Delivery
Online
Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG), Graduate Certificate – Online
Program Overview
Optimize your teaching career by enhancing your credentials with the Graduate Certificate in Academically or Intellectually Gifted, tailored for licensed Kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in North Carolina. This online program offers a direct pathway to obtaining the North Carolina Standard Professional 1 (SP1) AIG Professional Educator’s License, opening doors to specialized teaching positions and leadership roles within the field of gifted education.
Key Learning Outcomes
Our program is structured to provide educators with a deep understanding of the unique academic, social, and emotional needs of gifted students. Participants will gain hands-on experience in:
- Developing and implementing challenging curricula tailored to gifted learners.
- Applying the latest educational standards for gifted education, including the CAEP Standards for Advanced Programs (2016), the Initial Practice-Based Professional Preparation Standards for Gifted Educators (2024), and the North Carolina Academically or Intellectually Gifted Program Standards (2024).
Program Contact
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Flexible Online Learning
Designed with the working professional in mind, our 100% online program offers unparalleled flexibility, allowing educators to advance their qualifications without interrupting their current teaching responsibilities.
Courses
The Graduate Certificate Program in Academically or Intellectually Gifted consists of a 12 credit hour sequence. Each course is worth 3 credits. Candidates typically enroll in 1-2 courses per semester. The four required courses are listed below in sequential order. We recommend that candidates take the courses in order as they are designed to build off one another.
Course listing:
- SPED 5211: Nature and Needs of Gifted Students (3)
- SPED 6124: Methods of Instructing Gifted Students (3)
- SPED 6161: Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Students (3)
- SPED 6224: Adapting Curriculum Materials and Classroom Differentiation (3)
Admissions & Requirements
- Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
- Statement of purpose.
- A bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by a US Department of Education-recognized institutional accreditor.
- Copies of unofficial transcripts from all academic coursework beyond high school.
- A teaching license from North Carolina or its equivalent from another state.
Applicants will need to hold a teaching position before enrolling in SPED 6124 and SPED 6224 in order to meet course requirements.
Early Entry
Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree. See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements. Also see the “Degree Requirements and Academic Policies” section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.
Application Deadlines
- August 1 (fall)
- December 1 (spring)
- May 1 (Summer first half term)
- June 15 (Summer second half term)
Outlook
Career Advancement
Graduates of this program are well-prepared for a variety of roles within the academically or intellectually gifted education sphere, such as:
- Education Administrators
- AIG or Gifted Education Teachers and Specialists
- Instructional and Curriculum Coordinators
Strong salary expectations
Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics research, collects job and salary data from UNC Charlotte graduates. Lightcast surveyed graduates of the UNC Charlotte AIG Graduate Certificate program and found their average annual estimated wage to be $77,100.
Tuition
Resident: $288.82 per credit hour
Outside of NC Non-Resident: $536.98 per credit hour
Non-Resident: $1,098.21 per credit hour
Please note: Rates are subject to change.