Mild/Moderate Special Education, Certificate
Upon completion of certificate coursework that prepares you to pass the required state exams, earn eligibility for an institutional recommendation toward the Arizona Mild/Moderate Disabilities (K-12) certification through this undergraduate special education certificate.
Quick facts
Credits
Additional facts
Accreditation and professional licensure
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Certificate description
Mild/Moderate Special Education undergraduate certificate description
The certificate program in mild/moderate special education prepares you to make connections and provide equitable learning environments to meet the diverse learning needs of students in kindergarten through grade 12.
This certificate may be added only to certain programs at Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation. You're eligible for dual-teaching certification after completing this certificate program and one of the following Bachelor of Arts in Education programs:
- BAE in early childhood education
- BAE in elementary education
- BAE in elementary multilingual education
- BAE in secondary education
You learn how to work and partner with communities and schools to co-construct and negotiate roles and responsibilities in order to deliver effective special education programming. Coursework is grounded in data; theoretical foundations; federal, state and local policies; and a sense of responsibility to student and community needs.
When you add this certificate to a bachelor's degree program listed above, you're eligible to earn an institutional recommendation from ASU for Arizona teacher certification in Mild/Moderate Disabilities, K-12, from the Arizona Department of Education. To teach in an Arizona public school, you must pass the appropriate Arizona educator exams: National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments.
Format option
This program is also offered via ASU Sync. ASU Sync students attend live classes remotely via Zoom. Classes are designed to foster active collaboration and discussion in real time with faculty and peers. ASU Sync students must reside in Arizona throughout the duration of the program. If you have F-1 or J-1 immigration status, you should speak with an advisor about other options to complete this program. Students with F-1 or J-1 immigration status are not permitted to complete courses via Sync.
If you seek to use GI Bill® benefits for ASU Sync programs, contact the Pat Tillman Veterans Center regarding certain limitations.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
Why earn a mild/moderate special education undergraduate certificate at ASU?
The mild/moderate special education certificate prepares you to support K¿12 students with mild to moderate disabilities through equitable, inclusive learning environments, and emphasizes collaboration with families, schools, and communities to deliver effective special education services. Coursework is grounded in data-informed practices, educational theory, and federal, state, and local special education policies.
Additional details
At Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation, you get to enjoy being a member of a community within a community. You get to participate in all of the traditions and enjoy all of the resources available through Arizona State University, but you also get to connect with and benefit from the more intimate MLFC community with similar passions and professional interests as your own.
There are a variety of ways you can get involved at ASU, including community service, cultural and heritage events, fraternity and sorority life, intramural sports fitness, Sun Devil traditions, Changemaker Central and so much more! There is a place for every student at Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
Courses
This undergraduate certificate includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The certificate requires 19 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the certificate, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
This certificate requires 19 credit hours. |
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| Required Courses | ||
|
RDG 413 Elementary Methods for Literacy Instruction and Assessment
4 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 4 |
|
SPE 321 Classroom and SPE Assessment
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
SPE 323 Effective Practices and Behavior Interventions: Supports for Exceptional Students
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
SPE 411 Special Education History and Law
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
SPE 423 Evidence-Based Practices for Students with Exceptional Needs
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
TEL 331 Foundations of Literacy: The Science of Reading
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
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What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learners
- Create learning experiences that address the content disciplines to engage learners in accessible, relevant, and meaningful content to ensure critical thinking and mastery of the content.
- Create and maintain inclusive, equitable learning environments that support individual and collaborative learning experiences, utilize high leverage practices, and foster critical thinking, active engagement,and well-being for all learners
- Use multiple methods of assessment and sources of data to evaluate various aspects of learners
- Apply strategies for teaming to meet students’ needs
- Evaluate and recommend appropriate strategies to promote habits of mind
- Build and implement a professional growth plan using evidence and reflective practices
- Advocate for students, families, and communities with an understanding of the historical, social, local, or global context
- Self-reflect and assess personal contributions for shaping and supporting the mission of a school/organization's culture
- Apply expectations of the profession
- Analyze key ethical issues present in a prominent social or cultural problem in education, including the ways different ethical perspectives influence decision making related to the issue
- Analyze and acknowledge the local/cultural context, personal histories, and experiences relevant to problem(s) of practice
- Engage in cycles of inquiry in collaborative educational systems to imagine new concepts, catalyze ideas, and form new solutions, guided by principles and research that create positive change for learners
- Evaluate competing perspectives on a problem of practice within an educational context and present a reasoned analysis of the issue informed by major theories and evidence-based practices
- Implement an applied project, synthesize the findings and defend the significance and implications of the study as relevant to local, social and/or global contexts
Execute an instructional cycle using research-based pedagogical practices and theories appropriate for a range of learnersEnrollment requirements
This certificate program is open only to students majoring in early childhood education, elementary education, elementary multilingual education and secondary education undergraduate teacher preparation programs in MLFC.
Students are required to have a valid Arizona DPS Identity Verified Prints fingerprint clearance card.
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before the completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student but may not be eligible for an institutional recommendation for Arizona teaching licensure without additional preparation beyond the certificate.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this mild/moderate special education undergraduate certificate prepares you for
Graduates are highly sought-after teachers in public, charter and private education institutions. Graduates with degrees in special education may also pursue roles such as education resource specialist, interventionist or curriculum developer.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Division for Advancing Educator Preparation
|
ED 118
educationadvising@asu.edu
480-965-9995
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
