Gifted & Talented Teacher Program

The Gifted and Talented course sequence provides a conceptual foundation and practical approaches for teachers of the gifted and talented, both specialists and regular classroom teachers. Today’'s diverse classrooms mean that educators must be able to recognize and serve talented and high achieving students in heterogeneous settings as well as in special program settings. The curriculum consists of four three-hour graduate courses— all of which can be applied to the specialization module of SMU'’s Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree (pending acceptance into the M.Ed. program). Successful graduates of the GT program are prepared to take the Gifted and Talented TExES (Texas Examination for Educator Standards); those who pass the exam earn GT certification.

The four GT courses can be completed in three semesters starting fall 2013. The prerequisite course in the sequence, EDU 6325, Educating the Gifted and Talented, will be offered asynchronously online each fall, spring, and summer semester. The middle two courses, EDU 6347, Creativity, and EDU 6397, Growth and Development, can be taken in any order and concurrently with EDU 6325. Please note that EDU 6347 and EDU 6397 alternate when they are offered, in either the spring or summer semesters. The final course, EDU 6388, Curriculum Development, is offered every fall semester. 

Courses - (for descriptions click here)

• EDU 6325 – Educating the Gifted And Talented
• EDU 6397 – Growth And Development Of the Gifted
• EDU 6347 – Creativity: Theories, Models, And Applications
• EDU 6388 – Curriculum Development For Gifted And Talented Learners

*Texas Education Agency (TEA) issues a supplemental educator certificate to teachers who pass the Gifted Education TExES examination.  (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/)