The Master of Arts degree in Gifted Education with Illinois Gifted Teacher Endorsement is designed for educators with two or more years of PK-12 experience who are interested in developing an understanding of and developing programs for High Achieving, Gifted and Talented students. This program supports educators in becoming experts who can meet the needs of all learners through the lens of gifted education. It prepares educators to serve as teacher leaders in planning and implementing programs that address the specific needs of gifted and talented students. The Master of Arts in Gifted Education offers teachers the opportunity to complete 30 hours of coursework, of which 24 hours will lead to a Gifted Teacher endorsement. The MA degree requires two additional courses in addition to completing the endorsement requirements; these courses are a technology course and a seminar course.
Candidates who are admitted to this program will be able to:
- Think critically and analytically about gifted education and the role gifted programs play in the development of students identified as gifted and talented.
- Develop curriculum and utilize instructional strategies that are differentiated and meet the learning needs of all students.
- Provide leadership in schools with gifted programs through program development and coaching.
- Promote an understanding of gifted learners and gifted education that leads to effective programming that includes: identification, assessment, technology, social and emotional learning, differentiated instructional practices, and effective learning environments.
Under Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) guidelines, if you have an Illinois license, you need to take 18 semester credit hours of specific coursework to be eligible for the Gifted Endorsement. At CUC, our state-approved endorsement program is 24 credit hours in length. Note: a student may seek, on their own, the ISBE endorsement after completing the required 18 hours; or they complete the 24 hours to then have the official ‘Completed State-Approved Program’ noted on CUC official transcripts.
General Graduate Admission Requirements
All applicants must meet the general admission requirements for Concordia University Chicago graduate programs as published in the Concordia University Chicago academic catalog.
New students are accepted into most graduate degree-seeking, certificate, endorsement and/or post-graduate programs for online and on-campus study for in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Students seeking to change programs may do so by submitting a Change-of-Program quick app. Applicants must be in good academic standing according to Concordia University Chicago’s satisfactory academic progress standards and meet published program admission requirements at the time of requesting a program change. Program changes will be processed and recorded for the subsequent semester.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDU-6710 | Giftedness, Research & Policy 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6715 | Curriculum Development for Gifted and Talented Learners 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6720 | Identification, Assessment and Evaluation of Instructional Models for Gifted Learners 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6725 | Differentiated Instruction for Gifted and Talented Learners 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6730 | Learning Environments for Gifted Education | 3 |
| EDU-6735 | Assessing Gifted and Talented Students 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6740 | Technology in Gifted Education | 3 |
| EDU-6760 | Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted Learner | 3 |
| EDU-6745 | Gifted and Talented Practicum (PK-12) 1 | 3 |
| EDU-6041 | Seminar in Gifted Education | 3 |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Courses fulfill the state of Illinois requirements for the gifted teacher endorsement.
Graduation Requirements
- Have on file an application for this master's degree program.
- Have on file one official transcript from EACH college/university attended of all previous coursework taken.
- Complete, for the degree being sought:
- the credit hours and levels as designated,
- within the specified time limit,
- with grades of C- or higher (grades of C or higher required for MAT programs),
- with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Students completing multiple advanced programs or degrees at CUC must have a 3.0 GPA in each academic program in addition to a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Have on file approved “Graduate Transfer Credit Approval” form(s), "Course Substitution" form(s), or evaluation(s), if applicable.
- Have on file the Intent to Graduate/Complete form with the Office of the Registrar by the published deadline.
- Have on file, if applicable, necessary copies of a project, portfolio, thesis or dissertation.
- Approval of the faculty.
- All administrative obligations to CUC must be cleared in order to prompt the release of CUC transcripts and diploma(s).
Every attempt has been made to include information to aid the student with information about his/her program, degree and graduation/completion requirements. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to complete all steps and meet all deadlines relevant to graduation requirements.
This program does not lead to initial Illinois licensure (PEL) but will, through direct university entitlement, lead to an additional credential on your existing PEL. The awarding of this credential will require the completion of this academic program and an existing and active PEL, and may require a passing score on the corresponding Illinois State Licensure Test(s), associated work experience, a previous master's degree, and completion of a state training academy. For specific requirements regarding this credential please refer to ISBE’s webpage or contact the Licensure Officer at licensure@cuchicago.edu.
In addition to completing the required coursework, students must also pass the required IL Gifted Education (#312) exam for the endorsement.