Online Degrees Special Education Secondary Special Education and Transition Certificate

Online graduate certificate in secondary special education and transition



Convenient and Timely

Finish your graduate certificate in as little as one year.

A Top-Ranked School

Our School of Education and Human Sciences is consistently ranked among the best by U.S. News & World Report, including the No. 1 Best Online Master's in Special Education Program in the nation.1

Evidence-Based Research to Practice

Program designed by leaders in the field that leverages faculty expertise and the BEACH Center Transition Coalition resources.

For experienced teachers, paraeducators, vocational rehabilitation counselors and community employment providers, the online graduate certificate in secondary special education and transition* offers critical knowledge of school-based transition planning and interagency collaboration. This foundational program is built from the same courses featured in our online master's in secondary special education and transition, which lets graduates of the graduate certificate program apply a select number of credits to the online master's program should they decide later to pursue the full degree.

Designed to be completed in as little as one year, the online secondary special education and transition graduate certificate program prepares you to:

  • Create and implement transition assessments

  • Apply effective transition models and programs within educational settings

  • Align school-based planning with transition programs and services that support young adults as they transition from school to employment and/or post-secondary education

Important dates

DEC
16
Application Deadline
December 16
Spring 2025 Term
JAN
13
Next Start
January 13
Spring 2025 Term

Program Details



  • 5 courses, 8 weeks per course, 15 credit hours

  • Complete in as little as a year

  • Learn from renowned faculty in a department that has set the standard in the practice of special education for over 50 years

  • No GRE required for admission

  • Students can apply all 15 credit hours from their graduate certificate to the online master's in secondary special education and transition program (requires application and admission to master's program)

View Admissions Requirements

Graduate certificate in secondary special education and transition course descriptions

The online graduate certificate in secondary special education and transition equips experienced teachers, paraeducators, vocational rehabilitation counselors and community employment providers with critical knowledge that can move them toward new transition specialist jobs. Courses explore transition planning, assessments, interagency services and more, and course descriptions are listed below. All courses listed are worth 3 credits.

Please note: Course list and sequence are subject to change.

SPED 856: TRANSITION EDUCATION AND SERVICES FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD

The purpose of this course is to provide a background in career development and transition education for persons with disabilities from middle school through adulthood. Emphasis is placed on IDEA requirements for transition services, career development and transition processes, transition services assessment, secondary special education curricular implications, career development and transition service needs, collaborative services in schools and communities to promote quality transition services, and issues and trends in transition education and services.

SPED 857: CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH

The purpose of this course is to provide graduate students in special education and related areas who are specializing in secondary school/transition programs with an overview of career development for youth with disabilities. Emphasis is placed upon theory and practice related to career development, work-based learning, and school and community vocational training models.

SPED 858: ASSESSMENT FOR TRANSITION PLANNING

This course is designed to provide a review of psychometric principles and their utility as a foundation for quality assessment in transition assessment and planning for youth with disabilities. Formal and informal assessments across a range of transition planning areas are reviewed and evaluated. Skills in curriculum-based assessment, rating scales, situational assessment and functional assessment are emphasized. Prerequisite: SPED 856 or permission of instructor.

SPED 859: INTERAGENCY SERVICES FOR TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of interagency and community services and systems for adolescents and young adults with disabilities. Emphasis is placed on theory and practice related to interagency collaboration, systems change efforts in transition services, and state-of-the-art practices regarding supporting individuals with disabilities in community employment, living, socialization, community participation, and other areas of adult life.

SPED 862: WORK-BASED LEARNING

The purpose of this course is to provide graduate students with models and strategies to develop and coordinate meaningful work experiences for youth with disabilities. Emphasis is placed on practical strategies for engaging with community businesses, developing and customizing jobs and supporting youth in the workplace.

*This online graduate certificate does not lead to initial nor advanced licensure in special education in the state of Kansas.

Note: In order to enroll in this program, a bachelor's degree is required. No program can guarantee licensure. It is each student’s responsibility to determine the licensure requirements in his or her state and to apply for the licenses or endorsements necessary to his or her career goals. Our department staff and licensure officer can provide individual support during the application process to help you understand your state’s requirements.

Sources
  1. Retrieved on February 7, 2023 from usnews.com/education/online-education/university-of-kansas-155317