Gifted and Talented Education Programs

(found programs from 110 schools)

Below is a directory (broken down by state) of all of the Gifted and Talented Education programs we could find, from over 1,700 accredited colleges and universities across the US.

Introduction to Gifted & Talented Education Careers

A kindergarten student enters school already reading. Another student demonstrates an avid interest in science, well beyond that shown by his or her peers. Still another makes up her own songs and musical compositions. All of these children show characteristics of giftedness. They and the approximately three million other gifted and talented children in the nation's classrooms need the skills of a qualified gifted and talented teacher to help them reach their full potential.

Some Background on Gifted & Talented Education

Below, EducationDegree.com speaks with Darlene Boyd, the Director of the University of California Irvine's Gifted Students Network. In the interview, she discusses what giftedand talented education is, and how to get started in the field.

Gifted & Talented Education Job Description

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) defines gifted and talented as those individuals who demonstrate outstanding levels (top 10 percent or higher) of aptitude or ability in one or more areas such as math, music or language. Gifted and talented teachers are responsible for helping identify and educate these unique learners. To do this effectively, they must be well-versed in theory, research, strategies and best practices of gifted education. Schools employ gifted and talented teachers at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Gifted and talented teachers might work within a wide variety of service models. Some work in special schools for the gifted and talented, while others teach students in a self-contained classroom in a traditional school setting. Still others work with gifted and talented students in a pullout setting. Gifted and talented teachers often serve as consultants to regular classroom teachers, and they also identify and coordinate enrichment opportunities for gifted students.

Gifted & Talented Education Requirements

Like all other teachers, gifted and talented teachers must be licensed by the state in which they work. State licensing requirements typically include a bachelor's degree from an approved teacher education program, a student teaching internship, and a passing score on a competency test. Teacher preparation programs frequently group gifted and talented education in the special education category, so a prospective teacher might earn a Bachelor of Science in special education with a gifted and talented endorsement. While there is no national certification requirement for teaching the gifted, most schools seek to hire teachers who are specifically trained in gifted and talented education. Teachers with a gifted and talented endorsement or specialization have taken extensive coursework that addresses the particular knowledge and skills needed to serve gifted and talented students.

Gifted & Talented Education Career Outlook

The American Association for Employment in Education reports that the supply of GATE teachers is balanced with demand according to a 2008 study. This means there is neither a surplus nor a shortage of GATE teachers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary of teachers was between $47,000 and $51,000 in 2008. First-year teachers with a bachelor's degree made an average of $33,000 during the 2005-2006 school year according to the American Federation of Teachers.

Gifted & Talented Education Trends

One of the hottest topics in gifted education is the under-representation of minority, low-income, and limited English students in gifted education programs. According to the NAGC, Congress has introduced legislation called The Equity in Excellence Act to attempt to reduce the achievement gap between high potential, low-income students and their more advantaged peers.

Gifted and Talented Teacher Education Online

Want to engage and challenge gifted and talented students but don't have the time to earn a traditional campus-based degree?

Online degrees in gifted and talented education (GATE) may be the answer. If you're considering this online degree, you should know that most are master's-level programs. It's also helpful (although not necessarily required) to have previous teaching experience.

Online gifted and talented education programs are much like traditional programs except most or all of the coursework is done via the Web. Classes are available online for you to access at any time of the day or night. Live chats, email and virtual classroom tools supplement your online learning. Typical courses include issues in gifted education, teaching methods for gifted and talented, and assessment in gifted and talented education.

The time it takes to complete an online master's degree in gifted and talented education ranges from as little as 18 months up to two years. Most graduates are then eligible to apply for gifted and talented education certification in the state where the program provider is located.

When judging the quality of an online gifted and talented education program, check to see if it is accredited by the Council for Exceptional Children or the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. Also, look for programs that include real-world teaching experiences such as a student teaching internships or classroom observations.

Online Gifted and Talented Degrees to Consider:

U.S. News and World Report named Arkansas State University in Jonesboro as a best regional university in 2012. The university offers a fully online Master of Science in education with a specialization in gifted and talented education. The program is aligned with the teacher preparation guidelines of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Council for Exceptional Children.

Graduates of the University of Cincinnati's online Master of Education in gifted, creative and talented education are eligible to apply for certification in the state of Ohio. It is strongly recommended that applicants to this two-year program have previous teaching experience, but it is not required. This program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Azusa Pacific University, a Christian school in Azusa, California, offers an online Master of Arts in education with a concentration in gifted and talented education that is designed for working professionals. Program features include live chats, threaded discussions and a virtual classroom with whiteboard, graphing and drawing capabilities.

Useful Resources

• Gifted Exchange
• Mrs. Thompson's Blog: Rush Creek Gifted Education
• High Ability: A News Blog for Resources and Information on Gifted Education and High Ability Children
• National Association for Gifted Children
• Council for Exeptional Children
• Byrdseed Gifted: Gifted Classroom Ideas
• Mrs. Sunda's Gifted Teacher Resource Links