The Reading Education Master's Degree is an innovative educational program that links literacy research to practical classroom practice. This 30-semester hour program is offered online, nationwide as an advanced degree for credentialed teachers. The curriculum for the program is based on the International Literacy Association standards and also encompasses the Florida Department of Education Reading Endorsement and Reading Certification requirements. This advanced program requires several field experiences in school settings. The program is approved for both the K-12 Reading Endorsement and the K-12 Reading Certification by the Florida Department of Education. Reading is a critical shortage area in Florida. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The M.Ed. in Reading Education is designed to prepare educators as reading teachers, reading coaches, district-level literacy specialists, and publishing industry consultants. New cohorts are admitted in the fall of each year. The application deadlines are listed on the Graduate School website.

Based on the International Reading Association’s Standards for Reading Professionals, this program integrates coursework and clinical experiences to prepare graduates in the following areas:

• Foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction
• Assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction
• Integration of foundational knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments

• Theory and practice of effective literacy coaching

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University graduate admission requirements described in the Admissions section of the catalog, the applicant must meet the following minimum departmental admission requirements for provisional admission:

• Hold professional teaching certification
• Have earned a GPA of at least 3.0 on bachelor's degree*
• Submit a formal letter of intent focused on who you are, why you are applying to the M.Ed. in Reading program, and why you should be considered as a potential candidate
• Submit contact information (email addresses and phone numbers) for two professional references
• Demonstrate proficiency in ESOL via completion of an ESOL survey course or district in-service points
• Demonstrate proficiency of the Additional Elements of the Florida Uniform Core Curriculum (UCC)

To be fully admitted to the program, the following requirements must be met in addition to the requirements for provisional admission (above). Full admission is required by the fifth week of the first semester. Students will be unable to register for a second semester of coursework until full admission has been granted.

• Purchase and activation of a subscription to the School of Education assessment system within the first week of the first semester
• Completion of the Professional Education Applicant Disposition Scale by each person identified as a professional reference
• Completion of the Professional Education Applicant Disposition Self-rating Scale

*Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement but meet all remaining admission requirements may be conditionally admitted to the program. Specific academic requirements will be established by the School of Education and monitored by the Graduate School (see Conditional Admission in the Admissions section of the catalog).

All approvals for admission to the School of Education are subject to reevaluation as students progress through the program. Students denied admission or removed from the program may appeal the decision to the Dean of the School of Education.

School of Education students are expected to adhere to the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and national standards of conduct associated with professional, accreditation, and state agencies. 

Degree Requirements

Instructional Foundations

Language Arts

Assessment/Diagnosis

Leadership

Students must also successfully pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination for Reading K-12.