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Advanced Certificate in Educational Diagnostician

(18 hours – excluding requisites)

The Special Education Diagnostician’s Certification program leads to Texas diagnostician’s certification. The program includes criteria established by the State Board for Educator Certification.

In order for a student to be recommended by the university certification officer to be eligible to take the state diagnostician’s certification examination, students must successfully complete the required coursework, 18 hours, for the certification program and pass the departmental practice examination at the prescribed level of proficiency. Students must also provide a service record documenting three years of teaching experience in an approved and accredited school, must hold a valid Texas Teaching Certificate, and be currently certified in a content area. All coursework leading to the certificate must be taken at Dallas Baptist University. In areas where the student demonstrates sufficient proficiency, course substitutions may be approved by the Master of Education Program Advisor and must be in keeping with the requirements of the State Board for Educator Certification.

ADMISSION TO THE GRADUATE EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM FOR THOSE STUDENTS SEEKING TEXAS EDUCATIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN CERTIFICATION

The College of Education graduate program directors provide guidance and support in areas such as advising, registration, monitoring your program, and offering support in your spiritual, academic, and professional walk.

Once admitted to the University, students seeking Texas certification need to complete the criteria to become officially accepted and admitted to the Dorothy M. Bush College of Education Educator Preparation Program (EPP). Prior to applying to the Educator Preparation Program, a degree plan must be selected by the candidate and a College of Education program director/advisor. The College of Education faculty and staff are dedicated to helping you achieve academic success and assisting you in achieving your educational goals.

Graduate candidates wishing to officially enter the Educator Preparation Program should review and comply with the requirements by the end of their first semester.

The GRE or MAT may be waived if a candidate maintains an A- or better during the first 12 hours of the program. If you have already taken the GRE or MAT, please submit the official scores to the graduate office at graduate@dbu.edu.

  • Grade Point Average of 3.0 and a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average at the time of application to the program

  • Teacher Service Record submitted if applicable (Blackboard submission)

  • Completion of the admission interview with the Graduate EPP Committee.

  • DBU admission letter signed and submitted

  • Signed and submitted both FERPA forms. (Blackboard submission)

  • Signed and submitted the Educator Code of Ethics. (Blackboard submission)

  • Signed and submitted Notice of Requirements (Blackboard submission)

  • Acknowledgment of Graduate Handbook (blackboard submission)

  • Required Texas Education Agency Training

  • Upon receipt of a letter of admission to the Educator Preparation Program, candidate must provide a written response acknowledging the acceptance of admittance to the program.

Other Requirements

  • The 3.0 GPA criteria must be maintained to remain in the program.

  • Candidates admitted to the Graduate Educator Preparation Program are required to upload the documents listed above

REQUISITES 

Entrance requirements for graduate programs in the College of Education must be met, including having at least two years of credible teaching experience, three years for the Educational Diagnostician Certificate, in an EC-12 public or private school by the time the candidate has completed the necessary coursework and is ready to take the appropriate certification examinations. A copy of the teacher candidate’s service record will be required to substantiate the teaching experience requirement prior to recommending the teacher candidate to register for the state certification examinations.

REQUIRED COURSES (excluding requisites)

Course

SPED 5310 - Introduction to Exceptional Learners
SPED 5320 - Pedagogy of Special Education
SPED 5330 - Legal, Procedural, and Program Practices in Special Education
SPED 6020 - Educational Diagnostician Seminar
SPED 6330 - Comprehensive Assessments
SPED 6340 - Individual Diagnostic Practicum I (80 hours) (S-L)
SPED 6350 - Individual Diagnostic Practicum II (80 hours) (S-L)

Educational Diagnostician Practicum I and II Classes

The practicum experience consists of two courses. The practicums are an extensive supervised experience at a field site comprising the final component of the comprehensive preparation program. It is designed to bring together all the experiences, skills, and knowledge gained through the coursework and experiences of the program. Candidates will be expected to attend a practicum orientation and fulfill all required practicum documents prior to approval of a designated site. Students must earn a 3.0 GPA to progress to Practicum II/Internship.

(S-L)=Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Find course descriptions by category under the Graduate Course Descriptions section in the navigation panel.