The Department of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) offers a Master of Education program with several areas of concentration from which students choose. The program prepares students to work with individuals with various disabilities; it is appropriate for individuals who wish to earn a master’s degree while expanding their knowledge of the field of special education. Students register for a number of common courses covering topics designed to broaden teachers’ knowledge of ESE strategies and promote professional development.
Master’s Concentration in Gifted Education
The 5 courses in this Concentration Area prepare graduates for professional roles as educators of gifted and talented students. Graduates also are eligible for a teaching endorsement in Gifted Education from the Florida Department of Education. The four courses with the EGI prefix are offered through the ESE Department in an online format. The fifth course (SDS 6426) is offered through the Department of Counselor Education in a mixed methods format, incorporating live sessions and online activities.
Course Requirements for Gifted Education:
In addition to the College of Education Core and Exceptional Student Education Department Core, students pursuing this concentration area must also take the following courses: Gifted Education
- EGI 5302 (3) Theories & Characteristics of Gifted Learners
- EGI 5246 (3) Educating Special Populations of Gifted Learners
- EGI 5305 (3) Theory & Development of Creativity
- EGI 6235 (3) Designing Programs for Gifted Learners (Prerequisite: EGI 5302 or EGI 5246)
- SDS 6426 (3) Guidance & Counseling of Gifted Students
Accreditation Standards for Gifted Education:
- National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC)
- The Association for the Gifted of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC - TAG)
- Florida Department of Education Frameworks for Gifted (Sunshine State Standards)
