 |

Master's Degree with Certification as a Reading Specialist
Using a schedule that accommodates those already
employed as teachers, this program is designed to be responsive
to requirements promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
(Division of Teacher Education—Bureau of Teacher Certification
and preparation) requiring that specialists of reading be certified
according to specific competencies set forth in the regulations.
Students can earn either (1) a Master of Arts in Education with
Certification as a Reading Specialist or (2) Certification only
as a Reading Specialist
This program has a rolling admissions policy. To be admitted to
the graduate reading specialist certification program with or without
the Master of Arts in Education degree, you must:
-
Complete an application for Graduate Programs in Education. This
application can be completed online at no charge. The application
is due 4 weeks prior to the start of the term for which you are
applying.
-
Submit a non-refundable application fee of $35. The application
fee is waived if you apply on-line
- Submit a valid teaching certificate or evidence of completion of
all requirements, including passing scores on all relevant Praxis
exams.
- Submit an official transcript from earned baccalaureate and graduate
degrees by from each college you attended.
- Submit scores from the MAT or GRE exam (this test may be waived
if you are holding another Master’s Degree or hold an undergraduate
GPA of 3.4 or higher)
- Provide 2 letters of recommendation regarding your capacity for
leadership in the area of literacy
Candidates for Masters Degree Program in Education with Reading Specialist certification
will undergo a predetermined curriculum consisting of five (5) Core
Courses, four (4) Specialized Courses, and a Practicum Course. These
courses will address in depth the areas of expertise that are required
by the regulations:
| Core Courses (15 credits) |
| EDC 501 |
Cognitive Development |
| EDC 601 |
Foundations of Education |
| EDC 603 |
Curriculum Development |
| EDC 695 |
Action Research and Educational Change |
| EDC 697 |
Master's Action Research Project |
Specialized Courses (12 credits) |
| EDC 618 |
Developmental Reading |
| EDC 620 |
Literacy Difficulties: Assessment and Intervention |
| EDC 640 |
Literature for Children and Adolescents Across the Curriculum |
| EDC 648 |
The Literacy Coach: Improving the Teaching of Reading and
Writing in the Content Areas |
Practicum (6 credits) |
| EDC 651 |
|
| Literacy Internship |
| (Summer Intensive Reading Program) |
| 100-hour minimum |
Certification (only) as a Reading Specialist (18 credits)
Using a schedule that accommodates those already employed as teachers,
this program is designed to be responsive to requirements promulgated
by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (Division of Teacher
Education—Bureau of Teacher Certification and preparation)
requiring that specialists of reading be certified according to
specific competencies set forth in the regulations.
Students seeking Certification (only) as a Reading Specialist
(18 credits)
Candidates for a Masters Degree Program in Education leading to a
Reading Specialist certification will undergo a predetermined curriculum
consisting of four (4) Specialized Courses, and a Practicum Course.
These courses will address in depth the areas of expertise that are
required by the regulations:
| Specialized Courses (12 credits) |
| EDC 618 |
Developmental Reading |
| EDC 620 |
Literacy Difficulties: Assessment and Intervention |
| EDC 640 |
Literature for Children and Adolescents Across the Curriculum
|
| EDC 648 |
The Literacy Coach: Improving the Teaching of Reading and
Writing in the Content Areas |
Practicum (6 credits) |
| EDC 651 |
|
| Literacy Internship |
| (Summer Intensive Reading Program) |
| 100-hour minimum |
Core Courses Descriptions
EDC 501 (F, S)
COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT
3 credits
Addresses cognitive development and the acquisition of knowledge.
Explores the implications for instruction. Emphasizes creating more
meaningful learning experiences for pupils who are at varying developmental
levels and who have different learning styles.
EDC 601 (F, S)
THE FOUNDATIONS OF EDUCATION
3 credits
Promotes analysis of the meaning and effects of educational institutions.
Provides resources for developing critical under-standing of educational
thought and practice. Encourages the development of value positions
based on critical study. Provides resources for the development
of educational policy making perspectives and skills.
EDC 603 (F, S)
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
3 credits
Assists students in examining and refining their own concept of
the curriculum and provides them with the knowledge and practical
skills required to translate that concept into an effective, developmentally-based
program for learners. Stresses acquiring the knowledge, developing
the attitudes, and cultivating the skills that make teachers effective
curriculum workers in the schools.
