About Arcadia’s Graduate Certificate in Transition to Post-Secondary Life
The Graduate Certificate in Transition to Post-Secondary Life is a 12 credit program which provides students with advanced training in the post-secondary transition process. In this program, students will enhance their understanding of transition-related regulations, policies, and procedures, and will explore best practices in assessment, instruction and curriculum, and interagency collaboration that are essential to provide appropriate transition services under IDEA 2004. The transition certificate program meets the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Special Education candidate competencies in Secondary Transition. The 12 credits earned in this certificate program may be applied to a Master of Education with departmental approval and advising.
What is Transition to Post-Secondary Life?
Transition to Post-Secondary Life is the process of preparing youth with disabilities for adult life. Meaningful transition planning and programming are key elements in preparing students with disabilities for post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. The transition plan is a central component in the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for high school students and in Pennsylvania, transition planning must begin by age fourteen.
Who is this Certificate for?
The Transition to Post-Secondary Life Certificate is designed to increase the transition-related knowledge and skills of the various individuals involved in the transition process. These individuals include transition coordinators, special educators, special education administrators, service providers (counselors and occupational therapists), vocational rehabilitation counselors, community based educators, parents, advocates, or any individual with a background in education or adult services who is interested in expanding his/her knowledge in the area of transition-focused special education.
Transition coordinators and secondary educators work with students to provide an education that prepares students for life after high school. Knowledge and skills in the field of transition are essential for all secondary special educators as transition-related postsecondary goals drive instruction and services across the curriculum for high school students.
Why Study at Arcadia?
All of Arcadia’s instructors have extensive experience working in the field of transition as transition coordinators or in other roles as part of the transition process. Arcadia’s program is designed to develop professional expertise in Transition to Post-Secondary Life and the skills necessary to design and implement high quality transition programming that will result in meaningful outcomes for youth with disabilities.
Are Courses Taught Online?
The four courses in the Graduate Certificate in Transition to Post-Secondary Life are fully online. Students must also attend one day Summer Seminar/ Orientation in person at the beginning of the program.
Why Study Transition to Post-Secondary Life?
The Transition to Post-Secondary Life Certificate program at Arcadia will meet the growing need of secondary special educators and transition coordinators interested in expanding their knowledge in the field of transition. The coursework will provide these individuals with the skills to create and implement transition plans, instruction and services to better serve their students.
In order to ensure proper implementation of federal IDEA requirements, State Education Agencies are monitoring the 20 Indicators of the State Performance Plan (SPP), including several indicators relating to secondary transition. Indicator 13 measures “percent of youth aged 16 and above with an individual education program (IEP) that includes coordinated, measurable annual IEP goals and transition services that will reasonably enable the student to meet the post-secondary goals,” and Indicator 14 measures the “percent of youth who had IEPs, are no longer in secondary school and who have been competitively employed, enrolled in some type of post-secondary school, or both, within one year of leaving high school.” This certificate includes extensive training in the Indicator 13 monitoring process so that students who complete the program have the skills and knowledge to provide appropriate services and instruction to ensure successful post-secondary outcomes for all youth.
