READING
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Education degree in Reading is designed for classroom teachers seeking greater expertise in the teaching of reading and for those who seek to qualify for reading teacher, reading specialist, or reading coordinator positions.
PROGRAM ADMISSION
The following are required for admission to study in the graduate reading program: a) bachelor's degree; b) certification or certifiability as a teacher; c) prior completion of student teaching or equivalent at the elementary or secondary level; d) unconditional admission to graduate study; and e) submission of admissions portfolio. The of admissions portfolio consists of required admission paperwork that is submitted by the candidate to the UWL Admissions Office and a reflective paper on teaching and literacy learning that is submitted directly to the program director.
Program Options
- Thesis Option - 30 semester credits including completion of a master's thesis (RDG 799, Master's Thesis)
- Seminar Paper - 30 semester credits including completion of a seminar paper (RDG 761, Seminar Paper)
- Comprehensive Examination- 36 semester credits and successful completion of a three-hour comprehensive examination.
At least one-half of all credits (Options A-C) must be earned in 700-level courses. Candidates selecting the thesis or seminar paper option must begin work on their papers with an adviser at least two terms prior to the term in which they expect to graduate. Candidates selecting the 36-credit option should schedule their comprehensive examination with the program director for the term in which they expect to graduate.
PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS
Each student must complete a portfolio. The portfolio must demonstrate the student's growth as assessed with a rubric at benchmarks throughout the program. Students working toward Wisconsin 316-Reading Teacher certification will complete a portfolio that focuses on best practices in the teaching of reading. The portfolio for students who are working toward the Wisconsin 17-Reading Specialist certification will add an administrative component. Graduate students should see the reading program director for portfolio guidelines as soon as they begin taking courses.
CONCENTRATIONS
Three concentrations are available in the graduate reading program. Concentration I meets the requirements for Wisconsin's DPI 316 Reading Teacher license. Concentration II meets the requirements for Wisconsin's DPI 17 Reading Specialist license. Concentration III is designed for classroom teachers who are not seeking 316 or 17 licensure but desire greater expertise in developing students' literacy skills. All candidates for licensure (concentrations I and II) must meet designated course requirements and must have two years of classroom teaching experience. Since classroom teaching experience can be interpreted in various ways, the program director should be consulted if there are any questions.
| Concentration I - Reading Teacher | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | Credits | ||
| (listed in preferred sequence) | |||
| RDG | 741 | Reading in the Elementary School | 3 |
| *RDG | 528 | Reading in the Content Areas | 3 |
| *EDM | 540 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| or | |||
| *EDM | 541 | Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| or | |||
| *EDM | 773 | Current Trends in Literature for Children And Young Adults | 3 |
| RDG | 730 | Assessments and Instruction of Students With Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG | 733 | Advanced Assessment and Evaluation of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG | 747 | Reading Practicum | 3 |
| Additional courses required for Master's of Science in Education degree in Reading: | |||
| RDG | 762 | Reading Theory and Research | 3 |
| **RDG | 761 | Seminar Paper | 3-6 |
| (30 credit option) | |||
| or | |||
| **RDG | 799 | Master's Thesis | 3-6 |
| (30 credit option) | |||
*May be waived if comparable courses were taken at the
undergraduate level.
**36 credit option: Comprehensive Exam
| Concentration II -Reading Specialist | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RDG | 741 | Reading in the Elementary School | 3 |
| *RDG | 528 | Reading in the Content Areas | 3 |
| *EDM | 540 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| or | |||
| *EDM | 541 | Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| or | |||
| *EDM | 773 | Current Trends in Literature for Children and Young Adults | 3 |
| RDG | 730 | Assessment and Instruction of Students with Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG | 733 | Advanced Assessment and Evaluation of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG | 735 | Developing Content Reading Programs | 3 |
| RDG | 739 | Guiding and Directing the K-12 Reading Program | 3 |
| RDG | 747 | Reading Practicum | 3 |
| RDG | 762 | Reading Theory and Research | 3 |
| RDG | 781 | Educational Supervision | 3 |
| **RDG | 761 | Seminar Paper | 3-6 |
| (30 credit option) | |||
| or | |||
| **RDG | 799 | Master's Thesis | 3-6 |
| (30 credit option) | |||
*May be waived if comparable courses were taken at the
undergraduate level.
**36 credit option: Comprehensive Exam
| Concentration III - Classroom Teacher Emphasis Required Courses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| (listed in preferred sequence) | Credits | ||
| RDG | 741 | Reading in the Elementary School | 3 |
| *RDG | 528 | Reading in the Content Areas | 3 |
| *RDG | 710 | Seminar: Reading and Language Arts in the Middle School | 3 |
| or | |||
| Three credits of approved electives in elementary reading | 3 | ||
| *EDM | 540 | Children's Literature | 3 |
| or | |||
| *EDM | 541 | Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| or | |||
| *EDM | 773 | Current Trends in Literature for Children and Young Adults | 3 |
| RDG | 730 | Assessment and Instruction of Students with Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG | 733 | Advanced Assessment and Evaluation of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG | 762 | Reading Theory and Research | 3 |
| **RDG | 761 | Seminar Paper | 3-6 |
| (30 credit option) | |||
| or | |||
| **RDG | 799 | Master's Thesis | 3-6 |
| (30 credit option) | |||
*May be waived if comparable courses were taken at the
undergraduate level.
**36 credit option: Comprehensive Exam
Electives
Elective credits to meet the 30 credit or 36 credit minimums must be approved by the program director. Elective credits are to be taken from courses that focus on reading/writing relationships, language arts instruction, writing instruction, use of computers in reading/language arts instruction, ESL, meeting the needs of diverse learners, and curriculum development.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Students must earn a minimum 3.00 grade point average in courses required for the 316 and 17 reading licenses in order to qualify for certification.
Non-Degree Students
(Candidates seeking licensure only)
Wisconsin 316 Reading Teacher Certification:
Eighteen semester credits of which no more than six may be
earned as part of an undergraduate degree. Required courses are
as follows: RDG 528, 730, 733, 741, 747, and EDM 540 or 541 or
773.
Degree-Seeking Students
Wisconsin 17 Reading Specialist Certification:
Candidates must earn a master's degree in the reading program,
meet requirements for the 316 license, and complete RDG 735,
739, 762 and 781.
Course Rotations
All required courses and several electives are offered at least once every other year. The rotation schedule is indicated in the course descriptions. Since changes in enrollment patterns may require changes to this schedule, students should always check the semester timetable before registering.