Program Overview

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Introduction to the Reading Education Master's Degree

The Reading Education Master's Degree is an innovative educational program that links literacy research to practical classroom practice. This 30-semester hour program is offered online, nationwide as an advanced degree for credentialed teachers. The curriculum for the program is based on the International Literacy Association standards and also encompasses the Florida Department of Education Reading Endorsement and Reading Certification requirements.

Program Overview

• The program requires several clinical experiences in school settings.
• It is approved for both the K-12 Reading Endorsement and the K-12 Reading Certification by the Florida Department of Education.
• Reading is a critical shortage area in Florida.
• The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

Career Opportunities

The M.Ed. in Reading Education is designed to prepare educators as reading teachers, reading coaches, district-level literacy specialists, and publishing industry consultants. New cohorts are admitted in the fall of each year.

Program Structure

Based on the International Reading Association's Standards for Reading Professionals, this program integrates coursework and clinical experiences to prepare graduates in the following areas:

• Foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction
• Assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction
• Integration of foundational knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments
• Theory and practice of effective literacy coaching

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements, the applicant must meet the following minimum departmental admission requirements for provisional admission:

• Hold professional teaching certification
• Have earned a GPA of at least 3.0 on bachelor's degree
• Submit a formal letter of intent
• Submit contact information for two professional references
• Demonstrate proficiency in ESOL via completion of an ESOL survey course or district in-service points
• Demonstrate proficiency of the Additional Elements of the Florida Uniform Core Curriculum (UCC)

Full Admission Requirements

To be fully admitted to the program, the following requirements must be met in addition to the requirements for provisional admission:

• Purchase and activation of a subscription to the School of Education assessment system within the first week of the first semester
• Completion of the Professional Education Applicant Disposition Scale by each person identified as a professional reference
• Completion of the Professional Education Applicant Disposition Self-rating Scale

Degree Requirements

The program consists of the following courses:

Instructional Foundations

• RED 6060: Teaching Literacy in the Secondary School (3 hours)
• RED 6116: Language and Literacy Acquisition (3 hours)
• RED 6240: Differentiation of Reading Instruction (3 hours) Total Hours: 9

Language Arts

• LAE 5345: Literacy Learning and the Composing Process (3 hours)
• LAE 5468: Literature for Children and Young Adults (3 hours) Total Hours: 6

Assessment/Diagnosis

• RED 6546: Reading Assessment and Diagnosis (3 hours)
• RED 6866: Practicum in Reading (3 hours) Total Hours: 6

Leadership

• RED 6247: Literacy Instructional Coaching (3 hours)
• RED 6701: The Organization and Administration of Literacy Programs (3 hours)
• RED 6865: Practicum in Literacy Coaching (3 hours) Total Hours: 9

Certification Requirements

Students must also successfully pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination for Reading K-12.