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Gifted and Talented Education Specialist (GATES)

Become certified in teaching gifted and talented students. McDaniel’s Gifted and Talented Education Specialist (GATES) certificate prepares teachers with initial certification to meet the curriculum, assessment, and instructional needs of academically talented students.

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Degree Types
Graduate Certificate
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Program Cost
$548 per credit
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Total credits
18
Document
Format
Online (Hybrid available for School Partnership cohorts)

About the Program

Designed for practicing PK–12 educators who seek to gain expertise in the field of gifted and talented education, the GATES program consists of five courses and an internship for a total of 18 credit hours. The internship (160 hours) may be completed in the school district in which one works.

High Standards, Hugely Convenient

Designed to meet the needs of working educators, the GATES certificate program is:

  • Available completely online
  • Aligned with the State of Maryland's Gifted and Talented Education Specialist certification requirements
  • Aligned with the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) standards

What You Need to Know About GATES

Admissions Requirements

  • Completed application for graduate study
  • Official transcripts verifying completion of an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
  • Initial certification

State Authorization & Professional Licensure

Find Out More

Discover more about this program and others at one of our monthly, virtual open houses!  

Register Here

Apply

This program begins in Fall, Spring, and Summer. 

Start Your Application

Program Coordinator

Sharon Bowers, Ed.D.
sbowers@mcdaniel.edu

Request More Info

Special Opportunities

Grad students in classroom.

Counts Toward Your Master’s

All coursework in the GATES certificate program is applicable to a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Elementary Education, or Secondary Education. A master’s degree is required to attain the MSDE endorsement.

Advancing Your Career

Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll be qualified for gifted and talented teaching positions that require you to:

  • Recognize unique learning characteristics and encourage and promote student creativity and critical thinking
  • Address the social and emotional needs of gifted and talented students
  • Meet the needs of “twice-exceptional” students and diverse special populations

Related Programs

Secondary Education, M.S. Innovations in Teaching and Learning (formerly Curriculum & Instruction)

Find Out More

Discover more about this program and others at one of our monthly, virtual open houses!  

Register Here

Apply

This program begins in Fall, Spring, and Summer. 

Start Your Application

Program Coordinator

Sharon Bowers, Ed.D.
sbowers@mcdaniel.edu

Request More Info
McDaniel College
2 College Hill
Westminster, MD, 21157
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