READING
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Education degree in
Program Admission
The following are required for admission to graduate 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 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
A. Thesis Option - 30 semester credits including completion of a
master’s thesis (RDG 799, Master’s Thesis)
B. Seminar Paper - 30 semester credits including completion of a
seminar paper (RDG 761, Seminar Paper)
C. 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 based on the Standards for Reading Professionals of
the International Reading Association (IRA). The portfolio for
students who are working toward the Wisconsin 17 Reading
Specialist certification will address the IRA Standards and the
Wisconsin DPI Administrator Standards. Graduate students should
see the Graduate Reading Program website at
www.uwlax.edu/soe/reading
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
| Concentration I - Required Courses (listed in preferred sequence) |
Credits |
|
| RDG 741 | 3 | |
| *RDG 528 | 3 | |
| *EDM 540 | Children’s Literature OR | 3 |
| *EDM 541 | Adolescent Literature OR | 3 |
| *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 747 | 3 | |
|
Additional courses required for the Master
of Science in Education degree in |
||
| RDG 762 | Reading Theory and Research | 3 |
| **RDG 761 | Seminar Paper (30 credit option) OR | 3-6 |
| **RDG 799 | Master’s Thesis (30 credit option) |
3-6 |
| *May be waived if comparable courses were
taken at the undergraduate level. **36 credit option: Comprehensive Exam |
||
| Concentration II -Reading Specialist | Credits | |
| RDG 741 | 3 | |
| *RDG 528 | 3 | |
| *EDM 540 | Children’s Literature OR | 3 |
| *EDM 541 | Adolescent Literature OR | 3 |
| *EDM 773 | Current Trends in Literature for Children and Young Adults | 3 |
| RDG 730 | Assessment and Instruction of Student |
3 |
| RDG 733 | Advanced Assessment and Evaluation of Reading Difficulties | 3 |
| RDG 735 | Developing Content |
3 |
| RDG 739 | Guiding and Directing the K-12 |
3 |
| RDG 747 | 3 | |
| RDG 762 | Reading Theory and Research | 3 |
| RDG 781 | Educational Supervision | 3 |
| **RDG 761 | Seminar Paper (30 credit option) OR | 3-6 |
| **RDG 799 | Master’s Thesis (30 credit option) |
3-6 |
| *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 | 3 | |
| *RDG 528 | 3 | |
| RDG 710 | Seminar: |
3 |
| Three credits of approved electives in elementary reading | 3 | |
| *EDM 540 | Children’s Literature OR | 3 |
| *EDM 541 | Adolescent Literature OR | 3 |
| *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 (30 credit option) OR | 3-6 |
| **RDG 799 | Master’s Thesis (30 credit option) |
3-6 |
*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/or 17 reading licenses in order
to qualify for certification.
Non-Degree Students
(Candidates seeking licensure only)
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
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 at
www.uwlax.edu/records