Master of Education and Reading Specialist Certificate

**This program is not accepting new students. Please consider our many other areas of study, such as our MEd in Curriculum and Instruction. For questions, contact our admissions team at soeinfo@pitt.edu.**

Are you a classroom teacher who desires to learn more about how to support all readers?  Would you like to earn a M.Ed. to advance your career? The curriculum for the Reading Specialist Certificate of Advanced Study (K-12) program + M.Ed. is designed to provide candidates with opportunities to build specialized knowledge, engage in principled practice in supervised settings, and prepare for leadership roles in schools and school districts.  In addition, candidates take a six-credit sequence of research courses that allow them to study their own practice or advance their knowledge in the field of reading education.  

Quick Facts

Program Duration: 1 year (Full-time students); 2-3 years (Part-time students)
Time Commitment: Full and Part-Time options are available
Term of Enrollment: Rolling
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Course Requirements: 30 credits
Admissions Requirements: GRE Exam Not Required

Program Details

Coursework is completed in a blended format of on-campus and online study. Upon completion of the program and a passing score on the Praxis exam, candidates are eligible to earn the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Reading Specialist Certificate. In addition, upon completion of the program and successful performance on the comprehensive exam, candidates earn a Master of Education degree in Reading Education. This program  provides candidates with the PDE-required 24 post-baccalaureate credits to earn the level II teaching certificate. Candidates have the option to participate in a year-long internship in a local school district that provides participants with a tax-free tuition stipend. 

Master of Education Program Details

Loading...

Reading Specialist Certificate Details

Loading...

Degree Requirements

Candidates participate in two practicum courses (elementary and adolescent literacy).  Candidates must successfully complete  a comprehensive exam to earn the M.Ed. degree.

Prerequisites

1. All applicants must have a current teaching certificate.
    
2. In addition, students must take the following courses as prerequisites:

3. From the list above, the following courses may be taken as electives throughout the course of the program, if they have not been taken as prerequisites: Teaching of English Language Learners, Foundations of Special Education, Students with Disabilities (Elementary OR Secondary), and Literacy Assessment and Instruction.