Talent development and gifted education

Certificate program

Program

The certificate in talent development and gifted education is a 12-credit program preparing teachers, administrators, and other professionals to develop, implement, and supervise programs to teach gifted and talented students in K-12 and postsecondary schools and other settings.

Offered by the college’s Department of Educational Psychology (EdPsych), the program seeks to prepare individuals to encourage and develop human talents in areas of academic, artistic, and athletic skills (cognitive, affective, and psychomotor skills) and other human skills.

Admission

Admission is open to degree seeking or non-degree seeking students.

Applicants to this program must have completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Student applications will be reviewed by a committee of individuals affiliated with the program.

Note: With approval from the program director, up to three credits from another institution may be applied to this certificate program.

International Students

This program is only available to international students enrolled in a concurrent grad program. It is not offered full-time and therefore is not intended for international students needing a visa to study in the US.

How to apply

Application materials:

All applicants must also submit the following items:

Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you have attended or are currently attending, including the University of Minnesota. Transcripts can be uploaded directly into the Apply Yourself online application system. For instructions on how to upload your transcripts into the application system, click here.
If you completed coursework at a university outside of the United States, your transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation center. Request a “course-by-course” evaluation. This process can take 4-6 weeks, so please plan in advance. You can use any provider that is an accredited member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES). A suggested provider of this service is Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), P.O. Box 514070, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3470 (414-289-3400, fax: 414-289-3411).
Program specific question: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper and upload into the online application system: Why are you interested in the talent development and gifted education certificate program? What are your primary areas of interest related to talent development and gifted education?

Application instructions:

LOG IN TO THE ON-LINE APPLICATION SYSTEM TO APPLY TO THE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM. Be sure to save your PIN and password so you can access the application system to view your admission status.
When completing “Application Information” you will be asked what type of program you are applying to—choose “Certificate” from the pull down menu. Next you will be asked for your primary program objective—choose “Talent Development and Gifted Education” from the pull down menu. You do not need to select a second or third emphasis. You can skip those boxes and continue to complete the rest of the page.
On the SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL page you will have the opportunity to upload your resume and program specific questions (see above questions).
Follow the instructions in the online application system for submission of recommendations.
Be sure to hit SUBMIT after you have completed the application. You will receive a decision notification by email within four to six weeks of submission of your application.
CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE ON-LINE APPLICATION PROCESS.

Nonnative English speakers and/or international students

All nonnative English speakers must submit an official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Minimum TOEFL score requirements are listed below:

Internet-based test         79-80
Computer-based test         213
Paper-based test              550

Curriculum

Students must complete at least 12 credits of the following coursework:

Required courses

EPSY 5101—Intelligence and Creativity (3 cr)
EPSY 5191—Education of the Gifted and Talented (3 cr)
EPSY 5991 (Section 4)—Independent Study in Educational Psychology (3 cr)

Elective course

One course (minimum 3 credits) selected with the approval of certificate program director William Bart. Examples include coursework in learning and cognition, social psychology of education, measurement, or coursework in another discipline such as curriculum and instruction, educational administration, child development, or psychology.

Note: For course descriptions and schedules, refer to the University of Minnesota Class Schedule.

Registration

After admission to the program, degree-seeking students can register for courses online.

Students not already admitted to the University of Minnesota and who do not wish to apply to a degree program should use the One Stop non-degree registration option.

For questions about registration, contact Student Services at 612-625-3339.

Note: Certificate coursework completed with undergraduate student status cannot be applied to graduate-level degree programs.

Tuition

Tuition varies depending on a student's degree program, student status, and residency. Students seeking the certificate only pay the CEHD departmental master's tuition rate. Students enrolled in Graduate School programs pay Graduate School tuition rates; students enrolled in undergraduate programs pay undergraduate tuition rates.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents determines tuition rates annually before fall semester. For current tuition rates and reciprocity policies, check the college’s tuition and fees page.

Residents of Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Manitoba may be eligible for special tuition reciprocity rates comparable to Minnesota resident rates.

General financial aid advising and information are available from the University’s Office of Student Finance (OSF), 200 Fraser Hall, 106 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455; 612-624-1111.

For graduate assistantship/scholarship information (for students enrolled in graduate degree programs), contact the Graduate Assistant Office, 200 Donhowe (for mail) or 100 Donhowe (for walk in), Minneapolis, MN 55455, 612-624-7070, fax: 612-625-9801.

Program completion requirements

Final certificate clearance depends on completion of all course requirements, including the posting of final grades to the student’s transcript. Students will have a maximum of seven years to complete coursework for the certificate.

In addition to completing all program requirements, students must complete the following form: Graduate Application for Degree/Certificate Form.

The College of Education and Human Development Graduate Student Services clears certificates on a monthly basis. This form must be submitted to One Stop Student Services on or before the first day of the month that the student intends to graduate. Students who submit the form to One Stop Student Services after the first day of the month will be cleared to graduate at the end of the following month.

Successful completion of the certificate will be noted on the student's official University of Minnesota transcript and an official certificate will be issued.

For more information

For information about this program, contact William Bart, e-mail: bartx001@umn.edu; 612-624-0585.