Gifted Education, Graduate Certificate Online

If you're an elementary or secondary teacher passionate about educating academically gifted children, the Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education can prepare you to create rich and engaging curricula. 

You'll complete this certificate over two years with a cohort that includes those pursuing the M.Ed. in Special Education: Gifted degree.

For those with a master's in education, this program can lead to the Louisiana certification in gifted education. Please visit the list of licensure programs for important information if live or plan to live outside of Louisiana.

Students are enrolled in cohorts every two years. The next cohort will begin January 2026.

Related Programs

Careers in Gifted Education

Roles include:

  • PK-12 Teachers
  • Higher Education Faculty
  • Instructional Specialist
  • Curriculum Developer
  • Instructional Designer
  • Instructional Coordinator

Program Requirements

To be considered for admission, you must have:

  • A bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a regionally accredited university
  • A 2.75 overall undergraduate GPA or, for those with US degrees, a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate study
  • A valid teaching certificate in one or more areas of general education
  • Evidence of either one year of full-time teaching experience or current employment in a full-time teaching position

To complete your application, you'll need to provide the following. With the exception of transcripts, all documents can be submitted through the online application portal.

  • Application fee ($25)
  • Official transcripts from the institution attended are required for the following:
    • All institutions where any degree was awarded
    • All institutions where any graduate coursework was attempted
  • Three letters of recommendation. Letters must address the candidate's potential to become a master teacher and to facilitate the learning of academically gifted students.

Transcripts must be submitted from your previous institution directly to the Graduate School at gradschool@louisiana.edu or by mail at:

UL Lafayette Graduate School
Martin Hall Suite 332
PO Box 43716
Lafayette, LA 70504-3716

The Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education requires completion of a minimum of 18 credit hours:

  • SPED 506 - Nature and Needs of Gifted Children Credit Hours: 3
  • SPED 500 - Social-Emotional Needs of the Gifted Credit Hours: 3
  • SPED 503 - Developing Creativity in the Classroom Credit Hours: 3 OR SPED 510 - Curriculum Development for the Gifted Credit Hours: 3
  • IRED 501 - Integration of Technology in Instructional Practices in Education Credit Hours: 3
  • SPED 509 - Instructional Strategies for Teaching the Gifted Credit Hours: 3
  • SPED 593 - Practicum and Capstone II Credit Hours: 3

Online graduate students have the benefit of flat-rate, $480-per-credit tuition. Total tuition for this program is $10,080.

Learn more about Tuition & Costs.

Because courses in this program will only be available online, the program may not be available to all applicants. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and its online programs must be in compliance in every state where a student is located. International students also may not be eligible. According to U.S. immigration regulations, F-1 students cannot pursue online degrees; international students in other visa categories (i.e., H-4, L2) are exempt from this restriction.

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