Gifted and Talented Education Certificate
Contact Us
Academically and Intellectually Gifted Coordinator
Dr. Angela Novak
Associate Professor
Elementary Education
novaka17@ecu.edu
252-328-6649
Gifted and Talented Education Certificate
Welcome to our gifted and talented certificate program, designed to empower undergraduate teacher leaders and graduate students in North Carolina and beyond. Our program is dedicated to equipping educators with the tools and expertise to support the needs of all gifted and talented students. Through comprehensive training, participants learn to dismantle barriers within gifted programming, create equitable identification systems, and cultivate inclusive learning environments. Our mission is to foster a community of educators committed to promoting fairness, understanding, and inclusivity in education. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the landscape of gifted education in North Carolina and beyond.
How is this certificate related to other education programs?
- The Bachelor of Science degree offers a concentration in AIG which includes 4 of the 5 GIFT certificate courses. This certificate extends the requirements of the concentration by one course and enables students to graduate with a certificate in addition to the concentration as the add-on to the licensure that comes with the concentration is only available once students get their professional license, which is a full year after graduation, assuming they meet all requirements.
- There is also a non-degree post-baccalaureate undergraduate opportunity at the undergraduate level, in which educators can pursue the four GIFT courses at the undergraduate level (lower cost point than graduate courses) and earn their add-on licensure on their teaching licensure through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). This certificate feeds into this program with the same benefit; however, the certificate does not require an active teaching licensure. Those that earn the certificate but do not have a professional educator’s license will not qualify for the add-on through NC DPI.
- The MAEd offers a concentration in AIG which includes 3 of the GIFT courses. MAEd students elect to add the fourth course to earn the add-on through DPI, and they can complete the certificate in addition to their Master’s degree. Courses that overlap the MAEd and certificate/add-on are counted for both programs.
- There is also a graduate non-degree seeking opportunity through the graduate school for teachers with a professional educator’s license to pursue the four GIFT courses and earn their AIG add-on licensure through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI). This certificate feeds into this program with the same benefit; however, the certificate does not require an active teaching licensure. Those that earn the certificate but do not have a professional educator’s license will not qualify for the add-on through NCDPI.
Course Work
It’s not too late! Have you already taken some or all of the GIFT courses? You can still apply for the certificates and complete the final courses! Current degree-seeking graduate students can submit a request to add a new certificate, current GNDS add-on and returning students, submit a new application for a certificate. PBTC process is coming soon!
| Undergraduate: Required courses | Graduate: Required courses |
|---|---|
| GIFT 4000 Diverse Gifted and Talented Children | GIFT 6000 Diverse Gifted and Talented Children |
| GIFT 4100 Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education | GIFT 6100 Foundations of Gifted and Talented Education |
| GIFT 4200 Instructional Practices in Gifted and Talented Education | GIFT 6200 Instructional Practices in Gifted and Talented Education |
| GIFT 4300 Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving in Gifted and Talented Education | GIFT 6300 Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving in Gifted and Talented Education |
| GIFT 4400 Special Topics in Gifted and Talented Education: Trends in Equity and Advocacy | Choose One to complete 15 hours: EDUC 6400 Critical Race Studies in Education (take as the first course in the series) OR GIFT 6400 Special Topics in Gifted and Talented Education: Trends in Equity and Advocacy (take as the last course in the series) |
| 2023-24 Undergraduate Tuition & Fees | 2023-24 Graduate Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|
| Resident (in-state): $204.79 per credit hour | Resident (in-state): $289.55 per credit hour |
| Non-resident (out-of-state): $883 per credit hour | Non-resident (out-of-state): $1,020.05 per credit hour |
Fixed tuition rate for eligible North Carolina residents is $169.69 per credit hour
Both the undergraduate and graduate certificates require 15 credit hours to complete.
Note: Tuition rates are subject to change; see the ECU Cashier’s Office website for additional details. Students are able to apply for and use financial aid for graduate certificates, but not undergraduate certificates.
View course descriptions on the Office of the Registrar’s University Catalogs website. 4000-level courses can be found in the undergraduate catalog and 6000-level courses are in the graduate catalog.
Eligibility for Professional Licenses
Undergraduate
After undergraduate students successfully take the four GIFT courses (GIFT 4000-4300) and if they hold a professional teaching license, they are eligible for the AIG add-on to this teaching license at the A level. This only applies to the Post-Baccalaureate (PBTC) students as undergraduates do not attain their professional teaching license until after successfully completing their Beginning Teaching experience after they graduate college.
Graduate
After graduate students successfully complete four courses in gifted education (GIFT 6000-6300) and if they hold a NC professional teaching license, they are eligible to apply to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) for the Academically and Intellectually Gifted (AIG) add-on to their professional educator’s teaching license with ECU’s recommendation at the M-level.