Why Earn a Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Equitable Education with Etown?
The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Equitable Education at Elizabethtown College offers a distinctive approach in inclusive education, specifically designed for general education teachers. This program stands out for its flexibility, allowing educators to learn at their own pace and tailor their education to their professional needs, unlike traditional sequential courses. Focused more on face-to-face learning than solely on special education or online methods, it prepares teachers for today's diverse classroom realities. Moreover, it eliminates the need for internships, favoring the immediate application of skills, and offers a cutting-edge curriculum with courses like Universal Design for Learning and Multi-Tiered System of Support models, positioning graduates at the forefront of educational innovation.
In addition, this certificate can be completed in less than a year and all credits can be stacked into Etown's M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction providing a streamlined pathway to a master's degree.
Program Outcomes:
- Promote an inclusive atmosphere that respects and values all students' unique diversity, backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives in face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning environments.
- Equip educators with a deep understanding of inclusive teaching methodologies, strategies, and best practices to foster inclusive and supportive face-to-face, hybrid, and online learning environments.
- Foster continuous professional growth by staying updated with the latest research, trends, and innovations in inclusive education.
- Enable teachers to adapt their teaching methods to meet the diverse needs of students.
Online
Program Format
Differentiate & Diversify Your Skills as a Teacher
In today's evolving educational landscape, the need for general education teachers with skills in inclusive teaching is rapidly growing. The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Equitable Education is designed to meet this need, equipping educators to effectively cater to the diverse learning requirements of all students. The growing focus on inclusive education further enhances the career prospects for educators who are adept in these practices. This Graduate Certificate is more than just a qualification; it represents a commitment to a future where every student's unique learning needs are understood and addressed with proficiency and compassion.
Also setting this program apart is the fact the credits earned can be stacked into Etown's M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction as a streamlined pathway for educational advancement.
Understand Tuition Costs and Explore Scholarship Opportunities
The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Equitable Education is priced at $525 per credit. Scholarships and financial aid are available to make your Etown SGPS education even more affordable. Below are just a few of the scholarships and programs available to students:
- Alumni Scholarship: 15% tuition discount, available to Elizabethtown College alumni.
- Affinity Partner Scholarship: 15% discount, offered to employees of organizations partnered with Etown SGPS.
- Jay Fellowship Referral Program: This is a referral program that benefits both current students/alumni and prospective students. When a student or alum refers a new student, both the referrer and the referred student receive a complimentary credit for their program of interest.
Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.
Tuition & AidOnline Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Equitable Education
The Graduate Certificate in Inclusive and Equitable Education from Elizabethtown College requires 12 credit hours of academic work. Students must take at least 9 credits from Elizabethtown College to be awarded the graduate certificate.
Required Courses
Foundations of Exceptional Students examines Special Education's philosophical, historical, and legal underpinnings and a comprehensive exploration of inclusive education principles and practices. In addition, students will gain a better understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the intricacies of student assessment, as well as the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Universal Design for Learning explores the principles and strategies for creating adaptable and accessible learning environments. This course is designed for those who wish to make education more equitable by accommodating the diverse needs and preferences of all learners, including those with disabilities. Participants will delve into UDL's three guiding principles and learn how to apply these concepts to create flexible and effective instructional materials and practices, ensuring that education is accessible to everyone.
Choose Two Elective Courses
This course focuses on the definition of trauma, types of trauma, trauma prevalence rates within specific populations, and factors that contribute to and buffer against the development of traumatic stress reaction (TSR). Additionally, signs of secondary traumatic stress experienced by professionals working with children exposed to trauma and self-care strategies are provided.
This course focuses on trauma-informed practices that prevent, mitigate and remediate the neurodevelopmental impact of trauma, and examines the recommended resources and processes to implement an integrated care system. Students participate in asynchronous forums to apply trauma-informed practices and collaborative approaches through case study analysis.
Students will develop and demonstrate an understanding of social-emotional learning and explore how it can impact both academic achievement and classroom behavior. Students will engage in activities through which they will learn, plan to use, and implement strategies designed to foster social-emotional and self-management skills using the peace education paradigm.
This course focuses on understanding autism across the lifespan including the physical, cognitive and social skill limitations and strengths in each phase of life. Case studies will be the primary learning tools, with students developing a long-term intervention plan for an individual on their current or future caseload based on the concepts discussed.
This course studies specialized instructional strategies designed to adapt and accommodate classroom environments, testing methodologies, and curricula to meet the needs of exceptional children and youth with high and low-incident disabilities. High-incidence disabilities include learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, emotional and behavior disorders, and communication disorders. Low-incidence disabilities include the traditional categories of significant and/or multiple disabilities: mental disabilities with significant cognitive needs, low vision and blindness, hearing impairments and deafness, deaf-blindness, autism, physical or health disabilities, and traumatic brain injury.
Application Requirements & Process
To be eligible to apply to any of our graduate certificate programs you will need to:
- Have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or higher (waivers can be granted based on professional work experience and other factors).
- Have a minimum of three years of professional leadership/management experience.
- Have time to devote to your coursework; in an accelerated program, time spent outside of class is considerable.
- Contact or meet with our admissions staff for guidance and to find out more information.
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Complete the graduate application via the online portal which includes the submission of a $25 nonrefundable application fee, which is waived for Elizabethtown College graduates.
- You will need to request official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended and upload your current resume.
- Additionally, prepare a 1-2 page essay addressing your motivation for pursuing the graduate certificate, a statement of professional goals, and goals for the application of the graduate certificate to your professional life.
- After submitting your application, the SGPS Team will review it and make an admissions decision.
- If accepted, you will receive an initial offer letter via the applicant portal, which you must accept to proceed with matriculation.
- If there are any questions or concerns, the admissions team will contact you for further discussion.
- After successfully completing your Elizabethtown College graduate certificate, students may complete the Advance in Graduate Certificate or Degree form in the JayWeb student portal to apply to a future graduate certificate or graduate degree. Additional materials may be required, depending on the program of interest.
Etown seniors, alumni, and employees may be able to take advantage of our two-step, fast-tracked application process.
