Master's in Reading and Reading Teacher Specialist Certificate

Provide K-12 students with life-long reading skills and strategies

Develop and improve comprehensive reading skills in students to give them future success in career and life. Reading is the foundation of academic development and your expertise can help build students confidence and academic performance. Be a part of building dynamic literacy programs and a positive attitude towards reading in students.

Credits15-30

Cost Per Credit^$715

Scholarship

$1000s in scholarships available for this program.

Learn how you can qualify...

Licenses

Earn your Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist licensure.

ONLINE PROGRAM

Online 8-week sessions at your pace to fit your schedule.

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Program Overview

Our online program prepares you to be a respected and effective leader in literacy for students and teachers. This interdisciplinary program will give you the tools to teach reading at the K-12 level. You will develop the confidence and knowledge to modify current teaching methods and implement innovative reading initiatives.

Boost your classroom confidence.
Comprehensive coursework helps you develop the beliefs and practices of a literacy leader.
Enhance student engagement.
Learn instructional practices that are based on the science of reading.
Stay ahead of trends with proven practices.
Participate in hands-on experiences to diagnose reading difficulties and create intervention plans.

Reading Teacher

A reading teacher works directly with K-12 students with varying abilities in reading. You support students as they progress through their reading goals. An individual with a current and valid teaching license and two years of teaching experience is eligible to earn a reading teacher license (WI DPI #1316).

Reading Teacher pathway:

EDG 5230: Improvement of Teaching and Learning
EDG 5205: Language and Literacy Development
EDG 5220: Literacy Assessment for Instruction
Complete Portfolio I (EDG 7201 - 0 credits)
Complete Literacy Practicum (EDG 7216)
EDG 5200: Disciplinary Literacy
Complete Portfolio II (EDG 7202 – 0 credits)
Pass the Reading Foundations Exam (if applicable)
Apply for #1316 licensure on DPI website
Completion of 2 years of classroom teaching
Maintain a 3.0 GPA

Reading Specialist

A reading specialist is an administrative position within a school. You coach and lead teachers and support staff on reading programs and curriculums. As a leading expert in literacy, you will be expected to develop improvement plans. An individual with a master's degree and a reading teaching licensure is eligible to earn a reading specialist license (WI DPI #5017).

Reading Specialist pathway:

EDG 5230: Improvement of Teaching and Learning
EDG 5205: Language and Literacy Development
EDG 5220: Literacy Assessment for Instruction
Complete Portfolio I (EDG 7201 - 0 credits)
Complete Literacy Practicum (EDG 7216)
EDG 5200: Disciplinary Literacy
Complete Portfolio II (EDG 7202 – 0 credits)
Pass the Reading Foundations Exam (if applicable)
Apply for #1316 licensure on DPI website
Maintain a 3.0 GPA
EDG 5245: Supervision of Instruction
EDG 5225: Curriculum Leadership
EDG 5210: Children’s Literature
EDG 5240: Current Topics and Research in Literacy
EDG 7240: Graduate Capstone
Completion of 2 years of classroom teaching

Master’s in Literacy

The Master of Science in Education – Literacy Program is designed to prepare specialists in the field of literacy. Students will learn to assess young learners’ reading strengths and needs, create positive reading experiences, and develop appropriate reading programs. The program will enable the student to qualify for a Wisconsin licensure as a Reading Teacher and a Reading Specialist.

Master’s pathway:

EDG 5230: Improvement of Teaching and Learning
EDG 5205: Language and Literacy Development
EDG 5220: Literacy Assessment for Instruction
Complete Portfolio I (EDG 7201 - 0 credits)
Complete Literacy Practicum (EDG 7216)
EDG 5200: Disciplinary Literacy
Complete Portfolio II (EDG 7202 – 0 credits)
Apply for #1316 licensure on DPI website
Maintain a 3.0 GPA
EDG 5245: Supervision of Instruction
EDG 5225: Curriculum Leadership
EDG 5240: Current Topics and Research in Literacy
EDG 7240: Graduate Capstone
Complete 5017 Literacy Field Experience (EDG 7217)
Complete Portfolio III (EDG 7203 – 0 credits)
Pass the Reading Foundations Exam (for #5017 licensure)
Completion of 2 years of classroom teaching
Hold a Professional Educator license
Apply for #5017 licensure on DPI website
Maintain a 3.0 GPA

What to Expect

You will be given a toolbox through which you can create lifelong learners and tailor literacy interventions to each student's ability. Gain insight into the relationships between speaking, listening, writing, and reading to create practices and programs that will increase the reading capabilities of students.

