Gifted Education and Talent Development (0482)
- Graduate
- Master of Arts in Education
- Education & Behavioral Science
- Teacher Education, School of
Overview
The MAE in Gifted Education and Talent Development offers a focus on Advanced Instruction with the following instructional components. The first component directs the candidates into gifted education as the selected area of required courses (18 hours). The GTE 538 course serves as the research practicum at the end of the Gifted Education component. The second component, specialization, provides advanced-level pedagogy, leadership, research, and/or content related to Kentucky Teacher Standards and applicable to all P-12 teachers working in the wide gamut of developmental and content areas.
The certification for Advanced Instruction pathway of the MAE is designed to develop advanced certification for teachers who can positively impact student learning in their classrooms and schools with all children and young people, including those who are gifted and talented. Courses and experiences include professional learning communities in which students interact with other graduate students from various content areas and grade levels to discuss and work on real-world challenges and promising practices they encounter in schools. Candidates who complete the MAE will be eligible for a recommendation for Rank II with Gifted and Talented Education (KE37) endorsement, WKU Gifted and Talented certificate, and any other corresponding certificates/endorsements. Individuals holding a Rank II will be eligible for a Rank I with Gifted and Talented Education (KE37) endorsement, WKU Gifted and Talented certificate, and any other corresponding certificates/endorsements.
Educators pursuing the Advanced Instruction pathway may be completing the graduate program to continue in a teaching position or to become a curriculum coordinator. Counselors, principals, librarians, education technologists, and other specialized teachers will enhance their knowledge and skills in another concentration that leads to Rank II or a Rank I if candidates already hold a Rank II certification and the gifted education endorsement.
The MAE in Gifted Education and Talent Development may be used to achieve a Rank II or Rank I. An additional three-hour practicum and a passing score on Praxis II in Gifted Education are required for those seeking the endorsement in gifted education.
NOTE: The Advanced Research concentration will prepare students for a variety of careers in higher education, government, policy work, or other organizations and could lead to a Rank I. The research concentration is planned for those pursuing different pathways:
- educators pursuing a rank change
- educators pursuing a rank change and the endorsement in gifted education (additional three-hour practicum and passing score on the Praxis II in gifted education required)
- individuals who are pursuing an advanced degree in gifted education - not certified personnel and that would include, but not be limited to, international students, psychologists, and those planning to earn a Ph.D. or Ed.D.
The MAE in Gifted Education and Talent Development is offered primarily online. Exceptions include the practicum and requests for face-to-face instruction for cohort groups.
This program is exempt from the maximum of 12 hours denoted in the Duplication of Coursework policy. All concentration hours may be duplicated on one additional graduate degree or certificate at the same level.
Concentration(s) for Advanced Instruction pathway:
- Advanced Research in Gifted Education (GEAR)
- Elementary Math Specialist (KEM)*
- corresponding certificate #0485
- endorsement KEM #132
- Instructional Computer Technology P-12 (KCT)
- endorsement KCT #132
- Instructional Design (INDE)*
- corresponding certificate #0418
- Literacy P-12 (ATEL)*
- corresponding certificate #1750
- endorsement #132
- Teacher Leader (KTLE)
- endorsement KTLE #132)
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (KE36)*
- corresponding certificate #0416
- endorsement KE36 #132
- Individualized Concentration (Endorsements/certification only or another combination of courses) (GATC)
*Concentrations that also lead to a certificate will require students to submit an application for admission to the corresponding certificate and/or certification/endorsement.
Program Admission
Criteria vary, depending on the student’s undergraduate institution and GPA as well as the concentration the student is pursuing.
Advanced Instruction
A copy of the applicant’s teaching certificate or statement of eligibility must be submitted with the application for admission to the certification of the MAE.
WKU Graduate Admission
Applicants who are alumni of WKU teacher preparation programs must submit a current, valid teaching certificate or Statement of Eligibility for IECE Birth to Primary; Elementary Education, P-5; Middle Grades Education, 5-9; Secondary Education, 8-12, 5-12, or P-12; or Special Education, P-12.
Graduate of a Kentucky Higher Education Institute other than WKU
Applicants with undergraduate degrees from Kentucky higher education accredited universities must have a 2.75 GPA for all previous undergraduate coursework and a 3.0 GPA for previous graduate coursework or qualifying GAP scores (as defined below by year taken), and must have or be eligible for a teaching certificate for IECE Birth to Primary; Elementary Education, P-5; Middle Grades Education, 5-9; Secondary Education, 8-12, 5-12, or P-12; or Special Education, P-12.
Graduate of an Out-of-State Institution of Higher Education
Applicants with undergraduate degrees from all other higher education accredited universities must have a 2.75 GPA for all previous undergraduate coursework and a 3.0 GPA for previous graduate coursework or qualifying GAP scores (as defined below by year taken), and must have or be eligible for a teaching certificate for IECE Birth to Primary; Elementary Education, P-5; Middle Grades Education, 5-9; Secondary Education, 8-12, 5-12, or P-12; or Special Education, P-12.
Kentucky applicants whose certificates have expired may be admitted, but they may enroll for only six hours before which they must apply to the Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board for a re-issued certificate. After completion of six hours, a student admitted with an expired certificate must submit a copy of the reissued certificate before being allowed to register for any additional courses. Applicants from out-of-state with expired certificates must complete the requirements for their respective states to renew their certificates and submit a copy of the reissued certificate.
