Reading, MA

This program prepares certified teachers in kindergarten through grade 12 for a variety of teaching and supervisory roles in language and literacy. The program is ideal for certified teachers who aspire to enhance their knowledge of reading and literacy instruction and transform schools and classrooms in pursuit of social justice. Course work is based on professional standards set by the International Reading Association (IRA), and the program is nationally recognized by IRA and approved by the state of Illinois. The requirements for the Type 10 Illinois reading specialist certificate are integrated into the program, and students have the option of adding a reading specialist endorsement to their existing certificate upon program completion.

Admission

A minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA of 2.7 is required for admission to the program, in addition to a valid teaching certificate and evidence that two years of teaching experience will be completed before exit from the program. Students with a 3.0 admission GPA or better will be eligible for a Dean’s Scholarship over the duration of their program of study.

Prerequisites

Upon admission, a faculty advisor will conduct a transcript review to ensure that a special education survey course on exceptional children was taken as part of the completed teacher preparation program.

Requirements

To earn the MA in reading, students must complete 30 semester hours of course work and all clinical experiences. All students are required to create an electronic portfolio using Taskstream. No grades below C may apply toward the degree, and no more than two courses with grades of C+, or C are allowed. The program faculty routinely assess students for evidence of professional dispositions.

The program provides a variety of opportunities for working with children under the supervision of Language and Literacy faculty. Students are expected to complete a minimum of 100 clock hours of clinical coaching experience prior to the practicum. The capstone course is Read 470, Clinical Practice in Language and Literacy. Candidates complete 200 clinical hours during this summer course.

In order to qualify for Roosevelt University's recommendation for the reading specialist certificate (Type 10), all requirements in effect at the time of application must be met, including passing scores on the ICTS Basic Skills Test, the K-12 Assessment of Professional Teaching, and the Reading content exam. The Illinois State Board of Education also requires satisfactory scores on the ICTS Basic Skills Test and the Reading content exam before adding the reading specialist endorsement to the existing certificate. The Reading content exam should always be taken after all course requirements have been completed.