Online Master’s in Reading Education

By enrolling in the reading specialist licensure track of the online reading master’s* program, you'll set yourself on a path toward becoming a reading specialist, which can expand your career possibilities as a teacher, a reading coach or a program developer. To give you hands-on preparation for a career in this field, you'll complete a practicum experience, a case study that lets you put into practice what you've learned by developing and analyzing a program and tutoring striving readers in either a clinical setting or a public school setting.

Program Details

• 11 courses, 8 weeks per course, 33 credit hours
• Complete in as few as 2 years
• Opportunity to apply practical approaches grounded in pedagogical theory through interactions with children and youth in your own community
• Learn from renowned faculty with extensively published research and diverse real-world experience
• Curriculum based on the Standards for Reading Professionals of the International Literacy Association
• Complete your coursework anytime, anywhere, through our innovative online format
• Track your research and share with classmates in the online Reading Room
• No GRE required for admission
• Accredited under NCATE/CAEP standards
• Required case study practicum

VIEW ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

What You'll Learn

In this track, you will build a strong understanding of the foundations of literacy. You'll explore the intersection of multicultural education and literacy, and you'll learn how to connect with striving readers through assessment and effective instruction from pre-kindergarten through individuals, including individuals with reading disabilities. Your studies will prepare you for a hands-on practicum experience and a culminating master's project that reflects your successful achievement of the program’s four key outcomes: Teaching All Students, Knowing and Using Research, Pedagogical Content Knowledge, and Foundational Knowledge.

For more detailed information on the topics covered in this program, view the course listings.

Career Outcomes

After completing the reading specialist licensure track of the online master's in reading education, you may choose to pursue a number of literacy-related careers. You'll be prepared to become a reading specialist at the elementary, middle or high school level, and you may also find success as a PK–12 literacy coach. Other potential career paths include becoming an adult literacy teacher, teaching in higher education or consulting for a publisher of reading textbooks.

^{*This program is an online Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in reading education.}

^{*The reading specialist licensure track of the online reading master’s program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kansas. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in a state other than Kansas or a US territory after completion of your program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency BEFORE beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license of certification in your home state or territory. The website https://nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory provides resources for licensure and certification boards outside of Kansas.}

The non-licensure track of the online master's in reading education* program is meant for educators who already have their teaching and/or reading specialist license or for administrators who wish to develop literacy programs at their schools. You'll build on your existing experience in the field of education, focusing on how to cultivate literacy skills in a range of striving readers, especially English language learners, and you'll gain a deeper understanding of literacy at all age levels.

Program Details

• 10 courses, 8 weeks per course, 30 credit hours
• Complete in as few as 2 years
• Opportunity to apply practical approaches grounded in pedagogical theory through interactions with children and youth in your own community
• Learn from renowned faculty with extensively published research and diverse real-world experience
• Curriculum based on the Standards for Reading Professionals of the International Literacy Association
• Complete your coursework anytime, anywhere, through our innovative online format
• Track your research and share with classmates in the online Reading Room
• No GRE required for admission

View Admissions Requirements

What You’ll Learn

In this track of the online master’s in reading education, you will build a strong understanding of the foundations of reading and literacy. You'll explore the intersection of multicultural education and literacy, including a focus on English language learners, and you'll develop your ability to connect with striving readers from pre-kindergarten through adults, including adults with reading disabilities. Your studies will prepare you for a culminating master's project that reflects your successful achievement of the four program outcomes:

• Teaching All Students
• Knowing and Using Research
• Pedagogical Content Knowledge
• Foundational Knowledge

For more detailed information on the topics covered in this program, view the course listings.

Career Outcomes

With the non-licensure track online master's in reading education, you may choose to pursue a number of literacy-related careers. You'll be prepared to provide reading expertise at the elementary, middle or high school level; you may also find success as a PK–12 literacy coach. Other potential career paths include becoming an adult literacy teacher, teaching in higher education or consulting for a publisher of reading textbooks.

^{*This program is an online Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in reading education. It does not lead to initial nor advanced licensure in the state of Kansas.}

What You’ll Learn

In the reading specialist licensure endorsement track, you will build a strong understanding of the foundations of reading and literacy. You'll explore how to connect with striving readers from pre-kindergarten through individuals, including individuals with reading disabilities. Your studies will prepare you to complete two practicum experiences, one an early intervention program for younger students and one a case study with older students. You'll also explore what it means to be a reading program coordinator or supervisor at the school level.

For more detailed information on the topics covered in this program, view the course listings.

Career Outcomes

This program prepares you to pursue a career as a reading specialist, which entails one-on-one tutoring with struggling readers, collaborating with fellow teachers at the PK–12 level to help support their students in literacy development, and consulting with administrators about literacy programs at the school or district level.

^{*This online academic program satisfies the requirements for the reading specialist licensure endorsement in Kansas, but does not fulfill the requirements needed to complete a master's degree. In order to enroll in this program, both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree are required.}

^{*The online reading specialist licensure endorsement track program meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Kansas. If you plan to obtain a license or certification in a state other than Kansas or a US territory after completion of your program, it is highly recommended you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency BEFORE beginning the academic program to ensure you can obtain a license of certification in your home state or territory. The website https://nc-sara.org/professional-licensure-directory provides resources for licensure and certification boards outside of Kansas.}