Graduate Special Education Certificate Online (Mild to Moderate Disabilities)
The Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate allows candidates to complete requirements associated with the Special Education Mild/Moderate Disabilities endorsement from the Arizona Department of Education. If you have a desire to increase your effectiveness as a special education teacher, consider earning a Graduate Special Education Certificate from Grand Canyon University (GCU).
Develop as an Education Professional With a Graduate Certificate in Special Education
GCU is committed to providing you with a set of courses that will empower you as an educator and advocate for those with mild to moderate exceptionalities. You will be equipped to support special education students through special education services and provide learning experiences that meet the students’ needs.
Throughout this special education certificate program, students will take courses on a variety of subjects. Key areas of the mild to moderate special education certificate online include:
- Professional, Ethical and Legal Practices and Policies in Special Education
- Learning Environments for Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities
- Language Development with Mild to Moderate Disabilities and Disorders
- Methods of Teaching Math to Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities
- Methods of Teaching Language Arts to Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities
In addition to a host of applicable courses, students are encouraged to develop as education professionals. Throughout the special education certificate program, students grow as communicators, leaders, and critical thinkers. Students are also supported to develop a global awareness and sustain a high standard of ethics. Graduates of GCU’s graduate certificate in special education will be able to use ethical, responsible assessment strategies to promote continuous development of each student, considering personal backgrounds, values, and experiences.
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Gain Skills and Techniques for Teaching Mild to Moderate Special Education Students
This graduate special education certificate online prepares teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to support students with mild to moderate disabilities in a classroom setting. Throughout GCU’s special education certificate program, you will learn to equip and care for students with high-incident disabilities. These are disabilities more commonly found in the population. Most individuals with 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.
You will learn to support students with learning needs including students with:
- Communication disorders (speech and language impairments)
- Specific learning disabilities
- Mild/moderate intellectual disabilities
- Emotional or behavioral disorders
- Cognitive impairment
- Autism spectrum disorder
If you’re interested in supporting students with moderate to severe exceptionalities, GCU’s Graduate Special Education Certificate (Moderate to Severe Disabilities) is available.
Mild to Moderate Special Education Certificate Program FAQs
Individuals with mild learning disabilities maintain high levels of independence and blend in socially. They may require additional support and guidance through classroom activities and assignments. Complex or abstract ideas may be challenging for them to grasp.
Those with moderate learning difficulties may require more support for daily tasks. Moderate exceptionalities include observable delays in speech or motor skill development and may include physical impairments.
GCU’s graduate certificate in special education online is comprised of six three-credit courses. The projected timeline for completion is ten months, making the choice to enroll in the Graduate Special Education Certificate (Mild to Moderate Disabilities) a quick step toward professional growth.
Educators who have at least three years of verified full-time teaching experience in PK-12 (public or private settings) that wish to obtain the Special Education Mild/Moderate Endorsement from the AZ Department of Education should consider this special education certificate.Working professionals with qualified teaching experience also benefit from GCU’s special education certificate online by continuing to work their full-time job and earn a certificate in mild to moderate special education at the same time.
If seeking licensure or certification, applicants to the program are responsible for contacting their state department of education for licensure requirements and program approval. In addition, fingerprint/background clearance is required.
If you have questions specific to GCU and our graduate certificate in special education online, Request Info below and you will be contacted shortly.
Core Courses
Course Description
Teacher candidates survey professional ethical principles, professional practice standards, law and regulations that guide special educators. Teacher candidates build upon the foundational knowledge to understand the multiple roles and complex situations of professional practice that require attention to a variety of legal, professional, and ethical issues. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance not required. Prerequisite: SPD-500 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.
Course Description
Teacher candidates will investigate diagnostic and assessment tools. Teacher candidates will build foundational knowledge regarding the use of multiple methods of assessment and data-sources for diagnostic and educational decisions for individuals with mild to moderate disabilities. Practicum/field experience hours: 6. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-500 or SPD-502 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate in Learning Behavior Specialist 1 (LBS 1).
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine how to create safe, inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments through collaboration with colleagues so that individuals with disabilities become active and effective learners and develop emotional well-being, positive social interactions, and self-determination. Teacher candidates focus on behavior management, functional behavior assessments, adaptive behaviors, positive behavior interventions and supports, and behavior improvement plans. Practicum/field experience hours: 9. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-500 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.
Course Description
Teacher candidates examine typical and atypical language development, and associated disabilities and disorders. Teacher candidates investigate the use of augmentative and alternative assistive technology, modifications and accommodations to enhance the communication skills of students with mild to moderate disabilities. Practicum/field experience hours: 9. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-510.
Course Description
Teacher candidates build foundational knowledge on a variety of research-based instructional strategies to encourage individuals with mild to moderate disabilities to develop understandings and connections within content areas, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways. From this foundational knowledge, teacher candidates select, adapt and use research-based instructional strategies and interventions in academic and specialized curricula to advance the learning of students with mild to moderate disabilities with focused attention upon mathematics. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-550 or ESD-530 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.
Course Description
Teacher candidates select, adapt and use research-based instructional strategies and interventions in academic and specialized curricula to individualize meaningful and challenging learning for students with mild to moderate disabilities, with an emphasis on literacy. Practicum/field experience hours: 12. Fingerprint clearance required. Prerequisite: SPD-550 or ESD-530 or approved enrollment in the Graduate Certificate of Completion: Special Education, Mild to Moderate.
Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere.
* Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change.