Reading, M.Ed.

OSRHE Program Code: 075
CIP Code: 131315

Major Code: 3760

(Minimum 33 Semester Hours including Capstone Experience)

Purpose

The purpose of the Master of Education in Reading program is to facilitate classroom teachers’ in-depth understanding of the reading process and their knowledge of how children learn to read and write. The major emphasis is on effective instruction, curriculum development and assessment within an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Teaching, Early Childhood, and Special Education. The program is also designed to meet all of the International Reading Association’s (IRA) competencies for classroom teachers, reading teachers, reading consultants, and reading supervisors. Both the IRA competencies and the Oklahoma State Objectives for Reading Specialists are embedded within the coursework of this program. Students may elect to take the state certification test in reading upon completion of their master’s degree.

Specialty Accreditation

NSU’s educator preparation programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), www.caepnet.org, (1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036-1023, 202-223-0077), and the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (840 Research Parkway, Suite 455, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, 405-522-5399), www.ok.gov/oeqa

Credential Requirements

As a prequisite for program admission, candidates must hold or be eligible to hold a standard teaching certificate or teaching license or be eligible for an alternative certification program with a plan of study for certification on file with NSU’s Teacher Certification office. All candidates seeking certification need to take the state certification test for reading specialists at the completion of the program. There are fees associated with certification testing which is administered by an outside agency under contract with the Oklahoma Office of Educational Quality and Accountability. If seeking certification in any state other than Oklahoma, it is recommended that individuals contact the appropriate State Department for guidelines so they can be built into the program.

Admission

For admission, the applicant for the Master of Education in Reading program must meet the following criteria:

1. An approved Application for Graduate Admissions:
2. A grade point average of 2.5 based on a 4.0 scale in all undergraduate coursework attempted or a 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in the last sixty semester hours of undergraduate coursework.
3. Completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours of education and/or psychology in order to take course in professional education for graduate credit;
4. Qualified for a standard Oklahoma teacher’s certificate/license;
5. Reading courses to include methods of instruction and materials in reading;
6. Methods of teaching elementary language arts or literature for children and/or adolescents.
7. The MAT or GRE must be taken within the first 16 hours of graduate coursework. It is strongly recommended that it be completed within the first semester of coursework. A score at the 25th percentile is required.