Reading, M.Ed.

The Reading Education Program in the UALR College of Education and Health Professions offers the following programs and degrees to meet the needs of teachers progressing along their career pathway.

Training Programs	Graduate Certificates	Graduate Degrees
Reading Recovery Teacher Leader	Literacy Coach Specialist Graduate Certificate	Master of Education in Reading [M.Ed.]
Reading Recovery Teacher	Dyslexia Therapist Graduate Certificate	Educational Specialist in Reading [Ph.D.]
		Doctor of Philosophy in Reading [Ph.D.]

Out-of-State Reciprocity

Out-of-state candidates seeking certification from other states as reading specialists or dyslexia therapists should consult with their respective State Education agencies about specific licensure standards and exam requirements. All candidates are strongly advised to consult closely with a graduate advisor for details regarding their program, concentration, and opportunities for certification and licensure.

Graduate Degrees

UALR College of Education and Health Professions offers three graduate degrees in Reading, enabling educators to significantly increase their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the field of literacy education as well as to pursue a variety of important professional roles in literacy throughout the educational world.

Master of Education

The Master of Education focuses on preparing candidates for licensure as reading specialists, effective literacy educators, or intervention specialists. The M.Ed. program of study emphasizes the relationship between theory, research, and practices in literacy education. The M.Ed. in Literacy program meets CAEP, NCATE, Arkansas Department of Education, and International Literacy Association standards.

For more information about the M.Ed. Reading program, please visit the website.

M.Ed. Admission Requirements

All applicants for regular admission must have a 2.7 cumulative undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 in the last 60 undergraduate hours. Alternatively, applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA in 12 or more hours of graduate course work.

All applicants are responsible for securing information related to state licensure as a reading specialist (Arkansas or other state) to ensure that they meet state licensure requirements during or after the completion of course work toward the degree.

International applicants may apply to the M.Ed. Reading program. International applicants must meet the following requirements in addition to the regular admission standards listed above.

Although the board policy (502.6) requires a score of 71 on the Internet-Based TOEFL (IBT), International Student Services suggests requiring a score > 79 on the IBT or 6.5 on the IELTS, which is a common practice at the graduate level at UALR. Students with US-based undergraduate degrees and native English speakers (e.g., UK, Canada besides Quebec, New Zealand, Ireland, and Australia) will not be asked to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. This program will require that candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in education or education-related services verified by their home ministries in Education or closely related discipline. They must not have just completed IELP, as mastery of English is critical to success in the program. The candidate must possess an equivalent minimum GPA of 2.7 or greater. International candidates must submit articulated transcripts in order to determine whether they meet the minimum admission thresholds. The Graduate School requires WES-articulated transcripts from all admitted international students.

M.Ed. in Reading Program Requirements (30 Hours)

Choose 1A or 1B for Core requirements and then complete respective electives associated with each core. Candidates interested in adding licensure as a Reading Specialist or Dyslexia Therapist in Arkansas should consult the Notes 1 and 2 below the course list.

1A. Core Requirements for Reading Specialist (24 hours + 6 hrs. of electives; leads to reading specialist licensure in Arkansas)

1B. Core Requirements for Reading Generalist (12 hours + 18 hrs. of electives)

Electives*

Notes

Note 1: To meet the requirements for licensure as a Reading Specialist in the State of Arkansas, the following courses must be completed from Core 1A: READ 7351 , READ 7354 , READ 7352 , READ 7385 , READ 7370 or READ 7345 , READ 7327 , and READ 7357 ; and pass the Reading Specialist-Praxis II. In addition, candidates must maintain and upload key assessments in the Chalk & Wire from each course and be a certified teacher in Arkansas.

Note 2: To meet the requirements for licensure as a Dyslexia Therapist in the State of Arkansas, the following courses must be completed from the Core and Elective areas above: READ 7367 , READ 7353 , READ 7385 , READ 7387 ; and upload key assessments in Chalk & Wire from each course. In addition, candidates must pass the Praxis PLT and be a certified teacher in Arkansas.

Note 3: Out-of-state candidates: Out-of-state candidates seeking certification from other states should consult with their respective State Education agencies about specific licensure standards and exam requirements. All candidates are strongly advised to consult closely with a graduate advisor for details regarding their opportunities for licensure.

Note 4: Admission to this program does not require individuals to be licensed teachers. However, successful completion of this program requires candidates to work or to have worked in school settings (private or public) and to have access to school settings (private or public) for the purpose of working with children and teachers throughout a majority of the courses in the program. All candidates are strongly advised to consult closely with a graduate advisor for details regarding their opportunities for licensure and to determine if their work environment and professional goals are commensurate with the work and requirements of this program.

M.Ed. Retention Requirements

Once admitted, candidates are required to maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 with at least a grade of C in all Reading Education (READ) courses in order to continue in the M.Ed. Program.

Throughout completion of coursework, program faculty monitors candidates’ performance, professional behaviors, and dispositions. When needed, candidates may be required to participate in professional development conferences. Successful advancement in the program is not based solely on the number of credits earned; it also requires demonstration of professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions.

M.Ed. Graduation Requirements

Completion of 30 hours of program course work (Reading Specialist Concentration requires 36 hours)
3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average on program course work
Completion of a Coaching Portfolio, which includes required coursework assessments uploaded into Chalk and Wire (Reading Specialist Concentration only)
Passing of the Praxis II Reading Specialist Exam (for Reading Specialist Concentration only)
Completion of Literacy Portfolio, which includes required course work assessments uploaded into Chalk and Wire (Literacy & Culture and Intervention Concentrations only)