Reading Specialist Program

Degree Conferred: Certification only

The Program

The Reading Specialist Certification program is designed to prepare educators to function as:

• A teacher of developmental reading at any grade level (K-12);
• A teacher of reading who serves special needs of atypical learners in grade K-12 through corrective, remedial, or advanced instruction;
• A resource person in reading who can assist other members of the professional staff.

Student Categories

The Reading Specialist program has two student categories:

1. Certifi cation students are candidates for the Reading Specialist Certifi cation, interested only in the certification. Typically they will be required to take 29 to 35 credits of prescribed coursework. Requirements will vary depending on the candidate’s prior academic record and experience.
2. Degree students are master’s degree students who may choose Reading Specialist course work as part of their degree programs. Such a combination program typically will require 39 credits.

Admission

An applicant must present a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have a junior-senior grade-point average of at least 3.0. An applicant must submit:

• a completed online application for graduate school with the current application fee;
• two copies of official transcripts (not necessary for Penn State students).

Master’s degree applicants with a junior-senior grade-point average below 3.0 but at least 2.5 also must achieve and submit combined scores (verbal and quantitative) from the Graduate Record Examination of at least 850 prior to admission into the program.

Program Prerequisites

• Valid Pennsylvania Public School Teaching Certificate
• PSYCH 410 CHILDDEVELOPMENT (3). Prerequisite: PSYCH 100, 6 additional credits of PSYCH.
• PSYCH 412 ADOLESCENCE (3). Prerequisite: PSYCH 100
• EDUC 320 METHODS IN TEACHING BEGINNING READERS (3) and/or
• EDUC 321 METHODS IN TEACHING INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED READERS (3). Prerequisite: EDUC 320

Prescribed Courses:

• EDUC 422 LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS (3)
• EDUC 425 LITERACY ASSESSMENT (3). Prerequisite: permission of the program
• EDUC 452 TEACHING WRITING (3)
• EDUC 471 BEST PRACTICES IN LITERACY (3). Prerequisite: EDUC 320 or EDUC 321
• EDUC 561 PSYCHOLOGY OF READING (3). Prerequisite: EDUC 314, 321
• EDUC 562 DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF READING PROBLEMS (3). Prerequisite: EDUC 321, 422, 425, 471, 561, 563
• EDUC 563 ADVANCED METHODS IN TEACHING READING (3). Prerequisite: EDUC 321
• EDUC 564 READING CLINIC (6). Prerequisites: EDUC 421, 422, 423, 561, 562, 563; PSYCH 410, 412
• EDUC 565 LITERACY AND LEADERSHIP (3). Prerequisite: EDUC 425, 471, 561, 562, 563

Financial Aid

There is a limited number of scholarships and research grants available, as well as several graduate assistantships. For more information, contact the School of Behavioral Sciences and Education.

Many students work full-time and take classes part-time. In many cases, employers have a tuition-reimbursement plan paying for partial or full tuition.

Reading Advisers:

• Dr. Ann Berger-Knorr – 948-6335
• Dr. Xiaoming Liu – 948-6217
• Dr. Barbara A. Marinak – 948-6367
• Dr. Mary Napoli – 948-6206

For a list of courses, visit the web.

Please note: This page is not a part of the official Penn State Graduate Bulletin.