MA
Certificate, Certification
The Master of Arts in Gifted and Talented Education program provides advanced training for instructional strategies to enrich, accelerate and extend the curriculum to provide challenging learning opportunities for diverse populations of gifted and talented learners.
teacher helping student in class

Program Options

The Gifted & Talented Education program has two distinct options depending on where you are at in your teaching career:

  • Master's Degree for experienced teachers who already hold a K-12 state certification
  • Post-Master's Certification for certified teachers who already hold a master's degree

Additional Study Options

Master's Degree

Required Courses

EDGT 500 - Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 501 - Affective Characteristics of Diverse Gifted and Talented Learners (3)
EDGT 502 - Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented (3)
EDGT 503 - Research Seminar in Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 504 - Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 505 - Strategies for Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT-506 Theory and Development of Creativity
EDU 557 - Leadership Seminar I (3)
EDU 567 - Learning Theory and Practice (3)
EDU 676 - Educational Application of Multimedia (3)
EDU 665 - Digital Game Based Learning and Design (3)
One approved elective (3 credits)

Total Credits: 36

Post-Master's Certification

Required Courses

EDGT 500 - Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 501 - Affective Characteristics of Diverse Gifted and Talented Learners (3)
EDGT 502 - Curriculum for the Gifted and Talented (3)
EDGT 505 - Strategies for Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 503 - Research Seminar in Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT 504 - Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education (3)

Total Credits: 18

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Required Courses

EDGT-500 Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT-501 Affective Characteristics of Diverse Gifted and Talented Learners (3)
EDGT-505 Strategies for Gifted and Talented Education (3)
EDGT-506 Theory and Development of Creativity for Gifted and Talented Learners (3)

Total Credits: 12

Outcomes

Student Outcomes

As a student in this program, you will be able to:

  1. Apply the historical and philosophical foundations of gifted education, cognitive characteristics, affective needs, and appropriate strategies to best implement curricula that consider the social and emotional characteristics, needs and well-being of gifted and talented learners.
  2. Design instructional environments that accommodate inquiry-based pedagogies, critical thinking skills, research techniques, creativity, problem solving skills and support interdisciplinary collaborations to serve the unique abilities of gifted and talented/advanced learners.
  3. Develop a critical understanding of identification procedures and GT program evaluation techniques, including a variety of issues surrounding identification such as twice-exceptionality, cultural, intellectual and linguistic differences, as well as underachievement and under-identification.
  4. Demonstrate a variety of skills necessary to conduct original research using sampling protocols and technology, as well as the ability to apply quantitative and qualitative approaches involved in data analysis and in interpreting various types of information.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the program, you will be able to:

  1. Pass all national testing requirements, as applicable, achieving a 100% pass rate for NDMU.
  2. Enhance career and professional development opportunities for employment pathways in the profession, e.g., GT Teacher, GT Intervention Resource Teacher, GT Identification Resource Teacher, GT Program Coordinator, GT Curriculum Specialist, GT District Coordinator.
  3. Design and conduct action research studies in their particular field of expertise and interest in the area of gifted and talented education.
  4. Create interdisciplinary and differentiated curricula to deliver services that support student learning and the specialized needs of gifted and talented/advanced learners.

What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University

With award-winning teacher certification programs nationally recognized by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), you can expect to benefit from small class sizes, expert faculty, and practical field experiences.

Notre Dame offers the only CAEP- and MSDE-approved program in Maryland.

Flexible Class Schedules

Work with an advisor to develop a personalized program plan: 

  • Many courses available online
  • Courses offered in the evenings at times convenient for working adults
  • Occasional courses available on Saturdays

Education Careers

Notre Dame is one of the state’s largest and most significant private providers of teacher education.

Graduates of our program have assumed positions as teachers of the gifted and talented, coordinators of district programs for advanced learners, and curriculum writers.

See Our Award-Winning Teachers

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Faculty