Career Opportunities
Completion of this program fulfills the course work required by the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board for the endorsement in Gifted Education. The endorsement for Gifted Education shall be valid for the same teaching level as the teaching certificate used as a base for the endorsement and shall have the same duration period as the base certificate. The program at MSU is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and follows guidelines from the Kentucky State Department of Education. Course content places much emphasis on the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) and other KERA initiatives. MSU has an active placement service to help graduates obtain employment both within and outside of Kentucky.
Education Required
A gifted education endorsement requires one year of successful teaching experience. The endorsement is valid for grades K-12; however, assignment to a full-time self-contained gifted education class shall be restricted to the level of the base certificate. The endorsement shall have the same duration as the base certificate. The endorsement satisfies the teaching specialization hours for Masters and Rank 1 programs in the elementary, middle school, and secondary education fields.
Core Courses in the Program (6 hrs):
The endorsement requires the following courses:
- EDU 691: Nature and Needs of the Gifted Learner
- EDU 692: Methods and Materials for Teaching Gifted Students
Electives (3 hrs.)
- EDU 655: Creativity in Teaching
- EDU 693: Educational Programs for the Gifted
- EDU 695: Multicultural Gifted Education
Practicum (3 hrs.)
- EDU 694: Practicum in Gifted Education (Prerequisites: EDU 691 and EDU 692)
Faculty
All professional education faculty in the gifted program have doctoral degrees and classroom teaching experience in their areas of specialization. A student's advisor is a professor from the graduate program faculty who provides information about graduate-level courses and other related matters. Thus, students enjoy insightful and caring guidance in their efforts to become effective gifted specialists.
Facilities
Courses are taught online, in Alexander Hall on campus, and at Murray State University satellite campuses in the region.