READING SPECIALIST

MASTER OF EDUCATION (leading to Initial Specialist Licensure)
READING SPECIALIST

This master's degree program is for candidates who possess initial licensure in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Moderate Disabilities and desire initial licensure as a Reading Specialist. For candidates who have taught for three years in the area of their initial license (Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, or Moderate Disabilities), and who have met the other requirements listed in licensure regulations, it will also lead to professional licensure in the area of the first license.

Prerequisites:

  1. Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university;

  2. Initial or Professional (Standard) Massachusetts classroom teaching certification;

  3. One year of employment or equivalent in the role covered by the certificate;

  4. An introductory course in Special Education;

  5. An introductory course in Computer Applications;

  6. An introductory course in Multicultural Education.

Required Courses:

Common Standards Coursework: 6 s.h.

  1. EDUC 0633 Social Cultural Theories: Foundation of Education

  2. EDUC 0635 Laboratory in Program Assessment & Design

Subject Area Coursework: 18 s.h.

EDUC 0601 School Oral and Written Literacy Practices
EDUC 0648 Diagnosis of Reading Abilities (30 hr field experience required)*
EDUC 0650 Issues and Problems in Reading: Advanced Seminar (Research project required)**
EDUC 0656 Remedial Reading Materials and Methods (15 hr field experience required)*
EDUC 0657 Applying Linguistics to the Teaching of Reading (30 hr field experience required)*
EDUC 0662 Innovative Practices in Teaching Reading
*Required prerequisite for EDUC 0645 or 0646
**EDUC 0645 or EDUC 0646 is a prerequisite or co-requisite or approval of program coordinator

Elective Course (choose one with advisor's approval from the list below) : 3 s.h.
EDUC 0504 Teaching Writing and the Expressive Arts, Pre K-6
EDUC 0505 Literature and Language Arts
EDUC 0518 Reading in the Content Area

Practica: 9 s.h.
EDUC 0645 Practicum (I): Clinical Experiences in Reading (Elementary) (250 hrs) (6 s.h.)***
                                                   Or
EDUC 0646 Practicum (I): Clinical Experiences in Reading (Secondary) (250 hrs) (6 s.h.)***
And
EDUC 0623 Practicum (II): Reading Teacher: Consultant, Supervisor, Administrator (75 hrs) (3 s.h.)

Requirements for Degree: Total: 36 s.h.

***Effective Fall 2003, a passing score on the subject area MTEL (Reading Specialist: Field 08) and the approval of the program coordinator are required for placement in EDUC 0645 or EDUC 0646.

Please see your advisor at least one semester before you plan to take EDUC 0645, 0646, or 0623. Deadlines for Practicum placement for the Fall, Spring and Summer (Session I only, unless self-placing in a summer remedial program) are as follows:

  • Previous April 1st for the Fall.

  • Previous November 1st for the Spring,

  • Previous March 1st for the Summer.

Students are required to successfully complete a written comprehensive examination to demonstrate mastery of knowledge gained in coursework and to relate concepts across the curriculum. The comprehensive exam may be taken after completing all required courses and a minimum of 27 s.h. of coursework within the Master's program.