Reading, Master of Science
Overview
This graduate program is offered in an online format (both synchronous and asynchronous courses). Throughout the program, students will engage in coursework that offers an in-depth theoretical and pedagogical understanding of literacy practices including reading assessment and intervention strategies for EC-12 classroom teachers. The degree program offers specific understanding about the nature of literacy development, paying particular attention to the Science of Teaching Reading.
The program meets standards set forth by the state of Texas for Reading Specialists. The program prepares graduates for positions as literacy coaches, reading specialists, and English, Language Arts, and Reading implementation specialists.
For students seeking a Master of Science in Reading, there are two degree plans to choose from depending on your career aspirations. The options are as follows:
-Master of Science in Reading with Reading Specialist Teacher Certification
-Master of Science in Reading (without Reading Specialist Teacher Certification)
In addition, for students who already hold a master’s degree in an education field and seek only Reading Specialist Teacher Certification, there is a 3rd option:
-READING SPECIALIST TEACHER CERTIFICATION (NON-DEGREE SEEKING)
Details of each option follows:
Option #1: Master of Science in Reading with Reading Specialist Teacher Certification
This degree plan is for Texas certified educators who have at least two years of teaching experience at a public or private accredited school. This degree plan requires students to complete:
- 36 hours of graduate Reading courses, and
- 160 hours in clinical practicum and internship experiences in literacy
Option #2: Master of Science in Reading (without Reading Specialist Teacher Certification)
This degree plan is for students who do not hold a standard teaching certificate and/or do not have two years teaching experience at a public or accredited private school per TEA (Texas Education Agency) requirements. This degree plan is also for graduate students who wish not to teach, but may want to work for a literacy professional development company, a literacy non-profit organization, or a local, state, or national literacy agency. This degree plan requires students to complete:
- 30 hours of graduate Reading courses,
In the event that a student graduates under the Option #2 degree plan and later earns Texas teaching certification and two years of teaching experience, and wants to seek Reading Specialist certification, he or she may reapply to graduate school for Option #3.
Option #3: Reading Specialist Teacher Certification (non-degree seeking)
This option is for students who hold a Master’s degree in an area of education (e.g., Special Education, Bilingual, Early Childhood, or School Leadership/Administration), a Texas teaching certificate, and two years of teaching experience at a public or accredited private school and are only seeking Reading Specialist Certification. These students do not wish to pursue an additional master’s degree, and will be required to complete the following:
- 21 hours of graduate Reading courses specified on the Option #3 plan, and
- 160 hours of clinical practicum and internship experiences in literacy
Application Process
Each applicant must submit their application and required documents by the appropriate semester deadline to GradCAS. The application is available online at https://gradcas.liaisoncas.org/apply/. For questions regarding the application process, contact the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at 210-784-2571.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Option | ||
| EDRG 5310 | Foundations in Early Literacy | 3 |
| EDRG 5329 | Trends in Literacy Research | 3 |
| EDRG 5312 | Adv Phonics, Spelling &Fluency | 3 |
| EDRG 5320 | Reading Comprehension | 3 |
| EDRG 5315 | Literacy & Diverse Populations | 3 |
| EDRG 5325 | Teaching Writing & Lang Arts | 3 |
| EDRG 5350 | Dyslexia & Reading Differences | 3 |
| EDRG 5355 | Literacy Assessmnt & Intervntn | 3 |
| EDRG 5360 | School-Wide Literacy Leadership | 3 |
| EDRG 5365 | Action Research in Practice | 3 |
| EDRG 5327 | Digital & New Literacies | 3 |
| EDRG 5380 | Internship Literacy Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Option | ||
| EDRG 5310 | Foundations in Early Literacy | 3 |
| EDRG 5329 | Trends in Literacy Research | 3 |
| EDRG 5312 | Adv Phonics, Spelling &Fluency | 3 |
| EDRG 5320 | Reading Comprehension | 3 |
| EDRG 5315 | Literacy & Diverse Populations | 3 |
| EDRG 5325 | Teaching Writing & Lang Arts | 3 |
| EDRG 5350 | Dyslexia & Reading Differences | 3 |
| EDRG 5355 | Literacy Assessmnt & Intervntn | 3 |
| EDRG 5327 | Digital & New Literacies | 3 |
| EDRG 5360 | School-Wide Literacy Leadership | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |