Candidates preparing to become reading specialists study the components of the reading and writing processes and how children and adults develop literacy. Candidates learn diagnostic techniques and strategies that address that many different types of literacy problems struggling readers and writers may have. They learn strategies for working with all students, including special needs students and English language learners.
The program leading to Reading Specialist Certification consists of 39 credits described below and a comprehensive exam; or 36 credits and a thesis, which requires the student to take LTED 613. For certification eligibility, there is also a requirement of two years of teaching experience.
Candidates for this program must produce graduate course work in three of the following six areas (some seminars may satisfy an area):
- children’s or adolescent literature
- linguistics
- measurement
- psychology
- organization of reading programs
- supervision
Required Courses
The following nine courses are required (30 credits):
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Credits
|
LTED 637*
|
Nature of Reading
|
3
|
LTED 641*
|
Reading and the School Curriculum
|
3
|
LTED 606
|
Literacy and Learning in the Early Child Curriculum
|
3
|
LTED 607
|
Reading in the Secondary School
|
3
|
LTED 618
|
Pedagogy and Application of Children's Literature K-12
|
3
|
LTED 646
|
Practicum in Reading I: Diagnostic Procedures
|
3
|
LTED 643
|
Practicum in Reading II
|
3
|
LTED 648
|
Solving Reading Problems at the Elementary School Level
|
3
|
LTED 667
|
Administration and Supervision of School Reading Programs
|
3
|
LTED 612**
|
Research in Reading
|
3
|
*Courses to be taken at the beginning of the program.
**Course to be taken in the final semester.
Course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
Electives
Select 3 credits from the following list:
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Credits
|
LTED 601
|
Reading and Multi-Media
|
3
|
LTED 621
|
Microcomputers and Reading Instruction
|
3
|
Select 6 credits from the following list:
Course Number
|
Course Title
|
Credits
|
LTED 602
|
Reading Disabilities Remediation
|
3
|
LTED 605
|
Literacy in the Elementary Curriculum
|
3
|
LTED 609
|
Literacy Strategies for the Early Childhood Classroom
|
3
|
LTED 610
|
Literacy in the Middle School
|
3
|
LTED 613
|
Advanced Research in Reading (for thesis students only)
|
3
|
LTED 614
|
Pedagogical Aspects of Teaching Writing in the K-12 Classroom
|
3
|
LTED 635
|
Effective Literacy Strategies for English Language Learners
|
3
|
LTED 642
|
Seminar in Reading: Selected Topics
|
3
|
Course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Catalog.