Upcoming Infosession
Students pursuing this concentration will explore the forms and manifestations of giftedness across student populations, focusing on culturally diverse, multilingual, twice exceptional, and traditionally defined gifted students.
Mason’s Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning (ASTL) concentration in gifted education provides advanced professional development for teachers of gifted students. It meets graduate standards set by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).
The ASTL M.Ed. program is for educators with one or more years of teaching or education-related experience who want to continue to grow professionally. Coursework is field-based, and students are encouraged to consider their classrooms as learning laboratories as they inquire into their practices.
The courses, aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, help teachers think and practice as board-certified teachers. The program develops teacher leaders who practice critical reflection through inquiry and utilize deep knowledge of pedagogy and content.
Gifted learners need content relevant to their lives, activities requiring them to process important ideas at a high level, and products that cause them to grapple with meaningful problems and pose defensible solutions.
Our gifted education concentration prepares educators to:
- Enact challenging, differentiated pedagogical practices
- Address the social and emotional needs of gifted learners
- Critique and compare gifted identification and assessment methods
- Advocate for students who have traditionally been under-identified as gifted
This concentration is for teachers and other educators interested in gifted education who have one or more years of teaching or education-related experience and want to continue to grow professionally. This is not an initial licensure program.
Graduates can grow their career with the advantages of a master’s degree, which include the possibility of increased pay and opportunities to be curriculum leaders in their schools.
Four of the courses (EDCI 621, EDCI 622, EDCI 623, and EDCI 624) can be applied to partially fulfill Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requirements for an add-on endorsement in gifted education. We also offer a practicum course for teachers who need to fulfill the teaching hours requirement for the VDOE endorsement.
Possibly! University policy allows for up to 12 credits (depending on the program) that have not been previously used to complete a degree to be transferred from another accredited graduate program. Consultation with an ASTL advisor is necessary to determine if and which courses may be acceptable to a specific concentration. The literacy: K-12 reading specialist concentration does not allow for substitutions. Substitutions cannot be made for the five core courses of the ASTL program (EDUC 612, EDUC 613, EDUC 614, EDUC 606, EDUC 615). Course work that is older than six years will not be accepted, even if the courses were taken at Mason.
Core Courses (12 credits)
Concentration Courses (12 credits)
Electives (6 credits)
Select 6 credits of electives from the following:
Total: 30 credits
^EDCI 621, EDCI 622, EDCI 623, and EDCI 624 can be applied to partially fulfill Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requirements for an add-on endorsement in gifted education. EDCI 627: Advanced Practicum in Gifted Education (3 credits) (offered as an elective) can be taken by teachers who need to fulfill the teaching hours requirement for the VDOE endorsement.
Program Exit Requirement
Professional Development Portfolio: A performance-based assessment that provides concrete evidence of teacher professional development throughout the ASTL program. Students finalize and present their portfolios in their final spring semester.
- Offered 100% online; Blended option available
- On-campus courses, if taken, are held in the evenings at Mason’s Fairfax campus
- Designed to be completed in approximately two years while working full-time as a teacher
- Classes begin every May, August, and January (Spring, Summer, and Fall admissions)
Fall Semester
(classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester
(classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester
(classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Priority*: April 1
Space Available: August 21 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 6 |
Applications not accepted for this term |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
All application materials must be submitted through Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below. Please review the FAQ page for more information.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
Admission to graduate programs at George Mason University is competitive. Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds, results of standardized exams (if required by the program), work experience, and any additional evidence of potential success in the program. Faculty admissions review is a holistic review of requirements as well as the applicant’s potential academic and professional success upon completion of the program.
At a minimum all admitted students must have:
- An earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the graduate admissions policy for more information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, and/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study when evaluating the GPA requirement.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$709.70
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$909.70
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,624.25) |
| VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$603.25
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD Course Fee |
$25.00 - $84.00 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$734.70 - $793.70 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$934.70 - $993.70 |
| Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program* |
$628.25 - $687.25 |
Graduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $150.25
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Gifted Education Concentration: Academic Advisor
Dr. Nancy Holincheck
ASTL Academic Advisors guide students through their program of study. After admission, reach out to your advisor to plan your program of study and plan for your first course! Stay in touch with your advisor each semester to consult on your course selection and program progress.
Forms
Current students should visit MyMason for important forms and documents.
Stephanie Dodman
Academic Program Co-Coordinator
Nancy Holincheck
Academic Program Co-Coordinator