Literacy, Technology, and Reading, Reading Specialist Concentration, M.Ed.

A graduate program leading to the Master of Education degree with specialization in reading is offered for fully certified elementary and secondary school teachers. After the successful completion of all program requirements, a teacher is certified as a K-12 Reading Specialist in the state of Pennsylvania.

Admission

Admission into the reading program is offered throughout the year. To become a candidate in the reading program, an application must be completed through the admissions office. The reading program admission packet includes the following: candidate application, three professional reference letters, and transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate coursework (a 3.0 QPA is required on previous coursework for admission). If the candidate is not presently employed in a school district, the following additional information is required at the time of the interview:

1. The Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records Check (Act 34)
2. The Federal Criminal History Record (Act 114)
3. The Child Abuse History Clearance (Act 151)

When an application is deemed complete by the admission office, the application packet will be forwarded to the reading program facilitator who assigns the candidate an advisor. The advisor will contact the candidate for an interview. During the interview, the advisor will determine if program background courses are met. Required for entrance into the program is successful completion of one Literacy course at the undergraduate or graduate level-Teaching of Reading or Teaching of Language Arts. If the candidate is lacking the background course, admission into the program will be delayed until the course requirement is met. If the requirement is met, the applicant is awarded foundational status.