Program Overview

Key Considerations

Program Overview

The Rowan Experience

Our online Special Education Certificate of Graduate Study program is designed for general education teachers who wish to increase their knowledge of special education, as well as special education teachers who wish to pursue further coursework at the graduate level. The goal of this program is to provide teachers with an overview of the salient issues in special education, as well as opportunities to focus on the essential aspects of evidence-based practices. The six course sequence and corresponding field experiences are aligned with the professional standards set forth by the Council for Exceptional Children, as well as the New Jersey Department of Education; collectively they ensure program graduates acquire the essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to best serve students with disabilities.

Planning for the Future

This Certificate of Graduate Study program can be used to satisfy the Content Certificate of Graduate Study requirement in the Master of Education in Teacher Leadership program. Teachers who successfully complete the Certificate of Graduate Study coursework can also opt to continue pursuit of the Teacher of Students with Disabilities Graduate Endorsement Program.

Information for New Jersey Teachers

Teachers in the state of New Jersey may apply to the Special Education Certificate of Graduate Study program through the New Jersey Teacher Outreach Program (NJTOP).

Curriculum

Our Special Education Certificate of Graduate Study program requires the completion of 15 graduate credits (five courses). This program is designed with coursework and field experiences to foster an understanding of students with special needs and provide the pedagogical skills to accommodate them.

An Inside Look at Coursework

Below, you will find a list of titles of coursework for the Special Education Certificate of Graduate Study program.

• Teaching Reading to Students with Disabilities
• Implementing Positive Behavior Supports
• Educational Assessment in Special Education
• Education and Psychology of Students with Disabilities

Admission Requirements

The following is a list of items required to begin the application process for the program.

• Submit an application
• Completed COE TOSD Field Experience Placement Form
• $65 (U.S.) non-refundable application fee
• Bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher learning
• Official transcripts from all colleges attended (regardless of number of credits earned)
• Current professional resume
• Two letters of recommendation
• Recommended minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Interview (Applicants will be contacted directly by the Faculty Admissions Committee to schedule the interview. The interview may be in person or via telephone.)
• On-site writing sample (conducted during Interview)
• Copy of NJ Teacher Certification (only CEAS or Standard are acceptable). If your certificate was issued prior to 1994, you must also submit official scores from the Praxis II content specialization test.
• The applicant must provide proof of appropriate certification as well as a letter of employment confirming the specific dates (not just years) during which the applicant has taught or served the educational community under the appropriate certificate.

Career Outlook

As a student in our Special Education Certificate of Graduate Study program, you will strengthen your skills and better position yourself to pursue a variety of careers in the field of Education.

Application Deadlines

• 7/1: Fall Module Entry
• 11/1: Spring Module Entry
• 4/1: Summer Module Entry

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and Fees: $879 Per Credit

Financial Aid

Rowan University strives to provide students with a variety of financial aid resources needed to support their education by offering grants, loans, work-study and scholarship opportunities.

Scholarships

Support your educational goals by exploring ways to pay for your degree. At Rowan University, we offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for incoming and continuing students.