Overview
Program Coordinator: Dr. Sharon Bowers
Program Delivery Format: Online, 8-week sessions
Total Credits: 18
Average Completion Time: 12 months
Admission Cycle: Fall, Spring, and Summer (two admission options each semester, six entry points a year)
Admissions Contact: Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)
GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 410-857-2500
The Gifted and Talented Education Specialist (GATES) program is designed for practicing P-12 educators who seek to gain expertise in working with gifted and talented learners. The GATES program prepares teachers who hold initial teaching certification to meet the curriculum, assessment, and instructional needs of academically talented students. This program is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for Gifted and Talented Specialist licensure. Coursework is aligned to National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) standards.
The GATES program is available completely online. The program consists of five courses and an internship for a total of 18 credit hours. The internship (160 hours) may be completed in the school district in which one works.
McDaniel College is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in GATES program has been awarded initial accreditation status by AAQEP through June 30, 2029. Accreditation acknowledges that a program prepares effective educators who continue to grow as professionals and has demonstrated the commitment and capacity to maintain quality.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the program must:
- Complete an application for graduate study
- Submit official bachelor’s degree transcripts with a minimum of 3.00 GPA* from an accredited institution; graduate transcripts if applicable
- Provide a copy of teacher licensure or licensure eligibility (graduate of an approved teacher preparation program and passing Praxis II content area test scores)
*Please note: Students who have a 2.75-2.99 GPA may be admitted provisionally and will be required to maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 9-12 credit hours. Students with less than a 2.75 GPA may be considered for provisional admission on a case-by-case basis but may be required to provide additional documentation and/or participate in an interview. Admission may also come with additional conditions.
International Students:
This program is delivered online and as a result does not meet the federal regulations for international students to study in the US. If you are a US citizen living outside of the US, you should contact gps@mcdaniel.edu to discuss your eligibility for admission to this program.
State Authorization
McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc.sara.org.
SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest.
For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution
Professional Licensure
Requirements for professional licensure in fields such as accounting, education, counseling, psychology, and social work vary from state to state. McDaniel’s academic programs are designed to meet Maryland’s licensure requirements and may not meet requirements from other states. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet that state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel College’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire.
For more important information regarding professional licensure and the completion of McDaniel degrees, please review our Professional Licensure website.
Students who complete this program and are seeking certification in the state of Maryland must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this Maryland approved program. The requirements may include but are not limited to any of the following:
- Payment of application or processing fees
- Additional special education coursework
- Satisfactory teaching or clinical experience
More information about Maryland State Department of Education requirements can be found at https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/areas/Gifted-and-Talented-Education-Specialist.aspx
