Graduates of this program may attach K-12 Reading Specialist certification to their current teaching area. (Graduates must also pass the PRAXIS exam required for certification.) They will be prepared to assume reading specialist roles in elementary or secondary classrooms, Title I contexts, and in other school leadership opportunities.
Coursework culminates in a clinical seminar and practicum, in which students implement a supervised plan of intervention with area children who are facing reading difficulties. No additional student teaching is required.
A 24 credit hour, certification only program is also available for qualified individuals. This option is intended for professionals who already have a master's degree, teaching certification, and K-12 classroom experience and who want to pursue Reading Specialist credentials. Of course, these students may also choose to follow the full degree track.