Prerequisites: EDC 501, 502, 602, 613 or permission
EDC 695
ACTION RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONAL CHANGE
3 credits
Focuses on developing education professionals’ ability to
critically reflect on problems arising in schools through the developing,
implementing, and analyzing action research projects. Students will
be exposed to quantitative and qualitative methods of scientific
research, define an area of focus relating to area of study, conduct
a literature review, formulate an action research design, collect
and interpret data, and synthesize research into a report format.
Students will be introduced to publishing opportunities.
Prerequisites: EDC 620, 640, and 651
EDC 697
MASTER’S ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT
(1 credit, ongoing until project is completed)
3 credits
As a continuation of EDC 605: Action Research and Educational Change,
students will be designing, conducting, implementing, and analyzing
data collected from action research proposals began during the EDC
605 course. Students will be mentored as they engage in the research
process. A final report of the action research will consititute
as a master’s thesis.
Prerequisites: EDC 695 and 601
Specialized Courses Descriptions
EDC 618 (F, S)
DEVELOPMENTAL READING
3 credits
Promotes understanding of reading as a strategic interactive process
that affects learners’ efforts in all academic areas. Explores
currently held views of the reading process, instruction techniques,
and assessment concerns. Employs a variety of formats including
lecture, demonstration, discussion, and hands-on experiences. Course
projects provide practical application of the theoretical, instructional,
and diagnostic issues presented.
Prerequisites: EDC 501, 502 or permission
EDC 620
LITERACY DIFFICULTIES: ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION
Prepares reading specialists to meet the needs of students who demonstrate
significant problems in reading and writing. It prepares reading
specialists to use diagnostic assessments as a basis for planning
instruction. Emphasis is placed on understanding and analysis of
reading problems and the design and implementation of instructional
interventions in reading and language arts.
rerequisites: EDC 501 and 618
EDC 640
LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
3 credits
Presents the reading specialist with techniques and strategies for
presenting literature to children and adolescents and getting them
to respond to it. Students interact with a wide variety of children’s
literature, to recognize notable authors and illustrators, and to
develop an ability to critically analyze children and young adult
literature from diverse perspectives. students will examine, evaluate,
discuss, and use literature and related non-print materials for
children and young adolescents, and explore strategies for using
trade books across the curriculum and for introducing children to
literature. Students develop an understanding for ways in which
children’s literature develops literacy and encourages young
people to know the pleasure that can derive from reading good books.
Materials for children, adolescents and adults with limited reading
abilities are covered.
Prerequisites: EDC 501 and 618
EDC 648
THE LITERACY COACH: IMPROVING THE TEACHING OF READING AND WRITING
IN THE CONTENT AREAS
3 credits
This course promotes the concept that a specialist, serving as a
school’s literacy coach can work effectively with secondary
teachers to improve students’ literacy skills as they study
their content area subjects. Future specialists will learn to collaborate
with content teachers as they make learning more lasting and meaningful.
Strategies, techniques, and approaches will be demonstrated to show
how more effective learning can take place without any appreciable
loss of “content time.”
Prerequisites: EDC 501 and 618
EDC 651
LITERACY INTERNSHIP PRACTICUM
6 credits
The literacy internship is the capstone experience for the program.
Students will complete a minimum of 100 hours in an intensive summer
reading program designed for children and adolescents. Students
will be expected to apply concepts from their course work to their
work with students who are struggling readers. Students will be
expected to conduct literacy evaluations of students with mild,
moderate, and severe reading or writing difficulties, design specific
literacy instruction to meet student needs, implement instruction,
and evaluate the effectiveness of the instructional techniques on
literacy growth. Students will also be expected to choose literacy
materials that are in line with students’ instructional levels
and to develop a literacy-rich and positive learning environment.
Prerequisites: EDC 618, 620 and 640.
PRAXIS
In order to be eligible for certification in the state of Pennsylvania,
the successful teacher candidate must pass the appropriate sub-tests of the
PRAXISs. The following sub-tests are required:
Professional Knowlege
Reading Certificate- Test Code 20300
Click here to download the Certification as a Reading Specialist brochure.
 Harris Lewin, Ed.D.
Director
Graduate Programs in Education
1900 West Olney Avenue, Olney Hall 112
Philadelphia, PA 19141 USA
Phone (215) 951-1806 Fax (215) 951-1843
e-mail: graded@lasalle.edu
 |
 |

|