Gifted Education (MA)

Affiliation: School of Business and Professional Studies

The Department of Education at Truman State University offers the Master of Arts in Gifted Education, a professional, post-certification degree for teachers.

The basic components of the program include (1) courses required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for add-on certification in Gifted Education, and (2) additional courses focusing on social issues and pedagogical topics germane to excellence in gifted pedagogy.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAM

The mission of the Master of Arts in Gifted Education program is to prepare practicing teachers for teaching roles in a learning environment with students who have been identified as gifted. A combination of Truman Education faculty and active expert practitioners of gifted education work together to marry theory and practice toward identifying gifted students, developing appropriate curricula, and assessing performance toward the goals of continuous improvement and effective student support.

The Master of Arts in Gifted is informed by Truman’s strong cooperation with the PK-12 learning community and is built on a sound foundation of research, essential knowledge, and professional practice.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

The Master of Arts in Gifted Education program prepares teachers to become successful practitioners of Gifted Education by building on prior learning in education and advancing teachers’ understanding of collaboration, professional and ethical practice, assessment, instructional planning, assessment, language and communication, learning environments and social interactions, instructional strategies, individual learning differences, development and characteristics of learners, and possession of foundational knowledge as referenced in the National Gifted Education Standards (NAGC).

Students completing this program will:

1. Recognize the characteristics of giftedness and identify gifted students based on their knowledge of these characteristics;
2. Develop an appropriate curriculum that supports the needs of gifted students in the practitioner’s school of community;
3. Identify the affective, emotional, and intellectual needs of gifted students and translate those needs into appropriate responses;
4. Continually and critically, analyze their own professional performance and translate that analysis into personal growth as an education professional; 
5. Introduce new topics and disciplines to further stimulate advanced learners;
6. Identify the characteristics of effective research in gifted education and pursue independent research.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75.
• Valid teaching certification or eligibility to meet initial teaching certification requirements.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• Completion of all coursework with a minimum of a 3.00 GPA.

INTERNSHIP

All students are required to complete ED 619G - Teaching Internship: Gifted Education .

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS