Master of Education Reading Specialist and Reading Specialist Certification

California University of Pennsylvania School of Graduate Studies and Research

MASTER OF EDUCATION READING SPECIALIST and READING SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION

CAL U Graduate Studies

The Master of Education: Reading Specialist allows practicing professionals to earn a master’s degree and add a reading specialist endorsement to their Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate. The Reading Specialist Certification program is for educators seeking reading specialist certification only.

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he U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that those who specialize in the development of reading curricula will see a projected employment increase of 22% through 2016. This jump in the number of reading specialists jobs reflects the need to meet new high standards in education.

Reading specialist candidates will learn and apply theory and research in literacy development and acquisition in preparation to fulfill the various roles of a reading specialist, which include teacher of struggling readers, mentor and coach to classroom teachers, and literacy leader in the community.

The reading specialist program is for certified teachers and offers two options: MASTER’S DEGREE: The 36-credit program is for students who wish to earn a Master of Education degree and reading specialist endorsement of their Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate. In this option, students are required to complete 36 credits of graduate coursework. To have the reading specialist certification added to a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate, candidates must pass the Reading Specialist Portfolio Interview during their last semester and pass the PRAXIS II Reading Specialist Test.

CERTIFICATION ONLY: This 27- to 33-credit program is for students who are seeking reading specialist certification only. The number required is dependent on the student’s background in special education. Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all reading specialists to have 9 credits of special education and 3 credits of English as a Second Language. If a student entering the Reading Specialist Program does not have those courses in his/her undergraduate transcript, those credits must be earned in the reading specialist program.

Graduate Programs with a Higher Degree of Character

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raduate programs at California University help people adapt to changes in their professional lives and position themselves for new professional and leadership opportunities. Our master’s degrees and professional certificate programs are academically rigorous, and they build upon the rich work experiences that students bring to their studies.

Delivery Mode

Hybrid (Most coursework is online with a few face2face classes).

Accreditation

• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education • Pennsylvania Department of Education

> MASTER OF EDUCATION, READING SPECIALIST (36 CREDITS) > CERTIFICATION PREPARATION (27-33 CREDITS) Core Reading Courses (21 credits required) RSP 700 Foundations of Literacy: Theory and Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RSP 702 Literacy Assessment and Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RSP 703 Action Research I: Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RSP 704 Action Research II: Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RSP 705 Psychology of Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RSP 706 Literacy Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

RSP 734 Content Area Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 3 3 3 3 3 3

English Language Learner Courses (3 credits required if not already completed) EDU 650 Supporting the English Language Learner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 EDE 704 Introduction to English as a Second Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 EDE 709 Develop Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Educational Research Courses (3 credits required) RES 800 Methods of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 800 Seminar in Advanced Behavior Analysis and Research Design . . . . . . . . 3 Related Electives (8-9 credits required) ECE 703 Literacy Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 EDE 701 Development and Organization of School Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . `3 ELE 701 Teaching and Assessing Language Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ELE 702 Teaching and Assessing Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 EDE 713 Language Acquisition and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 610 Foundations and Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 611 Assessment and Positive Behavioral Interventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 701 Introduction to Behavior Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 612 Evidence-Based Practices for Elementary Inclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 613 Evidence-Based Practices for Secondary Inclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 619 Evidence-Based Practices for K-12 Inclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PSY 712 Advanced Psychology of Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 PSY 720 Neuropsychology of Learning Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 RES 829 Research Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Regardless of the degree program that you choose to pursue—either on campus or through Cal U Global Online —the University’s mission of “Building Character, Building Careers” is a driving force in the curriculum.

We look forward to receiving your application!

For complete course descriptions of all master’s degree and professional certificate curriculums offered in a variety of academic disciplines at Cal U, visit www.calu.edu.

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION Catherine Hayden 724-938-5892 hayden@calu.edu

ADMISSION CRITERIA

GRADUATE FACULTY

• Official Transcripts • Minimum 3.0 QPA in Baccalaureate degree • Copy of teaching certificate before completion of first semester (students who fail to meet this requirement will not be approved for RSP candidacy) • Current Act 24, 34, 151, and 114 clearances.

• Graduate School Application $25.00 nonrefundable application fee

Faculty teaching graduate courses in the Reading Specialist program include:

APPLICATION Applications are available online at our website, www.calu.edu. If you do not have computer access to apply online, please request application materials by contacting:

Dr. Holly Diehl, 724-938-4027 diehl@calu.edu Dr. Diane Nettles, 724-938-4497 nettles@calu.edu Dr. Christine Peterson, 724-938-4028 peterson@calu.edu

California University School of Graduate Studies and Research 250 University Avenue California, PA 15419-9902 Phone: 724-938-4187

California University of Pennsylvania 250 University Avenue California, Pennsylvania 15419