Earn Your Advanced Special Education Teaching Endorsement Graduate Certificate Online

Add an additional special education teaching endorsement to your Michigan teaching license and prepare to reach more children with special needs.

5/24/24 Next Application Due Date
6/24/24 Start Classes
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Program Overview

Review details of our Advanced Special Education Graduate Certificate online

$10,752 Total Tuition
As few as 15 months Program Duration
22 Credit Hours

Earn an additional special education endorsement on your Michigan teaching license with the online Advanced Special Education Teaching Endorsement Graduate Certificate from Eastern Michigan University. Choose from the following areas of endorsement: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cognitive Impairment, Emotional Impairment, Learning Disabilities or Physical/Other Health Impairment.

Featuring 100% online coursework, this CAEP-accredited program is ideal for working educators. You must have a teaching license and at least one special education endorsement to apply for this certificate.

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

In this online graduate certificate program, you will gain:

  • Understanding of the theory of learning from a neurological perspective and engagement in strong field experiences connecting theory to reality
  • Competence to set up and maintain conditions and procedures of instruction suitable to the learning goals set for the individual student
  • Ability to use appropriate techniques with the student to help develop the self-management skills required for constructive social participation and independent learning
  • Aptitude to develop philosophies and professional beliefs relative to behavior management and social competence, based on reviews of theoretical perspectives, legal mandates, curriculum, instructional delivery and research-based effective practices
  • Proficiency in exploring the selection, uses and evaluation of a broad base of instructional methods addressing the needs of students with disabilities in a full continuum of special education settings

    Also available:

    EMU also offers a variety of graduate education degree programs online. Check out our other online education programs.

    $512 Per Credit Hour
    As few as 15 months Program Duration
    21-22 Credit Hours
    Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

    All professional education programs in the Eastern Michigan University College of Education are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and approved by the Michigan Department of Education.

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    Call 844-351-9389

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    Tuition and Fees

    Benefit from budget-friendly tuition

    Whether you reside in or out of state, the Advanced Special Education Graduate Certificate online program offers the same affordable, pay-as-you-go tuition.

    Tuition breakdown:

    $10,752 Total Tuition
    $512 Per Credit Hour
    View additional tuition information +

    Program Per Credit Hour Per 3-Credit Hour Course Per Program
    Advanced Special Education Graduate Certificate $512 $1,536 $10,752 to $11,264

    Cost of tuition does not include any additional applicable course fees, standard textbook fees or course materials.

    Tuition breakdown:

    $512 Per Credit Hour
    $10,752 to $11,264 Total Tuition

    Calendar

    Get started—mark these dates on your calendar

    The Advanced Special Education Graduate Certificate online program is convenient and accessible, featuring multiple start dates each year. View the full calendar to find the class start that works best for you, along with deadlines for submitting your application, enrolling in courses and paying tuition.

    Now Enrolling:

    5/24/24 Next Application Due Date
    6/24/24 Start Classes

    View full calendar  + 

    AllStart DateApplication DeadlineDocument DeadlineRegistration DeadlinePayment Deadline*
    Summer I5/6/244/6/244/15/245/6/245/10/24
    Summer II6/24/245/24/246/3/246/24/246/28/24
    Fall I8/26/247/26/248/4/248/26/248/30/24
    Fall II10/16/249/16/249/25/2410/16/2410/20/24

    *Please visit https://www.emich.edu/registrar/index.php for Registration and Records part of term deadlines

    Please refer to the Student Business Services website for detailed information regarding payment due dates

    Payment due date is based upon the specific date registered, please visit https://www.emich.edu/sbs/ for more information

    Now Enrolling:

    5/24/24 Next Application Due Date
    6/24/24 Start Classes

    Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

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    Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online?

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    Admissions

    What you need for admission to this online graduate certificate

    We’ve streamlined the admission process for the Advanced Special Education Graduate Certificate online program. Please review all admission requirements, what additional materials you should send and where you need to send them.

    • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
    • Undergrad GPA of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale
    • Valid teaching certificate with a special education endorsement
    View all admission requirements +

    Advanced Special Education Teaching Endorsement Graduate Certificate Online Admission Requirements

    • An earned four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution
    • Minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program
    • Valid teaching certificate with a special education endorsement

    If you need to submit official documents by mail, send them to:

    Office of Admissions
    Eastern Michigan University
    P.O. Box 970
    Ypsilanti, MI 48197

    Documentation can be sent via email to: [email protected].

    Have a question? Call us at 844-351-9389.

    Courses

    Browse courses for this online graduate certificate

    To earn the Advanced Special Education Graduate Certificate online, students must complete a minimum of 21 credit hours. Students will take 11-12 credit hours of coursework in their selected endorsement area and 6 credit hours of restricted elective courses. Additionally, students will take a 4 credit hour practicum course. As an online student, you will take all your classes with EMU instructors, just like you would if you were on campus.

    In addition to successful completion of all coursework, including the practicum, students will need to pass the Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) in their endorsement area in order to have the endorsement added to their teaching certificate.

