Purpose - The VCU COVE Program is a combined effort of the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy at VCU, the Virginia Department of Education, and school divisions in Superintendent’s Regions 1, 3, 7 & 8. The focus is regional but the program is available to persons statewide. Program participants will receive coursework and other activities leading to endorsements in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, or mental retardation. All courses will be predominantly Web-based and taught by an instructor who is a member of the Department of Special Education and Disability Policy at VCU.

Program of Study - The VCU COVE program is a 23-credit hour sequence consisting of seven 3-credit hour graduate courses and two 1-credit hour on-the-job seminar. The COVE program is designed to be completed in four consecutive semesters of instruction, followed by two semesters during which the student is actively teaching and participating in a 1-credit hour seminar.

Click Here for the Required Course Listing

Targeted Participants – You must be currently teaching under a conditional license with endorsements in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, or mental retardation in Superintendent’s Regions 1, 3, 7 or 8. You must not be currently enrolled in the VCU Master of Education or Teaching Program. To meet admissions criteria, you are required to take at least five of the seven (3 credit) courses being offered through this program at VCU. If you are not transferring courses from another institution, you are required to take all seven courses. You must attend a locally held, face-to-face, orientation meeting. You must purchase your textbooks.

Program Costs – Tuition for program courses is $200 per 3-credit hour course and can be paid directly by the student, or by a school division on behalf of a student or group of students. If a student needs to take all seven content courses, the program can be completed for a total cost of $1,400.   The Virginia Department of Education heavily subsidizes the COVE program, which is why VCU can offer the courses at a reduced rate.  However, the state subsidy can only be used once.  If you withdraw from, or fail a course, you may not re-take it through the COVE program.

Additional Information - The VCU COVE program leads to full professional collegiate licensure for individuals completing the entire sequence of courses.  Courses taken outside of the COVE program must be verified by the COVE office before the “College Verification Form” is submitted to the Human Resource Director of your school district.  Your HR Department will assist you in obtaining your license and endorsement in emotional disturbance, learning disabilities, or mental retardation.

You will only be able to take courses in one specialization track: emotional disturbance, learning disabilities or mental retardation.

If interested in the COVE Program, please complete the online application below. Your application will be sent to the admissions committee. If you are accepted, you will be notified by mail, then you must register for the program. The application does not guarantee registration in the program.

Click here to Apply Online
DEADLINE FOR NEW APPLICANTS IS September 1, 2006!!

Carole Boyle
School of Education - Virginia Commonwealth University
caboyle@vcu.edu
Please add this email address to your SAFE List so email from Ms. Boyle will not be blocked.