Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Special Education Comprehensive K-12 Graduate Certificate


The graduate certificate in Special Education Comprehensive K-12 is intended for those seeking to develop a knowledge and skill base that undergirds effective, equity focused teaching of K-12 students with a range of exceptionalities and from a range of backgrounds. A graduate certificate in Special Education Comprehensive K-12  is appropriate for K-12 teachers endorsed in areas outside of exceptional education, K-12 teachers endorsed in an area of exceptional education at the undergraduate level, administrators and supervisors aspiring to lead schools or serve in roles supporting special student populations, non-endorsed professionals whose work (e.g., museum, public-service agency) interfaces significantly with K-12 education, and those interested in home schooling. Coursework in this certificate is designed to lead to an additional endorsement in Special Education Comprehensive K-12 for teachers licensed in other areas in the state of Tennessee, pending transcript review, passing appropriate licensure exams and approval of the faculty advisor. Home department: Theory and Practice in Teacher Education .

Campus Code


  • Knoxville Campus
  • Distance Education

Graduate Certificate Type


  • Add-On
  • Stand-Alone

Admissions Standards/Procedures


  • Applicants can be currently admitted to a degree program at UTK or can apply solely for the Special Education Comprehensive K-12 Graduate Certificate through the Graduate Admissions Office.
  • All 12 credit hours of graduate coursework must be completed at the University of Tennessee within five years of applying for a certificate.

Academic Standards


Students must maintain a 3.50 graduate GPA in all certificate courses in the program and complete the requirements within five years of applying for a certificate.

Credit Hours Required


12 graduate credit hours

Non-Course Requirements


To receive the certificate, students must:

  1. complete the Graduate Certificate Course Verification Form and
  2. through MyUTK, apply to graduate from the certificate program.