GW's special education and disability studies programs are dedicated to preparing knowledgeable, effective, and ethical special education professionals to serve diverse students with disabilities and their families. These programs are grounded in the philosophical position that teaching is an act of transformative social justice, operationalized and actualized through the practice of personalized teaching and learning. The graduate certificate in social, emotional, and behavioral health for diverse learners prepares educators to recognize individual strengths, cultural identities, and the assets inherent in every student as the cornerstones of meaningful learning and transformative teaching. The certificate provides robust education in evidence-supported school-based practices to support the social, emotional, and behavioral health of diverse students with disabilities. Certificate students understand the interactions among teacher self-reflection and self-awareness with the social, emotional, and behavioral health needs and development of their students. By way of a cohesive course sequence in virtual synchronous coursework, students develop knowledge and skills to implement cutting-edge approaches to support the social, emotional, and behavioral health and development of diverse students with and at-risk for disabilities.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 12 credits in required courses.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| SPED 6204 | Analysis of Personalized Teaching for Professionals Working with Students with Disabilities | |
| SPED 6240 | Family Support and Collaboration in Special Education | |
| SPED 6288 | Understanding the Characteristics and Needs of Students with Disabilities | |
| SPED 6290 | Affective Development and Behavior Management for Teaching Students with Disabilities | |
