OUR PROGRAMS
Salem State University offers several pathways for students to become skilled literacy practitioners, tutors, coaches, and leaders, ready to excel in PreK-12 public schools, community-based environments, and post-secondary settings.
Each pathway offers advanced knowledge and strategies for teaching literacy, enhances effectiveness in both classroom and community-based settings, and supports diverse learning needs.
READING EDUCATOR PATHWAYS
Each pathway offers specialization in literacy, allowing participants to focus on reading intervention, curriculum implementation, and assessment strategies to support diverse learning needs.
LICENSE ONLY: READING SPECIALIST
Designed for licensed teachers who have a master’s degree and want to add a specialist teacher of reading license. This licensure program offers specialization in literacy, allowing educators to focus on reading intervention, curriculum development, and assessment strategies. The coursework allows teachers to advance to a Professional license. There are 12-33 required credits, depending on previous coursework and related experience. A 150-hour practicum under the supervision of a licensed reading professional in a public school setting is required.
MASTER OF EDUCATION:
READING + READING SPECIALIST LICENSE
Designed for licensed teachers who are interested in obtaining a master’s degree and a specialist teacher of reading license. This option allows teachers to advance to a Professional license. The credits range from 30 to 33, depending on previous coursework and related experience. A 150-hour practicum under the supervision of a licensed reading professional is required to be endorsed for the reading specialist license.
MASTER OF EDUCATION: READING + READING SPECIALIST LICENSE + SPECIAL EDUCATION LICENSE
Designed for those interested in a master’s degree. This option includes a specialist teacher of reading license and a special education add-on license (PreK-2, PreK-8, or 5-12). This program is ideal for teachers interested in supporting students with diverse learning needs in general or special education settings. This option allows teachers to advance to a Professional license.
The required credits range from 30-51 credits, depending on previous coursework and experience. Participants have advising support from both the reading and special education program coordinators and are endorsed for the reading specialist and special education licenses upon completion.
MASTER OF EDUCATION: READING
Designed for those interested in a master’s in reading without the specialist teacher of reading license, this program offers specialization in literacy but more flexibility than the reading specialist option. Students select two electives of personal or professional interest in lieu of the practicum and seminar required in the Specialist options. The required credits range from 30-33, depending on previous coursework and related experience.
CURRICULUM
The coursework provides opportunities for participants to gain deep knowledge of literacy development PreK-12 as well as the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to implement evidence-based, inclusive, culturally-responsive practices using high-quality instructional materials and assessments. Participants will learn to navigate the tensions in the field to ensure effective instruction for all students. Professional development design, collaboration, and coaching are also emphasized to prepare participants to become literacy leaders at the local and state levels.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Experienced, knowledgeable and accessible faculty with extensive reading teaching expertise.
• Fully online program with synchronous evening classes.
• Ongoing advising to provide support when needed.
• Master’s programs are eligible for the Federal TEACH Grant funding.
• Flexible enrollment and pacing to meet participants’ personal and professional needs.
• Small class sizes and cohort-based learning to support collaborative relationships.
• Opportunities to apply for graduate assistantships, scholarships and grants.
IMPORTANT LICENSING INFORMATION
To be eligible for a license as a specialist teacher of reading, a Massachusetts Initial or Professional license, at least one year of teaching experience on that license, and the Reading Specialist MTEL are required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Teacher candidates may apply for Salem State’s Reading Specialist program or their license before the year of teaching or MTEL is complete. DESE will issue the license when the appropriate documentation is received.
Courses may be waived, if DESE competencies have been met with recent graduate coursework, professional development and/or relevant professional experience. Courses waived will reduce the total number of program credits. Minimum required credits for the license-only program is 12-33. Minimum required credits for a master’s are 30-33.
SAMPLE COURSE MAP FOR READING COURSEWORK
SUMMER 1
FALL 1
SPRING 1
SUMMER 2
FALL 2
SPRING 2
EDU 999C Teaching Students to Write (PreK-12)
EDU 767 Literature for Children
EDU 817C Literacy Assessment and Intervention Strategies
EDU 845 Literacy Leadership, Collaboration and Coaching
EDU 745A Supporting Language and Literacy Learning for Multilinguals
EDS 739 Multi-tiered Intervention for Students with Literacy Intervention
EDU 814 Disciplinary Literacy in the Content Areas
EDU 727 Literacy Learning: History, Theory and Research
EDU 742A Literacy Development and Processes
EDU 840S Practicum Seminar for the Reading Specialist or elective
EDU 840P Practicum for the Reading Specialist or elective
COST
For Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $464.30,* including tuition and fees. For non-Massachusetts residents, each credit costs $559.40.* The master’s programs are both 30-33 credits, and the license program is between 12-33 credits (excluding prerequisites).
For assistance funding your graduate education, options such as financial aid, graduate assistantships, employer reimbursement and tuition remission, and veteran’s benefits may be available. For more information, please visit grants and scholarships: salemstate.edu/scholarships.
*Tuition and fees subject to change.
“I returned to Salem State University for my Reading License because I had previously earned my MEd in Special Education, Moderate Disabilities, from SSU and found the coursework to be rigorous and engaging; more importantly, it met me where I was as an adult learner navigating a second career. The reading program has increased my professional expertise and leadership skills, and allowed me the opportunity to be among highly-knowledgeable professionals with a proven passion for the field.”
Lisa Critch, MEd | Special Education Teacher
RICHARD M. GISO ’04G
Undergraduate institution/major: Boston College/Double Major in Elementary Education and Human Developmental Psychology
Rich currently teaches grades one and two at the Carlton Innovation School in Salem, Mass., and is an instructor in the MEd in elementary education and reading programs at Salem State.
Why did you choose Salem State University for your graduate studies?
“I chose Salem State for a number of reasons. A lot of my colleagues attended Salem State, and they spoke highly of the coursework in reading. Salem State was also an affordable option for me. I was particularly drawn to the practicum portion of the reading program, which prepared me to be a better classroom literacy teacher, a successful reading specialist and Title 1 interventionist, and a literacy coach for my school and district. In all of these roles, my experience as a student and now as an instructor has been shaped by my wonderful education at Salem State.”
ADMISSIONS
MEd License Only Bachelor’s
Three, with at least one from an administrator or supervisor
*Not required for the MEd, reading curriculum and instruction program
Copy of initial or professional Massachusetts teaching license in a classroom teaching field.*
The MEd in reading with a specialist, teacher of reading license is designed for experienced educators who aspire to become highly-skilled classroom teachers, reading interventionist, literacy leader, or, school/district literacy coaches.
The MEd in reading is designed for those who seek to deepen their knowledge of literacy acquisition and instruction to support students in public, private, community-based, and post-secondary settings.
Graduates may be endorsed for the specialist teacher of reading license. SSU’s reading programs may also be used to advance to a Professional license in early childhood, elementary, special education, TESOL or library media studies, etc.
Apply: salemstate.edu/apply
Financial Aid: salemstate.edu/finaid
Email: gradadmissions@salemstate.edu
Phone: 978.542.6200
For accommodations and access information, visit salemstate.edu/access.