Graduate Studies Admission
Please refer to the admission section of this catalog for Graduate Studies admission requirements.
Program Requirements (30-34 hours)
Advanced Instruction
The MAE in Gifted Education and Talent Development with an Advanced Instruction focus has the following instructional components: The first component directs the candidates into gifted education as the selected area of required courses (18 hours). The GTE 538 course serves as the research practicum at the end of the Gifted Education required component. The second component, concentration, provides advanced-level pedagogy, leadership, research, and/or content related to Kentucky Teacher Standards and applicable to all P-12 teachers working in the wide gamut of developmental and content areas.
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Professional Education Component | 18 | |
GTE 536 | Nature and Needs of Gifted, Creative, and Talented Students | |
GTE 537 | Curriculum, Strategies, and Materials for Gifted Students | |
GTE 539 | Assessment and Identification of Gifted and Talented Children | |
GTE 540 | Developing Creativity and Leadership in Gifted Youth | |
PSY 432G | Psychology of the Gifted and Creative | |
GTE 538 | Practicum for Teachers of Gifted Students | |
| Concentration Courses | 12-16 | |
| Total Hours | 30-34 | |
Concentrations:
Advanced Research in Gifted Education and Talent Development (12-15 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (18 hours) | 18 | |
| Concentration and Elective Courses | 12-15 | |
EDFN 500 | Research Methods | |
or EDU 580 | Advanced Special Topics | |
GTE 636 | Issues in Gifted Education and Talent Development | |
GTE 637 | Seminar in Gifted Education and Talent Development | |
EDU 599 | Thesis Research and Writing | |
or EDU 560 | Capstone in Education | |
| Total Hours | 30-33 | |
Elementary Math Specialist Concentration (KEM) (also a WKU certificate #0485 and an endorsement #132) (15 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Concentration Courses | 15 | |
ELED 571 | Leadership, Math and Technology Education | |
ELED 572 | Math and Technology Methods for Diverse Learners | |
ELED 573 | Math and Technology Assessment | |
Choose 2 of 3: | ||
MATH 411G | Problem Solving for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers | |
MATH 507 | Number Systems for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers | |
MATH 508 | Rational Number Concepts for Elementary and Middle Grades Teachers | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Instructional Computer Technology (KCT) (also an endorsement #132) (12 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Concentration Courses | 12 | |
LITE 535 | Survey of Educational Technology Practices | |
LITE 537 | Educational Technology Management | |
LITE 508 | Informatics in Education | |
Select 3 hours from the following: | ||
LITE 545 | Educational Technology Production | |
LITE 547 | Integration of Educational Technology | |
LITE 550 | Emerging Technology in Education | |
LITE 737 | Educational Technology Leadership | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Instructional Design (INDE) (also a WKU certificate #0418) (12 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Concentration Courses | 12 | |
ID 560 | Instructional Design Foundations | |
ID 570 | Systematic Instructional Design | |
Select 6 hours from the following: | ||
ID 572 | Improvement Analysis in the Workplace | |
ID 575 | Special Topics in Instructional Design | |
ID 577 | Management of Instructional Systems | |
ID 583 | Training Design and Development | |
ID 585 | Distance Education Opportunities and Challenges | |
ID 587 | Trends and Issues in Instructional Design | |
ID 588 | Multimedia Design | |
ID 590 | Practicum in Instructional Design | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Literacy P-12 (ATEL) (also a WKU certificate #1750 and an endorsement #132) (15 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Concentration Courses | 15 | |
LTCY 519 | Literacy Development and Instruction | |
LTCY 523 | Assessment and Intervention of Reading and Writing | |
LTCY 524 | Content Area and Disciplinary Literacy | |
LTCY 527 | Differentiation in Literacy Education | |
| Elective | ||
Any 500-level or 600-level course with prefix LTCY, EDU, PSY, ELED, IECE, LITE, SPED, GTE, ID, and ENG or other advisor approved elective | ||
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Teacher Leader (KTLE) (also an endorsement/certification #132) (15 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Concentration Courses | 15 | |
TCHL 500 | Foundations of Teacher Leadership | |
TCHL 530 | Curriculum Development | |
TCHL 545 | Classroom Instruction Strategies | |
TCHL 555 | School and Classroom Assessment | |
TCHL 560 | Capstone Project for Teacher Leadership | |
or EDU 560 | Capstone in Education | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (also a WKU certificate #0416 and an endorsement #132) (16 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Concentration Courses | 16 | |
ENG 407G | Linguistic Analysis | |
ENG 408G | Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics | |
ENG 565 | Integrated Teaching English as a Second Language | |
ENG 566 | Seminar in Teaching English as a Second Language | |
ENG 471G | TESL Practicum | |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
Individualized Concentration (Endorsements/certification only or another combination of courses) (12 hours)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | 18 | |
| Individualized Concentration Coursework The coursework to be determined in consultation with advisor. | 12 | |
| Any course with prefix EDU, GTE, ELED, LITE, ID, IECE, SEC, LTCY, MGE, SPED, ENVE, TCHL, REC, CNS, SLP, SWRK, AGRI, AGEC, RSA, GEOS, HIST, ENG, PS, GEOG, MATH, PSY, BIO, CHEM, PHYS, FACS, ECON, EDAD, EDFN, LEAD: 4XXG, 5XX, 6XX, 7XX | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |