Reading Specialist, Initial Licensure, Certificate Program

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Graduate Program Chair

Brenda Hawkins, PhD

Program Objectives

This program defines the knowledge and skills necessary for effective assessment, instruction and leadership in the field of reading. It responds to the needs of school districts by preparing specialists in leadership roles, as well as equipping candidates with the requisite knowledge to meet the needs of students with a wide range of abilities.

This certificate program provides candidates who hold initial licenses in early childhood, elementary, middle school or special education with a rigorous, research based curriculum, a range of assessment, and teaching and staff development opportunities. Candidates for this program already hold a master’s degree and are seeking preparation for the state licensure examination for initial licensure: reading specialist.

This program has been approved by NCATE through the International Reading Association and by the Massachusetts Deparment of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Admissions Standards and Criteria

To apply for enrollment in the Reading Specialist Certificate Program, a student must submit documents as outlined in the graduate admissions section as well as:

Initial Teaching License in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School or Special Education
Master’s Degree
Applicants to graduate initial licensure teacher preparation programs must successfully complete the literacy and communication subtests of the Massachusetts Test for Educator Licensure (MTEL) and submit passing scores as part of their application.

MAT/GRE/GMAT exams are not required

Program Prerequisites

An initial teaching license as outlined above
Literature for Children or Young Adults (or equivalent)
Child Growth and Development (or equivalent)
Principles and Practices of the Teaching of Reading (or equivalent)
In addition, students must successfully pass the appropriate content exam(s) of the MTEL prior to the practicum experience. For this program, it is the Reading Specialist exam.

Program of Study

Required Courses

Total for Certificate 27 CR.

Note:

Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement Course for Teachers

Prior to completion of the program of study, initial licensure candidates are required to take the Fitchburg State University ESE-approved SEI course in order to be endorsed for licensure. The SEI course requirement must meet a minimum number of face-to-face contact hours as prescribed by DESE. Scheduling for this course may not follow the patterns of other required courses.