Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
AT A GLANCE | DESCRIPTION | FACULTY | PROGRAM PLAN | WHAT TO EXPECT | FAQ
This program prepares educators and administrators for teaching and leadership roles in gifted education. Candidates strengthen skills in areas such as curriculum, instruction, program development, and assessment to meet the needs of academically talented students through research and best practices.

Contact Us
Faculty Lead
Keri Guilbault, EdD
kguilba1@jhu.edu
Sr. Academic Program Coordinator
Camilla Mika Simms
410-516-9760
camilla.mika.simms@jhu.edu
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
At A Glance*

Format
PART-TIME

Location
ONLINE

Credits
33

Start Term
SUMMER
FALL
SPRING

Completion Time
2-5 Years

Application Deadline
ROLLING
*The School of Education plans to continue its academic offerings in a remote, online format through spring 2021.
Application requirements and deadlines
Master of Science in Education: Gifted Education | ||
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Enrollment: | Part-Time | |
Pre-Requisites to Apply: | Applicants seeking the Maryland State Department of Education Gifted and Talented Education Specialist Certificate are required to hold state-approved teacher certification to be admitted to the program. In addition, applicants who are employed in the state of Maryland and are seeking the MSDE Gifted and Talented Specialist certification must also have completed at least 27 months of teaching experience and be currently employed in a school district or an accredited independent school. Master’s applicants who are not interested in Maryland state certification do not need to be teachers, certified or otherwise. | |
Start Terms: | Summer, Fall, Spring | |
Application Deadline: | Rolling | |
Application Requirements: | Online application form | |
$80.00 application fee | ||
Resume/CV | ||
Essay: A 500-word essay discussing the reasons you wish to pursue a degree at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on your long-term goals and how your academic program will complement those goals. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses in your academic background, as well as any additional comments that will assist in evaluating your application materials. Essays should be submitted in a typed format on a separate sheet of paper. | ||
Two letters of recommendation | ||
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended | ||
International Applicants | Please visit the International Student Admissions webpage for additional application requirements. Note: This program is delivered in a fully online format and does not offer F-1 or J-1 visa sponsorship for international students. |
Tuition and fees
Tuition and fees are subject to change for ensuing academic years, and will be updated on the School of Education website accordingly.
Master's Degree and Certificate Programs | |
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Part-Time & Full-Time Graduate (Face-to-face/Lecture courses) | $833 per credit |
Online Courses *In addition, a $15 per credit technology fee will be assessed. | $882 per credit* |
Full-Time Master of Science in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling (Fellows) | $882 per credit |
M.Ed. Education in the Health Professions & Post-Master's Certificate in Evidence-Based Teaching in the Health Professions programs **Classes in the Master of Education in the Health Professions (MEHP) or Post-Master's Certificate in Evidence-Based Teaching in the Health Professions programs are $1,292 per credit, with the exception of Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System employees, who pay $850 per credit (effective Fall 2020). The current rate of $700 per credit will remain in effect for the Summer 2020 term. | $1,292 per credit** |
MS in Education (International Teaching and Global Learning) | $48,000 per academic year |
MS in Education Policy 36 credits/includes Introduction to Statistics course $46,800 33 credits (w/o Introduction to Statistics course) $42,900 | $1,300 per credit/$3,900 per 3 credit course |
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Admissions Information
Related Programs

