Online Grad. Cert. in Special Ed. General Curriculum

Credit Hours

Online,* 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the certificate total

Next Start Dates: January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | March 23, 2026

Gain a New Licensure Endorsement in Special Education with a Graduate Certificate

Do you want to gain new training so you can help students with special needs? Liberty University offers a Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum so you can study the skills you need while gaining a special education add-on endorsement. With graduate-level courses that cover advanced special education tools and teaching methods, you can start a new career or enhance your current teaching practice.

With a short 15-credit-hour course sequence, you can add to your teaching skill set and gain an add-on endorsement for special education. You can also transfer these courses into a master’s degree, such as the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction – General Education, at a later time, so you can use these new skills for your career and leave the door open to a future degree. Liberty’s Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum is a practical and fast way to get the special education studies you need to help students with special needs.

Your officially conferred certificate name will be Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum.

Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.

*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.

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600+ Online Degrees
No Standardized Testing for Admission
Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Top 10 Reasons to Choose Liberty

Why Choose Liberty’s Special Education Endorsement Certificate?

Liberty’s Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum can help you prepare for a rewarding career in a field that needs qualified, effective teachers. Through this program, you will earn an add-on endorsement in special education curriculum while studying under professors who understand your passion and can mentor you throughout your degree.

Building on your teaching experience and previous training, you will apply your new special education knowledge to a real classroom near you with a 45-hour practicum. This hands-on experience paired with advanced special education course content can help you apply for special education add-on licensure in a faster timeframe than you could with a full degree.

With excellent and affordable online education, Liberty’s online Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum can help you meet licensure requirements and set you up for success in your teaching career.

What Will You Study in Our Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum?

This certificate is designed to give you a specialized and in-depth study of special education teaching practice while fulfilling add-on licensure requirements. Through this program, you can study how to provide individualized education support and care for students with significant disabilities. You can learn to create lesson plans and provide intellectual stimulation for students with special needs while encouraging growth.

Topics covered within this program include educational behavior and development, theories and methodologies of education, current trends in the education field, and methods of teaching with classroom management. You can also learn how to make decisions about student progress, instruction, program, placement, and transitional services.

Our courses are taught from a Christian perspective by educators equipped with years of experience teaching in the field of special education. You can learn how to apply a biblical worldview to your classroom in Christian, private, public, or homeschool settings.

This certificate includes a 45-hour practicum, which will provide hands-on experience that can help you meet licensure requirements for the special education add-on endorsement.

Here are some of the specific subjects you will study throughout your program:

Current trends in the education field
Educational behavior and development
Methods of teaching and classroom management
Theories and methodologies of education

Potential Career Opportunities

Our special education general curriculum certificate can help you prepare for several career paths. Depending on your current knowledge, education level, and experience, there are many different positions that could benefit from our accredited certificate:

Instructional coordinator
K-12 curriculum developer and manager
Special education teacher
Teaching product developer

The skills that you gain from our certificate in special education general curriculum can be an asset in many other aspects of the education world as you pursue positions of added responsibility. Additionally, the credits from this certificate may transfer directly into the MEd in Curriculum and Instruction – General Education. Take the next step towards your personal and professional goals with a special education certificate from Liberty University.

Additional education or training may be required for some jobs or occupations. Conferral of a certificate does not guarantee job placement.

Required Courses

Certificate Information

This program falls under the School of Education.
Students in this program will complete a 45-hour practicum.
This graduate certificate program will help you gain add-on licensure for special education.
Review State-Specific State Requirements.
Review the State-Specific Approval Disclosures.
Additional program details are available in the Online Graduate Advising Guide.
View the Graduate Education Course Guides (login required).

Certificate Completion Plan

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

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Tuition & Aid

At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.

Graduate Full Time	$580/Credit
Graduate Part Time	$645/Credit
Military Graduate	$290/Credit

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

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Admission Information for Our Online Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum

Admission Requirements

Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing. Applicants who have earned a master’s degree or at least 12 graduate credits from an accredited institution will be assessed on the basis of the master’s-level degree work.
Proof of initial licensure issued by the Virginia Department of Education is required in one of the following areas: elementary education, middle grades education (endorsement(s) in English, history and social sciences, mathematics, or science), or secondary education (endorsement(s) in English, history and social sciences, mathematics, biology, chemistry, Earth science, or physics). If you hold licensure in another state, you may apply for reciprocity in the State of Virginia.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.

Admissions Office Contact Information

Submit your application online or over the phone.

Start Online Application

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

Active Duty
Reserve/National Guard
Veterans/Retirees
Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

Tuition discounts – $290 per credit hour for graduate courses
Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder*
8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.

View Military Benefits

Frequently Asked Questions for the Online Certificate in Special Ed. General Curriculum

How does this certificate program meet special education licensure requirements?

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*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, non-degree-seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and certificate students.

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Grad. Certificate in Special Ed. General Curriculum Elevate Your Teaching Game

Gain a New Licensure Endorsement in Special Education with a Graduate Certificate

What Sets Us Apart?

Why Choose Liberty’s Special Education Endorsement Certificate?

What Will You Study in Our Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum?

Potential Career Opportunities

Required Courses

Certificate Information

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Tuition & Aid

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Admission Information for Our Online Graduate Certificate in Special Education General Curriculum

Admission Requirements

Transcript Policies

Official College Transcript Policy

Admissions Office Contact Information

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Frequently Asked Questions for the Online Certificate in Special Ed. General Curriculum

How does this certificate program meet special education licensure requirements?

Are you ready to change your future?

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