What Is Reading Education?

Purpose
The 30-hour online Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Reading Education program has two possible concentrations: Reading Education M.Ed. with Reading Specialist Certificate and Reading Education M.Ed.  For most students, the purpose of the program is to earn a masters degree in Reading Education and to qualify as a Reading Specialist, a professional certification on the state level*.

Reading Specialists’ Responsibilities
Reading Specialists’ Responsibilities include but are not limited to (1) teaching children who struggle with literacy, (2) providing professional development in reading education for classroom teachers, (3) administering school and district based reading programs, (4) working with other professionals, families, and community members to improve literacy and language teaching and programs inside and outside the school, and (5) participating actively in professional activities and organizations related to language and literacy education at the state and national levels.

Program Goals
The goal of the program is to prepare certified teachers who are thoughtful inquirers and reflective decision makers and who work effectively to enhance the language and literacy development of all students in a variety of educational settings.  Our program consists of 30 course hours in reading including courses in language and literacy development, reading theory and research, teaching literacy from early childhood through grade 12, teaching with children's/young adult literature, teaching reading and writing in a multilingual/ multicultural environment, literacy assessment, and a two-course capstone internship sequence.  The internship is designed to be completed while students are working full-time as teachers.  

*The state requires two years teaching experience for graduates to qualify as Reading Specialists, in addition to passing the TExES (Texas Examinations of Educator Standards™ 151 Reading Specialist).