculum Methods and Materials for the Gifted ................................3 cr. GIFT 452 Education of Individuals Who are Gifted and Talented ............................................3 cr. GIFT 459 Field Demonstration in Gifted Education .....................................................................3 cr.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Colleges of Teacher Education (NCATE), the premier accrediting body approved by the U.S. Department of Education. This means that our programs and our faculty undergo a rigorous peer review process every seven years. Our theme, COE Professionals; Reflective, Collaborative, Transformative, underpins our emphasis on our performance standards aligned with the Illinois Standards for School Professionals (IPTS). Our programs in School and Community Counseling are not only recognized by NCATE but they undergo a separate peer review process and are accredited by CACREP, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. So, you can see that the COE at NEIU represents the highest standards of professional excellence, commitment to diversity, and collaboration with each other and with our local community.

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. A valid Illinois Professional Educator License is required for entry into the program.