Fall Semesters	Nature and Needs of the Gifted (EGI 5051) Guidance & Counseling of Gifted Students (EGI 6416)
Spring Semesters	Adv. Educational Strategies for the Gifted (EGI 6232) Nature and Needs of the Gifted (EGI 5051)
Summer Semesters	Theory and Development of Creativity (EGI 5325) Special Populations (EGI 6936): Prerequisite EGI 5051

Please see course descriptions and prerequisite chart

All required courses for the master's program are offered online and at various times during the year. The online courses are structured through a software package here at the university.

Participants will be given a web site, login ID and password to access the course online. You will need to have email capabilities and an Internet browser such as Netscape or Microsoft Explorer. Participants will be required to make weekly posting to a bulletin board and turn in required assignments. You will not be required to attend any on-campus meetings.

Although all students are different, the university generally indicates that graduate students should anticipate spending approximately the same amount of time in preparation for the course as they do in the course. Since this is a three-hour course when delivered on campus, you should anticipate spending at least that much time on the course for web-based delivery as well as an additional 3 to 6 hours per week completing assignments. Past students have reported spending 6 to 9 hours per week per course preparing and completing assignments. Students with varying degrees of computer proficiency (from novice to expert) have all been successful in mastering the minimal technical needs of taking an online course.

Gifted is one of Florida's Critical Teacher Shortage areas, so upon successful completion of a course, you could receive up to 80% of reimbursement (if the funds are available from the Department of Education). You would need to visit Office of Student Financial Assistance to learn if you are eligible for reimbursement for the endorsement courses in gifted education.

Financial aid information may be obtained by going to USF and selecting Financial Aid. No scholarships are offered through the gifted education program.

Out of state students may be able to take these classes at the reduced cost of in-state tuition rather than out-of-state tuition (see Academic Common Market for more information).

Because this is an accredited master's degree program, we do not accept district endorsement courses as graduate credit. However, we do differentiate our courses to build upon the knowledge you already have. Many students are in our program who received their endorsement prior to taking courses with USF. Their comments lead us to believe that our courses are not a repeat of their district-delivered courses.

Master's degree students may transfer up to 6 credit hours taken at an accredited institution. Credits may be transferred if the advisor approves, if the courses were taken within 7 years of the anticipated graduation date from the MA in gifted, and if they meet the requirements of the program

If you earned National Board Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, then you may credit 3 hours toward the MA degree in gifted if completed within 7 years of your anticipated graduation date from USF.

Since courses are offered on a staggered basis, and because most students are full-time teachers, completion of the MA program takes approximately 3 years. It is intended to be a part-time program and courses follow a specific course sequence.

If you would like to receive additional information about the GRE, you can obtain it from GRE.