As inclusive education continues to expand, schools are increasingly responsible for meeting the diverse needs of all students, including those with more intense exceptionalities, multiple impairments, and significant behavioral challenges. These students require individualized instruction, specialized strategies, and ongoing support to reach their fullest potential—needs that far exceed the scope of general special education practices.
This certificate program prepares educators to fill that gap. It will prepare teachers to specialize and become licensed in educating learners with intense exceptionalities. Participants will explore foundational theories and practices related to serving learners with intense disabilities including assessment, curriculum modification, communication and collaboration with colleagues and families, and the important role of language and literacy development. This certificate program will provide the necessary coursework for licensed teachers to add Exceptional Needs: Intense Intervention to a state teaching license. In the state of Indiana, this program also meets coursework requirements to additionally add the Early Literacy Endorsement to an Indiana state teaching license*.
Why Study Exceptional Needs - Intense Intervention at Huntington University?
- Program is completely online with no residential requirements
- Convenience and flexibility of online format with multiple live class options in each course
- High level of interactivity with classmates and professors
- Seven-week courses, taken one at a time
- Certificate can be completed in eight months
- Certificate coursework leads to dual licensure in Early Literacy and Exceptional Needs – Intense Intervention
- All courses follow a similar format and structure so they are easy to follow
- All assignments are discussions, papers, or projects. There are no tests or quizzes.
- The 15-credit hour Exceptional Needs – Intense Intervention Certificate leads seamlessly into the Master of Education in Exceptional Needs – Intense Intervention program
Huntington University also has an on-campus Exceptional Needs – Mild Intervention licensing program as a part of our traditional undergraduate Teacher Education program https://www.huntington.edu/academics/undergraduate
*Pending IDOE approval July 2025
