MS in Reading

This degree plan is for students who do not hold a standard teaching certificate and/or do not have two years teaching experience at a public or accredited private school per TEA (Texas Education Agency) requirements. This degree plan is also for graduate students who wish not to teach but may want to work for a literacy professional development company, a literacy non-profit organization, or a local, state, or national literacy agency. This degree plan requires students to complete: 30 hours of graduate Reading courses, In the event that a student completes two years teaching experience and earns a Texas teaching certificate while enrolled in Option #2, the student may opt to move to Option #1, which will then allow them to take the Reading Specialist test after completion of the degree requirements. In the event that a student graduates under the Option #2 degree plan and later earns Texas teaching certification and two years of teaching experience, and wants to seek Reading Specialist certification, he or she may reapply to graduate school for Option #3.

This degree plan is for Texas certified educators who have at least two years of teaching experience at a public or private accredited school. This degree plan requires students to complete:36 hours of graduate Reading courses, 160 hours in clinical practicum and internship experiences in literacy, and135 minutes of faculty observations of the graduate student in clinical practicum and leadership experiences.

Non-Degree Seeking This option is for students who hold a Masters degree in an area of education (e.g., Special Education, Bilingual, Early Childhood, or School Leadership/Administration), a Texas teaching certificate, and two years of teaching at a public or accredited private school and are only seeking Reading Specialist Certification. These students do not wish to pursue an additional masters degree, but will be required to complete the following: 21 hours of graduate Reading courses specified on the Option #3 plan,160 hours of clinical practicum and internship experiences in literacy, and135 minutes of faculty observations of the graduate student in clinical practicum and leadership experiences.