Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study - Educational Diagnostician

Website: https://twu.edu/teacher-education/graduate-programs/special-education/

The Post-Master’s – Educational Diagnostician Certificate Program prepares students to teach, evaluate, and advocate for students with disabilities. Highly-qualified educational diagnosticians are in high demand across Texas, and this graduate program will meet the need by preparing them to assess students’ academic, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral needs and how to collaborate with teachers to recommend accommodations, modifications, and interventions based on assessment results.  

To obtain a recommendation for certification through Texas Woman’s University, an individual must have a master’s degree (preferably in education or an education-related field), three years of creditable teaching experience, a valid Texas teaching certificate, and completion of coursework (at least 18 semester credit hours, including EDSP 5833, EDSP 5843, and EDSP 5863) on a plan of study leading to certification. The number of semester credit hours required and specific coursework varies depending on the student's academic preparation and experience. More information can be found on the  Special Education website.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

1.  Effectively articulate foundational issues in the field of Special Education.

2. Appropriately evaluate research methods appropriate for study of students with disabilities.

3. Apply appropriate research methods in the study of students with disabilities.

Admissions

All students must meet the University requirements as outlined in the Admission to the TWU Graduate School section of the catalog.

The academic program may have additional admission criteria that must also be completed as outlined on the program's website.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Hours Required

24 semester credit hours (SCH). The number of courses required may vary based on previous graduate work and experience, but all students in this program will need a minimum of 18 SCH, including EDSP 5863

Students seeking Educational Diagnostician need to meet requirements according to the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC), including a 160-hour supervised practicum experience at a TEA-accredited school site (completed in EDSP 5863) and successful completion of the TExES Educational Diagnostician state test. Prior to taking courses for the Post-Master's Certificate of Advanced Study - Educational Diagnostician, students must be officially admitted into the Educational Diagnostician program. See the TWU Special Education website for more information.

Exceptionalities
EDSP 5123Students with High-Incidence Disabilities3
EDSP 5133Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities3
Interventions
Select one of the following3
Collaborating for Effective Intervention
Behavior Interventions for Students with Disabilities
Instructional Interventions for Students with Disabilities
Support
EDSP 5033Using Assessments for Effective Interventions3
EDSP 5043Legal and Administrative Issues of Special Education Programs3
Assessment
EDSP 5833Individual Diagnostic Assessment3
EDSP 5843Special Education Evaluation3
EDSP 5863Educational Diagnostician Practicum3
Total SCHs24