Reading Specialist MS
The MS in Reading Specialist at Saint Joseph's University is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and aligned with PDE requirements for reading specialists, including competencies and standards in structured literacy. This masters degree offers initial Level 1 certification to candidates who do not have educational backgrounds and do not have Instructional 1 Teaching Licensure, as well as classroom teachers who already hold initial Level 1 certification. The program is fully online and tailored for students interested in obtaining a master's degree as well as those who wish to get certified as Reading Specialists without a master's degree.
Goal 1: Candidates will demonstrate knowledge of major theoretical, conceptual, historical, and evidence-based foundations of literacy and language and the ways in which they interrelate.
Goal 2: Candidates will design literacy curricula to meet the needs of a variety of literacy learners by drawing from a range of literacy teaching paradigms, including structured literacy, culturally sustaining literacy, critical literacy, multimodal and digital literacies, and thoughtful literacy.
Goal 3: Candidates will recognize and appreciate the inherent literate capacities of all students.
Goal 4: Candidates will design, implement, and evaluate small-group and individual evidence-based literacy instruction for learners, including those who experience difficulties with literacy.
Goal 5: Candidates will understand, select, and use valid, reliable, fair, and appropriate cognitive and noncognitive assessment tools to inform instruction, evaluate interventions, and guide teachers in their understanding and use of assessment results.
Goal 6: Candidates will strive to enact and advance equitable literacy teaching practices and policies at the classroom, school, district, and community levels.
Goal 7: Candidates will demonstrate the ability to be reflective literacy professionals who apply their knowledge of adult learning to work collaboratively with colleagues and advocate on behalf of teachers, students, families, and communities.
Goal 8: Candidates will complete supervised practicum experiences that include intervention.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDU 646 | Language and Culture w/ Field | 3 |
| EDU 671 | Writing in the Curriculum | 3 |
| EDU 700 | Psychology of Literacy | 3 |
| EDU 701 | Assess & Instr in Liter K-3 | 3 |
| EDU 702 | Assess & Instr in Liter 4-12 | 3 |
| EDU 703 | Crit Exp of Literacy Research | 3 |
| EDU 704 | Plng & Org a Literacy Program | 3 |
| Practicum | 6 | |
| Literacy Practicum | ||
| Advanced Fieldwork in Literacy | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
Per PDE Chapter 49, the following courses are required if candidates have not completed them as part of the undergraduate program:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SPE 600 | Found & Current Issues w/Field | 3 |
| SPE 613 | Incl. Class Practices w/Field | 3 |