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Professional Studies in Education

MSED – Reading Specialist (5017) Certification

Master of Science in Education - Reading Specialist Certification (Online)

The MSED - Reading Specialist program is designed for those who already hold a Reading Teacher (1316) license and would like to add a Master’s degree and Reading Specialist (5017) certification. Adding a degree and additional licensure prepares reading teachers to move to an administrative role, directing reading programs or working with reading teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and others as a resource teacher in reading. 

Nine credits are transferred in from the student’s 1316 coursework. It is important to note that this coursework cannot have taken place more than 7 years before the student’s completion of the program. The program is 18 credits of course work and action research over 3 semesters.

Update: The 2020 Fall for Education Conference has been cancelled.
The Fall for Education Conference is the first full weekend in November annually.  The conference is part of learning outcomes for each IPSE program including Educational Leadership, Director of Instruction, MSED Learning Communities, and Reading.  A Special Course Fee of $60.00 is incorporated into fall tuition for the conference to help compensate for meals and breaks. Attendance at the conference is a program requirement.

Non-Wisconsin Teaching Licensure/Certification
UW-La Crosse programs offering a licensure or certification in Wisconsin will need to be reviewed by the State Board of Education of any other state in which the student plans on teaching.  The individual state education boards determine what courses transfer in to meet license or certification requirements of each state.

Program Curriculum

COURSE COURSE NAME CREDIT
Term 1

RDG 600 

 Research Methods in Literacy

 3 credits
RDG 799  Action Research in Literacy  3 credits
Term 2
RDG 711 Advanced Research Methods in Literacy  3 credits
RDG 799  Action Research in Literacy  3 credits
Term 3
RDG 718 Guiding & Directing a School-Wide  Reading/Literacy Program  3 credits
RDG 780 Reading Specialist Practicum  3 credits
TOTAL   18 credits

Program Completion:

Candidates must complete all UWL graduate degree requirements.

In addition, eligibility for Reading Teacher (1316) and Reading Specialist (5017) certifications are contingent upon:

  • Cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0
  • Satisfactory completion of MSED Reading Specialist program coursework, associated experiences, and artifacts
  • Passing score on the Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT; score of 240 or higher).
  • Successful completion of at least two years of teaching at the PK-12 level for Reading Teacher (1316) certification, and a total of six semesters of successful classroom experience in any grade for Reading Specialist (5017) certification.
  • Reading Specialist (5017) candidates must have earned a Master's degree with an emphasis in Reading.