The Advanced Certificate in Special Education is a 21-credit-hour post-baccalaureate certificate program designed to prepare and support experienced educators who already hold a certification in general education and want to advance their skills with specialized knowledge to support all children, including students with disabilities. The program will equip Relay students with the strategies and mindsets to support a wide range of learners.

The special education curriculum provides a foundation in all disabilities, while also developing specific expertise in learning disabilities and high-incidence behavioral needs. Relay students learn how to advocate on behalf of their students to ensure that their students receive the services and support they deserve. Relay students also work intensively on literacy development and the delivery of specialized instruction in reading and writing via whole-group, small-group, and one-on-one interventions. Upon completion of the program, Relay students will have gained a new perspective on their role as an educator prepared to meet the needs of all students and will be qualified to either expand their impact in the general education classroom or to pursue the range of roles available to certified special educators.

Academic Plans 

Relay’s programs are tailored to local contexts and are designed to meet educational requirements for educator certification/licensure in multiple states; therefore, academic plans may vary by state of enrollment. State- and program-specific academic plans for all program offerings described in this catalog may be accessed on the Academic Plans site. Students are provided with a detailed course schedule at orientation.