Areas of Specialization

Certificate in At-Risk and Diverse Learners

Required courses for the professional development certificate include:


  • ED 631 Psychological and Social Characteristics of At-Risk and Diverse Learners
  • ED 632 Psychological and Social Characteristics of the Resilient Student
  • ED 633 Methods of Teaching the At-Risk and the Resilient Student
  • ED 634 Special Project Seminar on the At-Risk Student
  • 12 additional credits from the core, clinical and elective courses offered in the Master of Education Program. ED 602 Social and Psychological Forces Affecting Youth, ED 603 Personality Development and Self-Esteem, ED 655CA Motivating the Unresponsive Student, and ED 658 Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligence are recommended as the additional nine credits.

Certificate in Athletic Program Leadership and Administration

Required courses for the professional development certificate include:


  • ED 615 Athletic Administration/Leadership
  • ED 616 Sports Psychology
  • ED 617 Coaching Seminar
  • ED 618 Athletic Administration/Coaching Internship
  • Twelve additional credits from the core, clinical, and elective courses offered in the Master of Education Program. ED 646 School Law and ED 653 Supervision for Effective Instruction are recommended as part of these additional credits

Certificate in Literacy Strategies for Content Learning

Required courses include (9 credits):


  • ED 639 Psychological and Linguistic Foundations of Reading
  • ED 620A Teaching Students to Write Using Multiple Strategies: Composing
  • ED 638B Special Project Seminar in Reading Intervention: Comprehension
  • ED 638C Special Project Seminar in Reading Intervention: Vocabulary
  • ED 678 Choosing Diverse Materials for Improving Content Learning
  • ED 638 Special Project Seminar on Literacy Strategies

Electives: 9 credits to be chosen from

  • ED 697 Reading Strategies for Content Learning
  • 3 additional credits from the core, clinical, and elective courses offered in the Master of Education program.

Certificate in Reading Instruction

 Required courses for the professional development certificate include:


  • ED 625 Strategies and Resources in Teaching Reading
  • ED 626 Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties
  • ED 636 Overview of Reading Intervention Strategies
  • ED 637 Practicum Part I, Reading Diagnosis and Instruction
  • ED 638 Special Project Seminar in Reading Interventions and/or ED 647 Remedial Reading Techniques for Students with Severe Reading Difficulties
  • ED 639 Psychological and Linguistic Foundations of Reading

This certificate is an MSDE-approved program for Reading Specialist certification as long as students take the following courses as additional six credits: 

  • ED 672 Assessing Needs and Evaluating Progress
  • ED 635 Practicum Part II, Role of the Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach

Admissions Requirement

Prior to beginning this certificate, students need to have taken courses in processes and acquisition of reading and materials for teaching reading.

Certification Requirement

Certification as a Reading Specialist requires MSDE teacher certification and completion of the required 3-credit introduction or survey of special education course.

Certificate in Reducing Student, Classroom, and School Disruption: Prevention and Intervention

 Required courses for the professional development certificate include:


  • ED 607 Prevention Strategies, Classroom Management and Classroom
  • ED 661 Interpersonal Strategies I, Conflict Resolution
  • ED 662 Intervention Strategies II, Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviors
  • ED 654 Special Project Seminar for Reducing Student, Classroom and School Disruption

Certificate in School Improvement Leadership

 Required courses for the professional development certificate include:


  • ED 671 School Improvement Leadership: A Theoretical Perspective
  • ED 672 Assessing Needs and Evaluating Progress
  • ED 673 School Improvement Leadership: Facilitating a Positive School Culture
  • ED 674 A&B Special Project Seminar/Practicum in School Improvement Leadership
  • This certificate is an MSDE-approved program for Administrator I certification as long as students take the following courses as the additional credits: ED 681 Curriculum Development for a Multicultural Society, ED 653 Supervision for Effective Instruction, and ED 646 School Law.

Certification Requirement

Certification as Administrator I requires MSDE teacher certification, 27 months of successful teaching experience and completion of the required 3-credit introduction or survey of special education course.

Certificate in Special Education for Certified Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Teachers

 Required courses for the professional development certification include:


  • ED 688 Educational Assessment and Diagnosis of Students with Special Needs I
  • ED 690 Curriculum Design and Adaptations for Students with Special Needs I
  • ED 691 Curriculum Design and Adaptations for Students with Special Needs II
  • ED 698A Special Project Seminar for Special Education

Three credits from the core courses offered in the Master of Education program plus 9 credits chosen from:

  • ED 640 Collaboration: Engaging Families, Staff and Young Children with Special Needs
  • ED 642 Early Intervention: An Approach to Early Care and Education
  • ED 698B Special Project Seminar for Special Education
  • ED 689 Educational Assessment and Diagnosis of Students with Special Needs II
  • ED 644TK Technological Application Seminar: Instructional Design
  • ED 608PB Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders through Inclusive Practices
  • ED 608PC Psychological Application Seminar: Differentiating Instruction: Responding to Every Students Needs
  • ED 686 Foundations of Special Education (if not previously taken)
  • ED 647 Remedial Reading Techniques for students with Severe Reading Difficulties or other appropriate courses from the M.Ed. Program. Early childhood teachers must take ED 640, ED 642, and ED 698B.

Certification Requirement

MSDE certification in early childhood education, elementary education or secondary education in a content area required prior to beginning this certificate.

Students must submit passing Praxis II scores (Core Knowledge and Application) prior to certificate completion.

Certificate in Teacher as Leader in Technology

 Required courses in the Program (15 credits)


  • ED 675 Teacher Leadership in Technology-Based Learning
  • ED 676 Leading Technology-Based Learning for Improved Student Learning
  • ED 677A&B Special Project Seminar in Teacher Leadership in Technology
  • 6 additional credits from the core, clinical, and elective courses offered in the Master of Education Program.
  • ED 681 Curriculum Development for a Multicultural Society is recommended.
  • 6 credits, chosen from 600-level technology electives.

**Students participating in the Welch Center's eight Professional Development Certificate programs are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

 

Goucher College Graduate Programs in Education
1021 Dulaney Valley Road
Baltimore, MD 21204
410-337-6047
graduateprograms@goucher.edu