Licensure Only: Specialist Teacher of Reading (All Levels)
This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial License in Specialist Teacher of Reading (All Levels) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This licensure-only program is for licensed classroom teachers with a master's degree who seek further certification as a specialist teacher of reading. It allows teachers to add an additional license to advance initial licenses to Professional (Early Childhood, Elementary Education, Moderate Disabilities). The program offers thorough training in literacy strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners across grades K-12. Students work with professors on literacy research, pedagogy, and policy, and focus on staff development and direct services to students.
Note: A MA Initial or Professional license and at least one year of teaching experience under that license are required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to be eligible for a license as a specialist teacher of reading. Teacher candidates may still apply for the license before that year of teaching is complete. Upon documentation of the completed year of teaching, the license will be issued by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
Program Prerequisites
- Initial or Professional license for classroom teacher or special education teacher
- EEDUC 5400 Literacy Essentials for Every Educator (or equivalent)
- EEDUC 5122 Child and Adolescent Development (or a course in child development and a course in adolescent development)
- EECLD 6115 Sheltered English Instruction (PreK - 12 or documented state approved SEI endorsement)
- EECLD 6001 Culturally Responsive Pedagogies (or equivalent) [NOTE: Our initial licensure students will have this course, others may need to take or provide evidence they meet]
Program of Study
Required Courses (15 credits)
| EECLD 6002 | On Languages: What Educators Need to Know about Linguistics | 3 |
| EEDUC 6101 | Vocabulary and Comprehension Across the Curriculum | 3 |
| EINSE 6014 | Targeted Reading and Writing Instruction | 3 |
| EEDUC 6135 | Assessment: A Literacy Perspective | 3 |
| EEDUC 7130 | Leadership in Language & Literacy: Coaching & Collaboration | 3 |
Practicum (3 credits):
Prerequisites: Practicum application submitted by April 1 for Fall or November 1 for Spring; cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher; completion of all pre-practicum courses with no outstanding incomplete or failing grades. This 150-hour, full time, semester-long experience requires an accompanying seminar course and includes a field experience fee and 3 credits of tuition. Field Placement Office must approve all practicum placements..
| EEDUC 7105 | Practicum: Literacy: Interactive Assessment and Instruction | 3 |