Educational Diagnosis Certificate (EDAG)

Acceptance into the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis (EDAG)

Acceptance into the GCERT-EDAG formally happens two times in the year: spring and fall. However, enrollment also happens on a rolling basis.

Graduate Programs Coordinator
specialeducation@unm.edu
505-277-5018

Application Process

Application can be found at www.unm.edu/apply, or the Special Education program web site. It is best to apply from a laptop or computer, mobile device not recommended. The following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application::

• Complete Graduate Application online
• A non-refundable application fee (pay with credit card online as part of Graduate Application)
• One official transcript from each college you have attended. Official transcripts must be sent to Office of Admissions. (Exception: UNM transcripts)
• One unofficial transcript from each college you have attended (Exception: UNM transcripts)
• Letter of Intent
• Writing Sample
• SPCD EDAG Program Application form. Please upload completed form in your online application. May be added to the addendum section after you have submitted your online application.
• • Three Letters of Recommendation (Recommend at least one letter from a college instructor, one from a supervisor, and one from another professional colleague)

For further information please refer to current UNM Catalog.

Option I - Coursework: GCERT in Educational Diagnosis (EDAG)

• SPCD 561L: Educational Diagnosis: Diagnostic Assessment of Young Children (3)
• SPCD 563L: Educational Diagnosis: Multidisciplinary Collaboration for Diagnostic Assessment (3)
• SPCD 564L Educational Diagnosis: Introduction to Assessment for Eligibility for Special Education Supports (3)
• Complete at least one of the following:
  
  • SPCD 559: Teaching Bilingual-Multicultural Special Education (3);
  • SPCD 560/559: Introduction to Bilingual-Multicultural Special Education (3)
• SPCD 566L: Educational Diagnosis: Differential Diagnosis I (3)* Reading requirement must be met**
• SPCD 567L: Educational Diagnosis: Differential Diagnosis II (3)*
• SPCD 568L: Educational Diagnosis: Diagnosic Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students (3)*
• Complete at least 6 credit hours from the following:
  
  • SPCD 569L: Educational Diagnosis: Clinical Internship (1-6)
• Complete at least 3 credit hours from the following:
  
  • SPCD 596L Educational Diagnosis: Advanced Application of Skills (1)

Courses marked with * have an Advanced Application of Skills (SPCD 596L) associated with them and are offered. These 1 credit hour classes are typically held on Saturdays and will be announced prior to the start of these classes.

Successful completion of this program includes the completion of a 300-hour internship.

** Details can be obtained from EDAG coordinator-Margo Collier

Professional Partners

Collaboration with School Districts/Intern Sites

1. Los Lunas School District
2. Rio Rancho Public Schools
3. Albuquerque Public Schools
4. Santa Fe School District
5. Private Agencies
6. Charter Schools
7. Neurological Clinics

Collaboration with UNM and University Partners

1. UNM Project ECHO® (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes)
2. UNM Department of Pediatrics
3. MIND Research Network
4. UNM Neurodevelopmental Services Division, Center for Development and Disability
5. UNM Department of Language, Literacy, & Sociocultural Studies
6. UNM Department of Individual, Family, and Community Education
7. UNM Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences
8. UNM Department of Psychology

University of New Mexico Special Education Program Educational Diagnostician Certificate FAQ

1. When am I eligible to apply to the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis?

   Although we encourage applications to be submitted by Spring and Fall admissions deadlines, we also offer the option of rolling admission.

2. What are the additional faculty recommended foundational courses in Special Education?

   Foundational Requirements include the following three UNM graduate Special Education courses: 1) SPCD 510 Special Education Law; 2) SPCD 517 Assessment of Diverse Students with Learning and Behavior Exceptionalities OR SPCD 527 Assessment for Diverse Exceptional Learners: Intellectual Disability or Severe Disability and 3) SPCD 518 Classroom Organization and Positive Behavioral Supports OR SPCD 519 Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis. However, if equivalent coursework was completed at other institutions, these courses can be petitioned for review and may be deemed transferable.

3. May I take Educational Diagnosis courses even before I am accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis (EDAG) program?

   Yes, you can take some of the core educational diagnosis courses before you are accepted into the EDAG Program.

4. What if I don’t have a master’s currently and want to become a licensed Educational Diagnostician, in what area of study should I consider enrolling?

   Diagnosticians need to have a strong background in special education. It would probably make the most sense to apply to the graduate level program in Special Education at UNM. The Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis (EDAG) program is integrated with the UNM graduate level program in Special Education, with some of the courses overlapping, and the possibility for some of your Educational Diagnosis courses to "count" as electives in your MA program (depending on decisions that you would make with your MA advisor).

5. Can I complete the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosiswhile completing an MA or PhD in Special Education?

   Yes, you can take EDAG courses while concurrently taking other special Education programs.

6. How many hours are required to complete the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis(EDAG)?

   The Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis(EDAG) is a 30-hour program. This includes 7 classes, (with 3 associated labs), and a 300-hour clinical internship.

   • Complete one: SPCD 559 Teaching Bilingual-Multicultural Special Education OR SPCD 560 Introduction to Bilingual-Multicultural Special Education

   • SPCD 564L Educational Diagnosis: Introduction to Assessment for Eligibility for Special Education Supports

   • SPCD 561L Educational Diagnosis: Diagnostic Assessment of Young Children

   • SPCD 563L Educational Diagnosis: Multidisciplinary Collaboration for Diagnostic Assessment

   • SPCD 568L Educational Diagnosis: Diagnosic Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

   • SPCD 566L Educational Diagnosis: Differential Diagnosis I

   • SPCD 567L Educational Diagnosis: Differential Diagnosis II

   • SPCD 596L Educational Diagnosis: Advanced Application of Skills Lab courses associated with SPCD courses: 566L, 564L, and 567L)

   • SPCD 569L Educational Diagnosis: Clinical Internship

7. When are courses offered?

   All of the core courses within the EDAG Program are offered at least once each academic year.

8. Does it matter when I take the courses?

   Not entirely, some advanced core courses need to be scheduled toward the end of your plan of program. Flexibility has been designed to allow students to either take the program at a pace and time frames that work best with their academic goals.

9. Can I take any classes on-line?

   None of the core courses are currently available on-line at this time.

10. When are the core courses offered?

    With the exception of the summer semester, all core courses are offered in the late afternoon or evening, with classes scheduled to start at 4:15pm/4:30pm or 7:00pm. Such a schedule allows you to continue to work full time while completing the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis(EDAG).

11. Do you have a website for the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis(EDAG)?

    Yes. You can find information about the Graduate Certificate in Educational Diagnosis on the College of Education and Human Sciences website and can be accessed directly here. 

12. Where do I find information about the New Mexico Public Education Department?

    NM PED’s requirements for a license as an Educational Diagnostician can be found on their website: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/

13. Whom do I contact for more information?

    Margo Collier, PhD, Associate Professor, Educational Diagnostician Preparation Program Special Education Program, Department of Special Education.

    Email: collierm@unm.edu

    Cell: (801) 718-5188

    Fax: (505) 277-6929