With a rigorous curriculum and passionate, knowledgeable instructors, the program challenges its students to think both critically and creatively. Furthermore, it requires them to develop authentic assignments that can be easily adapted to work within their current classrooms.
Kristen Fickes, MS ’19
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
Program Description
The Master of Science in Education with concentration in Gifted Education prepares educators and administrators for teaching and leadership roles in gifted education. This program provides graduate students with critical knowledge and skills in areas such as curriculum, instruction, program development, and assessment to meet the needs of academically talented students. Faculty members are affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, the world leader in gifted education since 1979. CTY is a nonprofit dedicated to identifying and developing the talents of academically advanced pre-college students around the world.
Graduates understand the diverse factors that inform the identification and support of K–12 gifted students and help create safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments that support the social, emotional, and cognitive learning needs of these talented students.
Graduates become more effective leaders and more reflective professionals able to support and advocate for gifted students through collaboration with families and colleagues, sharing of community resources, and ongoing professional development.
The program adheres to standards set by the National Association for Gifted Children and the Council for Exceptional Children and Completion and can lead to Gifted and Talented Education Specialist Certification in Maryland, as well as similar certification endorsements in other states.
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
CORE FACULTY
Keri Guilbault
Jonathan Plucker
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
PROGRAM PLAN
Coursework
Required Courses (27 credits hours)
885.501 The Gifted Learner
885.512 Twice Exceptional Learners
885.604 Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted
885.505 Creativity in Education
885.510 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Advanced Learners
885.515 Leadership of Gifted Education and Talent Development Programs
885.519 Seminar I in Gifted Education and Talent Development
885.520 Seminar II in Gifted Education and Talent Development
885.820 Practicum in Gifted Education and Talent Development*
*Note: All candidates employed in Maryland who are seeking Gifted and Talented Education Specialist certification from MSDE will undertake a semester-long practicum experience as the culminating course of their program. Candidates who are employed in other states outside of Maryland or who do not hold a teaching certificate will take an online 3-credit Research in Gifted Education and Talent Development course in place of the practicum course.
Elective Courses (6 credits)
In addition to the core coursework requirements, all students will select 6 credit hours of electives in consultation with their adviser.
Year plan
Fall Semester Year 1
885.501 The Gifted Learner
885.604 Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted
Spring Semester Year 1
885.512 Twice Exceptional Learners
885.510 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for Advanced Learners
Summer Semester Year 1
Elective 1
885.505 Creativity in Education
Fall Semester Year 2
885.519 Seminar I in Gifted Education and Talent Development
885.515 Leadership of Gifted Education and Talent Development Programs
Spring Semester Year 2
885.520 Seminar II in Gifted Education and Talent Development
*885.820 Practicum in Gifted Education and Talent Development
Elective or 885.720 Research in Gifted Education and Talent Development
Fall Semester Year 3
Elective 2
Course Information
Course descriptions, locations, and availability
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
WHAT TO EXPECT
Student Outcomes
The goals of the program are to prepare educators for leadership roles in the field of gifted education. Students acquire competencies in:
- Understanding diverse factors that inform identification and support of K–12 gifted students.
- Creating safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environments that support the social, emotional, and cognitive learning needs of diverse groups of gifted K–12 students.
- Using assessments to identify gifted and talented students, assess progress and modify interventions accordingly, as well as provide summative data on their accomplishments.
- Becoming reflective, ethical professionals who support and advocate for gifted K–12 students through collaboration with families and colleagues, use of community resources, and ongoing professional development.
- Serving as effective leaders in the development and implementation of gifted education and talent development programs.
- Leading efforts to address and eliminate excellence gaps in K–12 settings.
Certification
The program is recognized by the Maryland State Department of Education as meeting the requirements for Gifted and Talented Specialist certification in Maryland. Courses are offered online and in-person.
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to be a certified teacher/current teacher to enroll and participate in the program?
If you want to receive Maryland state certification, you need to be a current teacher or a teacher with 27 months of teaching experience when you complete the program. For this reason, we generally require applicants to the certificate program to be current teachers, but master’s applicants who are not interested in Maryland state certification do not need to be teachers, certified or otherwise.
Can I take it entirely online?
Yes, the master’s program is offered in a fully-online format only.
I’m working full time and can’t do an internship. How does practicum work?
Many of the students in the program teach full-time, and they do the practicum work in their own classroom. Students who are not pursuing state certification will take Research in Gifted Education and Talent Development.
Who teaches the courses?
Prof. Guilbault and Prof. Plucker teach the majority of the courses, but we also utilize highly experience adjuncts with terminal degrees, considerable expertise, and national reputations to teach some of the courses.
Master of Science in Education – Gifted Education
State Authorization Disclosure Regarding Educational Prerequisites
Federal regulations require Johns Hopkins to disclose to students considering enrollment or enrolled in this program whether or not it meets educational prerequisites for licensure or certification by state.
Educational prerequisites for professional licensure or certification
Program meets licensure requirements in the following States: Maryland. Maryland has a licensure agreement that provides for reciprocity with Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont. The licensure agreement provides for reciprocity with conditions in the following states: Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Nevada, North Carolina, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Virginia, Alabama, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington.
*Student must have 27 months teaching
AT A GLANCE | DESCRIPTION | FACULTY | PROGRAM PLAN | WHAT TO EXPECT | FAQ