Faculty: Educational Programs This major focuses on the unique educational needs of gifted and talented students. Students gain skills in identifying giftedness, developing specialized curriculum, implementing differentiated instruction, and providing social-emotional support to help gifted students reach their full potential. **Learning Objectives:** - Understand the characteristics and identification of gifted and talented students. - Develop specialized curriculum and instructional strategies for gifted learners. - Learn differentiated instruction techniques to meet diverse learning needs. - Explore social-emotional support strategies for gifted students. - Analyze assessment and evaluation methods for gifted education. - Develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and advocacy skills. - Understand ethical and professional standards in gifted education. **Major Outline:** 1. **Introduction to Gifted and Talented Education** - Overview of gifted education, characteristics of gifted students, and industry trends. 2. **Identification of Gifted and Talented Students** - Methods for identifying giftedness in various domains, including intellectual, creative, artistic, and leadership abilities. 3. **Curriculum Development for Gifted Learners** - Designing and implementing specialized curriculum to meet the unique needs of gifted students. 4. **Differentiated Instruction** - Techniques for differentiating instruction to accommodate the diverse learning needs and abilities of gifted students. 5. **Social-Emotional Support for Gifted Students** - Strategies for providing social-emotional support to address the unique challenges faced by gifted students. 6. **Assessment and Evaluation in Gifted Education** - Methods for assessing and evaluating the learning and development of gifted students. 7. **Advocacy and Policy in Gifted Education** - Understanding advocacy efforts and policy developments in gifted education. 8. **Creativity and Innovation in Gifted Education** - Fostering creativity and innovation in gifted students through various educational approaches. 9. **Field Experience/Practicum** - Real-world experiences in gifted education settings, such as gifted programs, specialized schools, or educational consulting firms. 10. **Capstone Project** - Comprehensive project applying gifted education skills, such as developing a specialized curriculum, conducting an assessment, or creating an advocacy plan. **Assessment Methods:** - Identification of gifted students reports - Curriculum development projects - Differentiated instruction plans - Social-emotional support strategies - Assessment and evaluation reports - Advocacy and policy analyses - Creativity and innovation projects - Field experience reports - Capstone projects and presentations **Recommended Textbooks:** - "Introduction to Gifted and Talented Education" - "Identification of Gifted and Talented Students" - "Curriculum Development for Gifted Learners" - "Differentiated Instruction" - "Social-Emotional Support for Gifted Students" - "Assessment and Evaluation in Gifted Education" - "Advocacy and Policy in Gifted Education" - "Creativity and Innovation in Gifted Education" **Prerequisites:** Basic knowledge of education and an interest in gifted and talented education. **Major Duration:** Typically 4 years for a bachelor's degree or 2 years for a master's degree in Gifted and Talented Education. **Certification:** Graduates may pursue certifications or endorsements in gifted education, such as the Gifted Education Teaching Endorsement, depending on regional requirements. **Target Audience:** Aspiring gifted education specialists, teachers, curriculum developers, educational consultants, and professionals seeking careers in gifted programs, specialized schools, educational consulting firms, and related fields. This major equips students with the specialized skills needed to excel in gifted and talented education, supporting careers in various roles within gifted programs, educational consulting, and related fields.