    Expand All
    All candidates are required to complete the following practicum course:
    Duration: 6 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    Supervised practicum with students in local schools and institutions in the disability area of professional preparation.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    The focus of this course will be to introduce students to information and literature regarding characteristics of ASD and Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), its prevalence, theories on etiology, evidence based intervention models, formal and informal models of assessment and its impact on schools.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course examines the critical relationship of language and communication skills for children and adolescents with ASD, including the characteristics of speech and language and communication development and strategies for assessing and improving communication in the classroom, at home and in the community.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Identification of best practices in curriculum design, instructional strategies and techniques are the pivotal components of this course. Students will investigate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and will develop curricular framework which support the unique learning styles of students with ASD and which permit students the greatest access to education within inclusive settings.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Participants will demonstrate how the learning, communication, socialization skills and behavioral challenges of students with ASD can be addressed through the use of visual supports and other forms of literacy. Students will understand the relationship between unsupported learning for students with ASD and learn to use visual schedules and other forms of visual support.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    Students will develop knowledge and skills necessary to the education of students with mild cognitive impairment and other high incidence disabilities in the inclusive general education classroom or cross-categorical self-contained classroom. Topics include clinical and diagnostic teaching, evidence-based curriculums, effective instructional methods and strategies for academic subjects, academic behavior management, IEP development and implementation, and lesson modifications and classroom accommodations. Field Experience is required.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    This course introduces students to the field of cognitive impairments and related developmental disabilities from perspectives of different systems. Focus is on the medical, historical, political, educational and adult systems that affect persons with cognitive impairment. The range of philosophies influencing educational practices and life management will be discussed.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    Philosophy, curriculum, assessment, teaching methods and classroom management techniques for students with moderate or severe cognitive impairment, or with multiple impairments. A three-hour per week field experience is an integral component of the course.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    Teaching methods, techniques and materials for educating elementary age children with emotional impairments will be presented. In addition, types of programs serving elementary age students with emotional impairment, as well as the individualized education program and federal and state rules governing the programs will be discussed.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    Theories about the etiology of emotional-behavioral impairments is explored and applied to cases that involve children and adolescents. Emphasis is on the ability to analyze abnormal behaviors discussed in a variety of texts from different theoretical perspectives for the purpose of identifying appropriate intervention treatments. A field component is required.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Review and discussion of contemporary issues in the education of students with emotional impairments. Includes analysis of current research for teachers to implement in their classrooms as well as to advocate for systemic change. Topics for future research may be determined.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course introduces students to the learning disabilities field: theory, history, and terminology. Additionally, this course will present in-depth information on processing skills and provide practical skills for identifying the link between academic strengths and weaknesses. This course exposes students to various service delivery models. It offers opportunities to observe individuals with learning disabilities and/or other mild disabilities in three different classroom settings to equal 30 hours of observation.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course focuses on integrated curriculum (PreK–12) in special education across the areas of mathematics and motor development. Students will gain decision-making experiences in the selection of effective teaching/learning approaches, and explore the selection, uses an evaluation of a broad base of instructional methods and strategies addressing the needs of students with disabilities in a full continuum of special education settings.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    A study of how to document and convey the educational and psychological needs of students with learning and other mild disabilities. Based on knowledge of educational setting options, evidence-based instructional strategies, and appropriate assessment techniques, students will write collaborative documents such as IEPs and accommodation plans.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course focuses on the development of effective decision-making strategies in the selection of appropriate teaching/learning approaches in linguistics and language arts. Students will explore selection, uses and evaluation of a broad base of instructional methods and strategies addressing the needs of K–12 students with disabilities.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    This course introduces students to the field of cognitive impairments and related developmental disabilities from perspectives of different systems. Focus is on the medical, historical, political, educational and adult systems that affect persons with cognitive impairment. The range of philosophies influencing educational practices and life management will be discussed.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    The impact of chronic illness and physical disability on symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, and prognoses to understand the manifestation of MARSE chronic illness and physical disability. Adaptive/medically necessary equipment, health intervention, and maintenance procedures will be learned with the knowledge of the individual disciplines outside of education that provide ancillary services.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 4
    This course encompasses information and develops skills needed to develop, implement, and evaluate curriculum and methods for the preschool and elementary physically and otherwise health impaired student. All aspects of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor education are explored. Emphasis is placed upon individualized instruction and programming, adaptations and modification of instructional methods and materials, remediation, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, personal adjustment, prevocational education and leisure activities. A directed classroom laboratory is required.

    Choose 6 credits (2 classes) from among the following options: 

    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Deals theoretically and practically with concerns of teachers and parents regarding deterrents to students’ psychological wellness. Focuses on ecological factors as stressors and strategies to lessen their effects on learners.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    An examination of motivation as applied to various educational settings and across cultural contexts. Emphasis is on strategies that may influence motivation in self and others.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    The purpose of this class is to further develop students’ cultural competency and multicultural teaching skills to create culturally responsive classrooms with learning environments where all students feel safe, affirmed and nurtured.
    Duration: 7.5 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    This course is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, implement, and evaluate the impact of positive behavioral supports (PBS) for individuals with disabilities. It will include understanding the role of universal design, communication in challenging behavior, identifying the functions of those behaviors, measuring the behaviors, teaching replacement skills serving the same function as the challenging behavior, and using preventative approaches for target behaviors. Measurement of baseline behavior along with implementation of interventions to increase or reduce target behaviors are the focus of this process.
    Duration: 15 weeks
    Credit Hours: 3
    Data-based procedures for making educational decisions regarding special education eligibility, program placement, and intervention will be examined. In addition, students will learn best practices in assessment administration and how to communicate and use results effectively. Multiple opportunities for practice and feedback are included.
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