Truman鈥檚 M.A. in Gifted Education equips working educators to identify giftedness more accurately, support students鈥� social and emotional needs, and build programming that actually fits your school鈥檚 reality.
Built for working teachers, this program is 100% online, asynchronous, and designed to translate directly into your classroom and district work. This program helps you respond with the right tools鈥攕o students are challenged appropriately, supported emotionally, and served equitably.
By the end of the program, you鈥檒l be prepared to:
Online coursework means you learn on your own schedule and at your own pace. Chart an accelerated course of study to complete your Master鈥檚 or take a single class and implement new skills and information into your classroom as you go.
Browse the entire Gifted Education curriculum below, then chart your customized study path. If you choose to complete the full Master鈥檚 program, you鈥檒l take all of the core coursework, plus electives and an internship.
Beth Knoot 听 A graduate of Truman鈥檚 M.A.E. program, Beth Knoot has an M.A.E. in Elementary Education and a B.S. in Psychology from 蓝莓视频. She also has an M.A. in Gifted Education, a Graduate Certificate in Global Awareness and Civic Literacy Education, and a Graduate Certificate in STEM Education from Maryville University in St. Louis. Beth is a National Board Certified Teacher and a National Geographic Certified Teacher and has an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Science Education from Washington University in St. Louis as well. She is currently a gifted education teacher at Reed Elementary in the Ladue School District in the St. Louis area where she leads FIRST LEGO League and other STEM projects and teaches kids about cool things such as the rainforest and archaeology.
Dr. Robin Lady Crosby 听 Dr. Robin Lady Crosby, NBCT, is a 26+ year educator. She developed and taught two rural K-12 gifted programs in southeast Missouri where she grew up. In 2007, she moved to St. Louis, earned a doctorate at SLU, became a National Board Certified Teacher and Mentor, and started teaching in the Rockwood School District鈥檚 Gifted Program, where she has taught middle and high school. She served on the Board of Directors for the Gifted Association of Missouri from 2002-2019, including President and Legislative/Public Issues. From 2011-2018, she served on the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Advisory Council for Gifted and Talented, which advises on policy and reports to the State Board of Education. She has taught graduate classes, authored curriculum, white papers, legislation, advocacy platforms and agendas. She has led events at NAGC鈥檚 National Affiliates Conference in Washington, D.C., and serves as a speaker and consultant. In 2022, she returned to her home area in southeast Missouri and is now an administrator in the Sikeston School District. Dr. Crosby teaches ED604G Professional Learning and ED550G Intro to Gifted for Truman's Master of Arts in Gifted Education program.
Dr. Christi Sanderson 听 Dr. Christi Sanderson, EdD, NBCT, serves as the Director of mySci Partnership and Operations at Washington University's Institute for School Partnership. She brings extensive experience as a classroom teacher, district administrator and leader in differentiated learning, gifted education and curriculum development. Christi has been an assistant principal at the Rockwood School District鈥檚 Center for Creative Learning, a gifted educator for over 15 years for both the Rockwood School District and School District of University City, and a 6th grade teacher for five years in the Northwest School District. Christi holds an M.A. in Educational Administration and Doctorate of Education in Teacher Leadership from Maryville University, an M.A. in Gifted Education from Drury University, an M.A. in Teaching from Webster University and B.A. in Science Education from SEMO. She has taught adjunct courses in assessment, gifted education, and curriculum for over five years. Christi has also written and published over fifty curriculum resources for Teacher Created Materials, Shell Publishing, and Pieces of Learning.
Sarah Young 听 Sarah Young earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Gifted Education from Lindenwood University. She earned her Ed. S. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Gifted Education from Arkansas State University. She worked for nine years in public school as a Gifted Educator before starting her own business as a Gifted Education consultant. She is the creator of The Gifted Guide website, and she now helps schools across the U.S. to implement and improve their gifted programming through professional development, curriculum writing, and working virtually with educators and students.
Dr. Holly Kincaid 听 Dr. Holly Kincaid, Ed.D, is an Assistant Professor of Education at 蓝莓视频. She holds an M.A. in Educational Psychology from the University of Connecticut with concentrations in Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development. Holly earned her doctorate in Cognitive Diversity in Education from Bridges Graduate School in Studio City, California, specializing in neurodiversity, leadership, and twice-exceptionalities. Prior to earning her doctoral degree, Holly worked as an elementary principal in Montana. She has been active in education for over two decades. Her experience includes roles as a gifted teacher, gifted program coordinator, and high school AP Calculus and English teacher in Montana and Alaska. Creating equitable programming for all gifted and twice-exceptional learners is a strong focus in her work. She is committed to advancing the fields of gifted education and neurodiversity through research and knowledge sharing both at national and international conferences. Her publications have been featured in the 2e News, Parenting for High Potential, and Teaching for High Potential.
Applications Preferred by May 23
Applications Preferred by August 15
Applications Preferred by December 1
Admission is made on a rolling basis and treated on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Total estimated tuition based on 2026-27 academic year. Tuition subject to change.
Degree-seeking students enrolled in at least six credit hours per semester are eligible for federal financial aid programs. For more information, see Financial Aid Resources for Graduate Studies or contact the Financial Aid Office at (660) 785-4130 or finaid@truman.edu.
Get an inside look at the online learning environment, meet your professors, and get all your questions answered during a virtual visit