Graduate Certificate in Special Education

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Special Education will be able to: 

1. Critically analyse the characteristics, strengths, challenges, and unique educational needs of diverse learners in special education contexts, evaluating theoretical frameworks, policies, and historical evolution of inclusive education practices and cultures.
2. Design comprehensive, personalised support plans for learners in special education contexts that incorporate evidence-based and data-driven pedagogical approaches, instructional strategies, accommodations, assistive technologies, and culturally sensitive approaches to maximise student engagement, participation, and academic success.
3. Formulate effective collaboration and culturally-sensitive communication strategies with multidisciplinary stakeholders to facilitate genuine participation, address barriers to education, and advocate for principles of equity and social justice in special education.
4. Synthesise strategies and develop professional expertise to identify, nurture, and support the unique talents, abilities and educational needs of gifted, twiceexceptional, and diverse learners, ensuring appropriate challenges, accommodations, and strengths-based approaches that address culturally sensitive adjustments where necessary.
5. Interpret and apply current policies, legislation, research, and international evidence related to special education to critique assessment practices and reasonable adjustments for inclusive special education contexts.

Develop expertise in inclusive and special education

Do you work with or wish to work with students with specific educational requirements within primary, secondary and special schools? This program offers evidence-based approaches that develop essential specialist knowledge and skills to practise inclusive education approaches and collaborate with school staff and parents to better support the learning and engagement of students with special education requirements.

Although this program does not qualify you as a teacher, it will be attractive to those already working with, or who wish to work with, students with special needs within a school setting. An evidence-based approach will equip you with essential specialist knowledge and skills to engage with school staff and parents in order to better support the learning and behavior of a diverse range of students with special needs.

Industry and expert connections

Learn alongside experienced teachers and educational professionals as you explore complex ideas around special needs education, growing your professional network in the process. You'll learn from experienced education academics in collaborative, online learning environments. Seminars, forums and groupwork assignments offer you opportunities to make connections with your student peers.

Graduate outcomes

You will find employment opportunities as an inclusion teacher, support teacher or special education teacher working in a range of educational settings. You will be able to advance your professional career to senior leadership positions in special and inclusive education.

Flexibility

Study anytime, anywhere - This degree is available online through our Digital campus, giving you more room to fit university with your work and social life.

Pursue further study

The courses in this graduate certificate may be credited towards a related graduate diploma or masters degree. Griffith's innovative Credit Precedent Database allows you to find out what credit decisions have been made in the past, which will give you an idea of what you can expect.

Award requirements

For the award of Graduate Certificate in Special Education (GCertSpEd), you must successfully Complete 40 credit points comprising:

• 40 credit points for all Foundation Module

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $2,400

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

Learn more about Griffith University.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

21

To be eligible for this program you must meet one of the following criteria:

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher)
• two years relevant work experience
• a combination of alternative admission criteria such as formal, informal, and non-formal learning deemed to be equivalent to either of the above

Relevant work experience includes early childhood, K-12 schools, higher education, adult education

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

International students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including:

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE.
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training.
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.