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Gifted and SPED Summer Endorsement Institute

May 1

MUW Announces Gifted & SPED Summer Institute for Educators

Accelerate Your Expertise in Gifted & Special Education This Summer

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women’s School of Education is excited to announce the Gifted & SPED Summer Institute, an innovative opportunity for educators to expand their knowledge and skills in gifted and special education. The institute offers flexible, fully online courses designed to help teachers meet licensure requirements, enhance their expertise, or explore new professional opportunities in these high-demand areas.

The Gifted & SPED Summer Institute provides a selection of four graduate-level courses in Gifted Education and four in Special Education, allowing educators to tailor their learning experience. Whether seeking an endorsement, professional development, or preparation for a leadership role, these courses offer rigorous content aligned with best practices in the field.

This is ideal for:

  • Teacher in the area who want to broaden their teaching license.
  • Private schools who want to offer SPED or Gifted services.
  • Teachers who want to begin work on their masters.

Gifted Education Courses (Asynchronous Online):

  • ED 516 Understanding Gifted Populations
  • ED 517 Methods, Materials, and Resources for Teaching the Gifted
  • ED 530 Counseling the Gifted Student
  • ED 595 Program Development and Evaluation

Special Education Courses (Asynchronous Online):

  • ED 538 Diversity and Inclusion in the Educational Setting
  • ED 548 Teaching in the Inclusion Classroom
  • ED 554 Exceptional Learners and Behavioral Management
  • ED 555 Ethical and Legal Practices in Special Education

How to Enroll

Educators interested in enrolling in the Gifted & SPED Summer Institute can apply through MUW’s Graduate School. Participants may complete coursework as part of a degree program or select only the summer institute courses without committing to a full graduate program.

For application details, course information, and advising, visit our webpage: Apply to Graduate School at the W.

For additional questions or to discuss course selection, contact Christi Dillon.

Christi Dillon

Register by April 15 to Secure Your Spot!

Multiple scholarship opportunities are available. Scholarships for first classes are ready for you! Seats are limited, and early registration is encouraged. MUW is committed to supporting educators in enhancing their skills and advancing their careers through high-quality, accessible graduate coursework.

Join us this summer and take the next step in your professional journey!

  • Do I have to apply for admission to graduate school, even if I am only getting an endorsement and am not interested in getting a degree?
    • Yes. You must be admitted into graduate school to be eligible to take graduate courses. 
    • You can apply to be admitted to the Education, M.Ed. graduate program or as a non-degree-seeking graduate student.
  • What is involved in applying for admission to graduate school?
    • Per https://www.muw.edu/graduate/apply/, you must submit the following when applying for admission to the Education, M.Ed. graduate program:
    • Education, M.Ed.
      • Online application
      • Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
      • Teaching License
      • Satisfactory grade point average (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale)
      • Professional recommendations from individuals who have knowledge of the applicant’s academic/work performance
      • $25 application fee
      • Official transcripts from all colleges attended
      • Statement of Purpose essay

      Students not meeting these criteria may be considered on an individual basis for conditional admission.

    • Per https://bulletin.muw.edu/content.php?catoid=50&navoid=3217#Non-Degree_Admission, item 3.4, you must meet the following criteria when applying for admission as a non-degree-seeking graduate student:
    • Non-degree-seeking students are those who do not wish to pursue a graduate degree. Non-degree status is usually reserved for applicants who already are practicing professionals in the field and who wish to take one or two courses for professional development. Non-degree students may be permitted to take up to six hours of courses on a space-available basis and upon receipt of the following:
      1. An application for admission.
      2. A $25.00 application fee.
      3. Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work. These transcripts must include certification the applicant has received a baccalaureate degree from an institutional accredited four-year institution.
      4. Certificate of immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella (including two doses of the MMR vaccine. (See general admission requirements.)
      5. Written permission from the coordinator/director of the graduate program which is offering the course. All courses at MUW will be blocked to non-degree-seeking applicants except for the course that has been approved.

      Students who already possess a master’s degree may exceed the six-hour limit for non-degree students.

      Non-degree students who decide to apply for a degree must notify the Office of Graduate Studies in writing. With the approval of the program director/coordinator, students may be allowed to count their six credit hours toward a degree program, provided they have made a grade of A or B in the courses. Non-degree students who later seek admission to a degree program and plan to apply their non-degree hours to that degree program must meet all requirements for full admission to a degree program with the exception of non-degree students with undergraduate GPA or GRE deficiencies who plan to apply only three non-degree hours to their degree program. These students may be admitted conditionally, but their non-degree coursework counts toward the hour and semester limits to which conditionally admitted students are held.

      The Post-Master’s Certificate program, Gifted and Reading/Literacy Certification programs have special admission requirements, as outlined below. Students enrolled in these non-degree programs may exceed the six-hour limit for non-degree students. Students in the Gifted and Reading/Literacy Certification programs who later decide to apply for admission to the degree programs in Gifted Studies and Reading/Literacy may apply all hours earned in the certification programs to the degree programs as long as they meet all appropriate scholastic and program requirements. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the maximum of two grades of C that a student may apply to any graduate program, whether degree or non-degree.

  • Can I apply for financial aid?
    • If you apply as a degree-seeking student, you can apply for financial aid.
    • If you apply as a non-degree-seeking student, you will NOT be eligible to apply for financial aid.
  • How much does it cost?

Details