Special Education Certificate Online (Mild to Moderate)

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Overview

Explore Practices for Empowering Your Students

If you have an active, state-issued teaching license or certification and have a desire to increase your effectiveness as a special education teacher, consider earning a special education certificate online from Grand Canyon University. The Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate can help prepare you to complete the requirements associated with the Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities endorsement from the Arizona Department of Education. Some states may require additional coursework, exams and/or clearances for licensure or certification.

During this program, you’ll have opportunities to equip yourself with evidence-based instructional methodologies for working with students with exceptionalities. You’ll explore methods of teaching mathematics and language arts, and for fostering positive and productive learning environments for students with a range of exceptionalities. Pursue your passion for empowering students.

Female special education teacher laughing with students in classroom
Female special education teacher smiles in classroom
Why GCU

Benefits of GCU’s Special Education Certificate

This special education certificate offers several key benefits to support your development as an education professional. Throughout the program, you will:

  • Cultivate global awareness
  • Uphold a high standard of professional ethics and responsibility
  • Be encouraged to promote the continuous development of each student, considering their personal backgrounds, values and experiences

Earn Your Mild to Moderate Special Education Certificate Online

GCU’s online mild to moderate special education certificate program is tailored to teach you specialized skills in educating students with exceptionalities. This program offers a comprehensive curriculum with a focus on best practices in student assessments and research-based instructional strategies. Whether you're a working professional or a busy individual, our online coursework can provide the convenience and flexibility to enhance your academic qualifications while meeting your current work commitments.1

If you’re interested in supporting students with moderate to severe exceptionalities, GCU’s Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education Moderate to Severe may be right for you.

Moderate to Severe Certificate
Male special education teacher working with young student in library
Coursework

Concepts Taught in This Online Program

Throughout GCU’s online special education certificate program, you will study specific skills and concepts that can help you empower, instruct and care for your students with high-incident disabilities. These are disabilities more commonly found in the population.2 Most high-incidence disabilities do not inhibit the students’ ability to participate in inclusive educational settings, though some students may require more personalized, self-contained assistance.2

You will be taught to support students with learning needs, including those with:

Communication disorders (speech and language impairments)

Specific learning disabilities

Mild/moderate intellectual disabilities

Emotional or behavioral disorders

Cognitive impairment

Autism spectrum disorder

Topics Covered in This Special Education Certificate

GCU is committed to providing you with specific coursework that can have the potential to empower you as an educator and help you advocate for those with mild to moderate exceptionalities. You will be taught to support students and their families as they navigate special education services, and to provide individualized learning experiences that meet the students’ needs.

Throughout this special education certificate program, you will explore a diverse range of content areas, including:

  • Professional practice standards, laws and regulations that apply to special education
  • The use of diagnostic and assessment tools
  • Creating safe, inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments to foster students' well-being and academic progress
  • Typical and atypical language development, their associated disabilities and the use of accommodations
  • Research-based instructional strategies in mathematics and language arts
Female special education teacher working with young student in classroom
Careers

Career Paths After Completing Your Certificate

This special education certificate online can prepare graduate-level teachers to support their students with mild to moderate exceptionalities.

This certificate can provide professionals who already hold an active, state-issued teaching license or certification with opportunities to work toward developing competencies in working with special education students.

Teachers who focus on special education may be able to pursue positions such as:

  • Preschool or kindergarten special education teacher
  • Elementary special education teacher
  • Middle or high school special education teacher
  • Special education teaching assistant
Accreditation

Institutionally Accredited Education Certificate Programs

In all our academic offerings, GCU prioritizes excellence in education and exceptional instruction. Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Committee, we’re dedicated to preparing learners to tackle current challenges while embracing future opportunities. If you seek a comprehensive curriculum and a dedication to quality education, we welcome you to join our online learning community.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

You may find working with students who have exceptionalities to be a fulfilling and rewarding endeavor. However, before choosing the best path for your career, you may wish to do some career-related research. The following frequently asked questions and answers can offer a starting point.

Female special education teacher working with group of students in classroom

Make an Impact on Future Generations

Pursue your passion for working to ensure that all students have access to the education they deserve. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about earning a special education certificate online at GCU.

Apply Now

If you are seeking licensure/certification, please refer to the Accreditation and Compliance/State disclosures link for the specific program of interest’s website for your location and/or employment state licensure requirements, per 34 CFR 668.14(b)32 and 668.43(c).

1 Excluding observational and practice-based experiences, and student teaching.

2 Powers, Chloe (2023, July 21). Education And Disability: What Is A High Incidence Disability? Disability Help. Retrieved on Oct. 17, 2023.

3 Gluck, S. (2022, Jan. 16). Mild, Moderate, Severe Intellectual Disability Differences. HealthyPlace. Retrieved Oct. 12, 2023.

4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023, Sept. 6). How to Become a Special Education Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 12, 2023.

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