Decades after the first federal legislation addressing the education of students with special needs, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), critical shortages of special education teachers are reported in most states. Internationally, the need for bringing awareness and education in exceptionality and special education is even more pronounced, with a worldwide challenge to ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to education.

The fully-online, four-course Certificate in Exceptionality and Disability Studies will provide a foundation in special education to those interested in expanding their understanding of various types of disabilities and ways to address the needs of those students. Candidates should expect to complete the course sequence in one academic year.

Depending on licensure and endorsement requirements in different states, teachers already licensed in general education could use this course sequence to pursue an additional endorsement or credential in special education. Some teachers may also use the coursework to advance their pay scale and expand their knowledge base. Similarly, educators and other practitioners outside the US will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills, and apply current, best practices to international classrooms, and use this certificate to advance their career.

Candidates who are not licensed in general education, but are interested in becoming special educators will have complete the full special educator Master's and license program. You can review program requirements at https://education.depaul.edu/academics/counseling-and-special-education/graduate/special-education-med/concentration-requirements/Pages/pre-service-special-education-pse.aspx? 

Course Requirements

The curriculum for the Online Certificate in Exceptionality consists of four online courses.

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SER 440	SURVEY OF EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS: PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION	4
SER 402	INSTRUCTION AND DIFFERENTIATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION	4
SER 421	FORMAL ASSESSMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION	4
SER 409	TEACHING STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES	4

Content displayed from this DePaul University catalog page.