Teaching: Special Education (K-12), Graduate Certificate – Online

Core Courses

• SPED 5300: Lifespan Development for Exceptional Individuals (3)
• SPED 5370: Culturally Responsive Positive Behavior Support (3)
• SPED 5173: Diagnostic Assessment (3)
• SPED 5400: Practicum: Integrated Instructional Applications in Special Education (3)
• SPED 6475: Internship/Seminar: Special Education K-12 – General Curriculum (3 to 6)

Students will either concentrate in General Curriculum or Adapted Curriculum based on the needs of the students they’re most focused on supporting.

General Curriculum Courses

• SPED 5372: Planning Mathematics Instruction for Students with Exceptional Needs (3)
• SPED 5375: Foundations of Literacy for Students with Diverse Learning Needs (3)

Adapted Curriculum Courses

• SPED 5274: General Curriculum Access and Adaptations (3)
• SPED 5380: Multiple Disabilities and Systematic Instruction (3)

Note about course delivery: Courses are delivered online both synchronously and asynchronously.

Internship Information

A year-long internship (YLI) is required for Graduate Certificate students. The YLI consists of two semesters (Fall/Spring). A semester of internship experiences in the fall semester is followed by a full-time student-teaching experience in the spring semester. Graduate-level student teaching is the culminating experience of the Graduate Certificate program and offers students the opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for the North Carolina Initial Professional License (IPL) in Special Education. During student teaching, students are supervised by their Clinical Educator and University Supervisor. Students are assigned to an appropriate classroom for the YLI.

The YLI can be completed in a student’s place of employment if the setting is determined by Office of School and Community Partnerships (OSCP) to be appropriate. OSCP can also find a placement for the student if needed. The Program Director will invite students to begin the application process in January before the YLI begins in the fall. During the application period (late January to early February before the YLI starts in the fall), residency teachers and teacher assistants will work with OSCP to determine the appropriateness of their classroom for the YLI experiences and licensure requirements.

Note about the Graduate Certificate in Teaching

UNC Charlotte’s Graduate Certificate in Teaching – Special Education offers an efficient pathway to initial teacher licensure for candidates who have already earned a bachelor’s degree; the program also meets the Educator Preparation Program (EPP) enrollment requirement for candidates seeking Residency Licensure. Course instruction is delivered 100% online using Canvas; most courses require weekly class meetings in Zoom. Clinical experiences must be completed in North Carolina public schools. Please contact the Office of Teacher Education Advising and Licensure at 704-687-8725 with questions.

• The online Graduate Certificate Program requires classroom observation, clinical, and internship hours to be completed in the state of North Carolina. See the “Courses” tab for a description of the internship.
• Complete the Graduate School Admission Application.
  • It is strongly recommended that you contact program advisor Ashley Langan to have your background coursework reviewed prior to submitting an application with the Graduate School.
• A four-year undergraduate degree from a regionally-accredited institution
• An overall GPA of at least 2.75; an overall GPA of 2.7 or higher will be considered with very strong recommendations (If you do not have at least a 2.7 GPA, please see our GPA Forgiveness process).
• Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended during or after high school
• A satisfactory statement of purpose
• Two online professional recommendations coming from individuals in a supervisory capacity (i.e. principal or manager) and/or academic reference (i.e. professor)
• A clear criminal background check, which will be requested after application submission. The cost of this will start at $18 and could take 2-4 weeks to be processed. Please note your application cannot move forward until this step is complete. (View the full College of Education CBC and Drug Screening Policy here.)

• August 1 (fall)
• December 1 (spring)
• May 1 (summer first half term)
• June 15 (summer second half term)

Applicants can apply via the UNC Charlotte Graduate Admissions website.

UNC Charlotte alumni who graduated in areas related to Special Education (K-12) are employed in positions such as:

• Special Education Teachers
• Exceptional Children Teachers
• Assistant Principals
• Educational Therapists
• Behavior Specialists

UNC Charlotte alumni in Special Education (K-12) programs also work for these school systems and educational organizations:

• Brunswick County Schools
• Buncombe County Schools
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Gaston County Schools
• Iredell-Statesville Schools
• Union County Public Schools

Advantages of the UNC Charlotte Graduate Certificate in Special Education (K-12): General Curriculum:

Comprehensive Learning Experience

Capstone Project: Complete an individual capstone project, demonstrating your ability to address complex challenges in special education.

Upon completing the Graduate Certificate (Phase I), students have the opportunity to advance their education and career:

Master of Arts in Teaching (Phase II): A continuation of your Graduate Certificate studies that will help you qualify for the North Carolina Standard Professional 2 (SP2) Educator’s License in Special Education.

Comprehensive Skill Development: Continue into Phase II to refine teaching skills, conduct research, and enhance leadership abilities through advanced classroom management, consultation, collaboration, and individual master’s projects.

Resident: $288.82 per credit hour

Outside of NC Non-Resident: $536.98 per credit hour

Non Resident: $1,098.21 per credit hour