Online format with courses that are self-paced
8-week sessions
Rolling admissions (Upon acceptance, you can start courses at the beginning of any 8-week session.)
Complete a practicum or internship
Able to earn the reading teacher license in one year
Able to earn the reading specialist license in two years
Opportunity to earn a master's degree in 2 years

Career paths

Reading Specialist
Literacy Coach
Curriculum Developer
Educational Consultant
Instructional Coordinator

Licensure / Certifications

#1316 Reading Teacher License (Wisconsin) #5017 Reading Specialist (Wisconsin)

Hear from our students

CUW provides a nurturing and caring professional learning community, paired with highly supportive, positive, and experienced instructors.

Karen Dewalt / Alumni
The best part of the Literacy program is the professors’ individualized feedback. My professors cared about my learning and helped me do my best work.

Abby Blue / Alumni

Program Requirements

Program entrance requirements:

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college/university.
Minimum undergraduate GPA of a 3.0 for full acceptance.

Licensure Requirements

Reading Teacher License (#1316) requirements

For a student that wants to earn the Reading Teacher License (#1316) from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI):

You must hold a current and valid teaching license and have two years of teaching experience.
A teacher may start the Reading Teacher License with one year of teaching experience so that by the time they graduate they will have their two years of required teaching experience for this licensure.

Reading Specialist License (#5017) requirements

For a student that wants to earn the Reading Specialist License (#5017) from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI):

You must already have your Reading Teacher License (#1316). We accept licensures from other academic institutions.
Reading Specialist candidates must have earned a Master's degree in education to be accepted into the program.
A reading specialist must earn a passing score on the Foundations of Reading Test (FoRT) of 233 or higher.

Reading Specialist and Reading Teacher Licensure requirements

Eligibility for both licensures in the Literacy program is contingent upon the following:

Cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0.
Satisfactory completion of appropriate reading program coursework, associated experiences, and artifacts.
Successful completion of at least two years of teaching at the PK-12 level for Reading Teacher License. (#1316)
Successful completion of six semesters of classroom experiencEs at any grade level for Reading Specialist (#5017).

The Literacy program will accept up to 15 transfer credits from another institution. This is under the discretion of the program director, Steven Witt.

Contact admissions with any questions related to these requirements.

Entrance Requirements

Review program entrance requirements here.

Graduate Application Steps

Admissions process for graduate school

Application form available at www.cuw.edu/apply
- Select the Graduate option
One page essay which should include the following:
- Reason for obtaining a graduate degree
- What are your career goals
- Why are you choosing to pursue your degree at Concordia University
Current résumé of your education and employment experience
Official transcripts from all institutions of higher education

When your application is complete, the file is forwarded to the Admission Committee for review.

Apply Now

Accepted into the program

An official acceptance letter will be emailed to you that will include your Student ID number
An email from your Admissions Counselor will be sent to you with Next-Step details
Password information will be sent separately from the Information Technology office which will provide you access to Blackboard, your Concordia email account, and your student portal
Academic Advising Appointment: Once admitted, you may schedule to meet with your Academic & Career Advisor who will review your degree plan, discuss orientation steps, the CUW student portal, and assist with registering for classes

Please note:

Graduate entrance exams such as the GRE, are not required
If you have completed graduate level classes in the last seven years and wish to have them evaluated for possible transfer, please contact your admissions counselor for more information
Uncommon Scholarships: If you meet qualifications, please complete an application Uncommon Scholarship

Non-Degree Students

This is for students seeking a certification, licensure, or an individual course.

Please complete an application at www.cuw.edu/apply
- Select the Non-Degree option
For certificates and licensures, submit the same documents as degree-seeking applicants
For an individual course, only submit official transcripts for review with your application

Contact the Graduate Admission Office via email graduate.admission@cuw.edu or call 262-243-4300.

Sid Larson
MA

Adjunct Professor

Steven Witt
Ph.D.

Program Director - Graduate Education, Professor

Informational Webinars

Recorded December 2024:

Archived webinars

March 2023

February 2022

Blogs on Literacy Degrees

Get more detailed information about earning your reading specialist or reading teacher licensure. And stay current on the latest news in the literacy field.

Master of Science in Education - Literacy - Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Licensures (DPI #1316 & DPI #5017)