Assistive Technology Graduate Certificate

Program Description

Assistive technology (AT) refers to any device that provides greater independence for those with disabilities, including assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices. This certificate program helps develop professionals who can effectively implement, assess, and research applications of assistive technology. The program provides supplemental knowledge for general and special educators, related service personnel, adult service providers, and families and caregivers who need to apply assistive technology solutions within their specific school, work, home, or community setting.

What it costs

The cost for this program is $693.25 per credit hour for VA state residents, $893.25 per credit hour for Non-VA residents. There is a 15% PreK-12 VA Educators Discount available for VA state residents who are eligible and apply. See the Cost tab below for a breakdown of tuition and fees. All of Mason’s tuition rates and fees can be found on our Student Accounts site.

Application Deadline

This program has a priority application deadline of April 1 for fall and November 1 for spring. Applications submitted after the deadline will still be considered upon space availability. For all application information and deadlines, see the CEHD Admissions site.

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Who should apply?

General and special educators
Occupation therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, and other related service personnel
Adult service providers
Corporate, government, and military personnel with interests in accessibility
Family and caregivers who work with various individuals with disabilities
Rehabilitation and medical personnel
Anyone interested in gaining advanced knowledge and skills in assistive technology assessment, collaboration, and research to become a high level AT professional

Why choose George Mason?

The online format removes barriers of time and location, and project-based courses allow you to gain experience working in the community with real clients.
Mason boasts the second oldest Assistive Technology program in the nation, producing more PhDs than any other similar program in the country.
A virtual lab will provide you with all the software programs you need, for free. Hardware necessary for courses will be sent to you by your professors, or obtained from an organization in your community.
Courses in the program may count towards recertification credits for K-12 teachers.
You will learn from diverse faculty, including practitioners, PhDs, and those who utilize assistive technologies. As recognized experts in the field, your professors are regularly awarded Federal and State grants for research and present at professional conferences including CEC, ISAAC, RESNA, Closing the Gap, and ATIA.

Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements. Most courses in the program will be delivered asynchronously and offerings vary by semester.

Requirements: 15 credits total

6 credits required courses
9 credits electives

Required Courses

EDAT 510 Introduction to Assistive Technology | 3 credits
EDAT 610 Designing Adapted Environments | 3 credits

Electives (Choose 3)

EDAT 521 Augmentative Communication | 3 credits
EDAT 522 Assistive Technology for Individuals with Sensory Impairments | 3 credits
EDAT 523 Accessibility and Input Modifications | 3 credits
EDAT 524 Universal Design for Learning | 3 credits
EDAT 526 Software and Mobile Applications for Individuals with Disabilities | 3 credits
EDAT 527 Assistive Technology for Independent Living and Employment | 3 credits

Tuition (2021-2022)

TUITION CLASSIFICATION	COST PER CREDIT HOUR
Virginia Resident	$543.00
Non-Virginia Resident	$743.00
Mandatory Student fee	$150.25
Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit	$693.25
Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit	$893.25
Graduate New Student Fee	$60 (non-refundable, one-time fee)

Please Note: In addition to the tuition and fees described, various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled. Please refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher CEHD course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.

*VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-12 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Discount applies to tuition and mandatory student fees only.

Financial Aid

For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.

Career Options

Students who completed the Assistive Technology graduate certificate at Mason have been offered positions as AT team members and AT trainers within government agencies, school systems (that have required professional certification/endorsement), private consulting practice, and/or community service/outreach organizations. In addition, some program graduates have gone on to become sales representatives for AT vendors throughout the nation.

Please note the Virginia Department of Education does not award teacher licensure in the area of assistive technology or professional certification related to assistive technology. However, students employed in a school system who complete the 15-hour certificate program may qualify for a pay band increase, based on specific school system requirements.

Further Studies

Students pursuing this certificate may take additional 15 credits online at Mason to complete a Curriculum and Instruction, MEd (Assistive Technology Emphasis).

USEFUL RESOURCES
Program Contact	Marci Jerome Phone: (703) 993-8295 Email: atprog@gmu.edu
Student Advisor	Kelly Severo Students with last names A-M Phone: (703) 993-4361 Email: ksevero@gmu.edu Jancy Templeton Students with last names N-Z Phone: (703) 993-2387 Email: jtemple1@gmu.edu
Department Website	https://education.gmu.edu/assistive-technology/certificate
CEHD Online Website	https://cehd.gmu.edu/academics/online
Follow CEHD on Twitter	@MasonCEHD

All applicants should review the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) Admissions page. For international applicants, see guidelines for International Graduate Requirements.

Prerequisites

Hold a bachelor’s degree from a US institution that is accredited by one of the organizations found here
Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study

Application Materials

Graduate application
Application fee
In-state tuition form (if applicable)
Resume
Sealed official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended (applicants do not need to send in transcripts for courses taken at George Mason University). Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded to the application.
Two letters of recommendation
Goals statement that is 750-1,000 words in length

If you have any questions during the application process, please contact the CEHD Admissions Office cehdgrad@gmu.edu or 703-993-2010.