Reading M.S.Ed.

CIP: 131315

The complexities of developing approved instructional programs have brought about a demand for highly-trained specialists. This program is designed to prepare students as reading specialists (administrators and supervisors of reading programs, reading clinicians, and teachers of reading) at elementary through secondary levels. The course of study affords the opportunity for application of the learned skills in closely supervised developmental, diagnostic, and remedial reading situations.

Prerequisites for this program are:

1. A valid teaching certificate.
2. Two or more years of classroom teaching experience.

Prerequisites for K-12 Certification in Reading are:

1. A course in child psychology and a course in adolescent psychology or a combined course in child and adolescent psychology (at least 3 semester hours).
2. A course in the introduction to special education or education of the exceptional child of at least 2 semester hours.
3. A course in behavior management techniques. (This requirement may be met by completing EDCI 62540 or EDCI 62320.)
4. A course in counseling techniques. (This requirement may be met by completing EDCI 62301 or EDCI 62635.)
5. A course in language acquisition and development or language development for the exceptional child. (This requirement may be met by completing COM 29351 or COM 29553.)

Program Admission Requirements

1. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 on the undergraduate transcript or an undergraduate overall GPA of 2.50 to 2.74 and a 3.25 GPA on eight hours of required graduate coursework at Northwest in the major program where admission is requested.
2. A valid teaching certificate.
3. Successful completion of the Analytical Writing Assessment* (read, summarize and critique a pre-selected scholarly journal article that is evaluated using a writing scoring guide based on the Modified CUNY Scales) conducted by the department during the first trimester of enrollment. If the student has taken the GRE, a score of 3.5 or higher on the Writing section may be substituted for the Analytical Writing Assessment requirement.
4. Alternative GRE requirement for experienced teachers:
   1. In-service teachers (with more than two years of teaching experience – PRAXIS II or Missouri Content Assessment score and one letter of recommendation from a current administrator who has completed a performance-based annual evaluation of the candidate’s ability).
   2. In-service teachers who were certified prior to the PRAXIS II or Missouri Content Assessment requirement – submit two letters of recommendation (one from a current administrator and one from a professional colleague; the administrator must have completed a performance-based annual evaluation of the applicant’s ability).
5. GRE requirements:
   1. New teachers (one–two years of teaching experience) or international students – take and pass GRE (minimum combined score of 280 on the verbal and quantitative sections).

*The Analytical Writing Assessment has been revised to include a measure of reading and critical thinking.

Course Requirements

Core Requirements (6)

EDUC 61695	Philosophy of Education	3
	OR
EDUC 61649	Issues in Education	3
EDUC 61682	Improvement of Instruction through Action Research	2
EDUC 61683	Action Research Paper	1

Subject Field Requirements (23)

EDCI 62553	The Reading Program in the Secondary School	3
EDCI 62652	Psych-Education Measurement	3
EDCI 62654	Analysis and Correction of Reading Disabilities	3
EDCI 62655	Reading in the Elementary School	3
EDCI 62659	Organization and Supervision of Reading Programs	2
EDCI 62660	Practicum 1: Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disabilities for Grades K-6	3
EDCI 62661	Practicum 2: Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading Disabilities for Grades 7-12	3
EDCI 62607	Language Arts in the Elementary School	3

Electives (3)

EDCI 62659: Required for Supervision Endorsement in Iowa

Total Credit Hours: 32

Any graduate course from any department may be selected as an elective providing the student will have completed 16 semester hours at the 600 level. These may include any of the prerequisite courses that have not been completed. They must be taken at the graduate level to be applied to the M.S.Ed. degree.