
About the Gifted and Talented Education Program
UC San Diego Extended Studies' Specialized Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education offers training for educators who want to teach and develop programs for gifted and talented students. The program meets training requirements for educators, counselors, psychologists, administrators, and others responsible for GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program services.
The required coursework offers a comprehensive examination of characteristics and identification, curriculum differentiation, teaching strategies, and program development for gifted and talented students in an online setting. Several courses also feature investigation and study in such specialized areas as technology, serving the second-language gifted student, and underachievement.
The online program is designed for those new to gifted education as well as experienced educators.
Certificate Guidelines
All teachers who wish to receive the Specialized Certificate in Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) are required to:
- Apply to the GATE certificate program
- Pay the certificate fee
- Complete all required online courses with a grade of "C" or better
- Coursework must be completed within 5 years of beginning the program
Conditions for Admission
A complete application is required to be eligible for the Specialized Certificate. Please review the application for specific admission requirements for this program.
Gifted and Talented Education
Required Courses
All four courses are required
Other Courses of Interest
0 units required - for professional development only
Next Steps Experience
Connect your classroom education with real-world experiences through a Next Steps Experience course. These courses allow students to gain hands-on experience by working closely with instructors and/or peers on real-world projects.
Enrich your understanding of Gifted and Talented Education and explore topics such as differentiating curriculum, recognizing individual differences, strategies for teaching the gifted, and program development for the gifted throughout the program.
Candidates are also encouraged to take a next step by taking advantage of our electives such as Practicum in Gifted and Talented Education. Candidates enrolled in this course will undertake supervised practice in a classroom that provides effective, balanced and comprehensive instruction with gifted and talented learners. During his/her tenure in the course, the candidate will provide regular updates on the experience and solicit feedback as well as work with an on-site mentor and the course instructor.
Industry Requirement
The Specialized Certificate in Gifted & Talented Education (GATE) program is offered to help teacher meet educational training requirements for teaching gifted & talented students and to keep teachers informed about recent research and curriculum development in the field.
If you wish to take one of the GATE online courses for professional development without registering for the program, you may do so.
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