UT Tyler School of Education - Graduate

Master of Education in Reading - Online Only

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     ILA National Recognition Recipients

 

 

 

Our program is ranked #15 in the category "Best Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Programs" by Best Accredited Colleges!

Based on 2023-2024 tuition rates, in-state tuition rate is approximately $10,020 for the entire program when taken over six semesters!

  • Reading Teachers
  • Reading Specialists
  • Literacy Coaches
  • Dyslexia Specialists

M.Ed. in Reading Flyer

Mission Statement

  • Our program prepares educators to be Reading Specialists, Literacy Coaches and Dyslexia specialists who are broadly prepared across the scope of practice of literacy education, and who are grounded in literacy research.
  • Our program strengthens educators’ expertise in administering literacy assessments, using data analysis to determine students’ literacy strengths and needs, and designing evidence-based literacy instruction to improve learning outcomes.
  • Our program offers courses and field experiences that prepare educators (e.g., classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, EL teachers, literacy coaches, reading specialists, dyslexia specialists) to work with children and youth who have a wide variety of learning needs, in multiple settings, and who represent diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds.
  • Our program’s coursework focuses on ways to best support the literate lives of children, adolescents, and adults in schools, homes, and communities.

Program Information

  • The M.Ed. in Reading Program accepts application for fall, spring, and summer admission. 
  • Applications and application materials must be submitted and received by the following deadlines:
    • Fall - August 15
    • Spring - December 20
    • Summer - April 15
  • The total credit hours for the program are 36 CREDIT HOURS (12 courses)
  • Students will be eligible to earn a TEA Reading Specialist Certification and either a UT Tyler Literacy Coaching Certificate or a Dyslexia Certificate after they successfully complete the 36 credit hours, successfully defend their program portfolio, and pass the TEA Reading Specialist certification exam.

Tech Tools for Teachers

Virtual teaching and learning are now a reality that is rapidly changing the way teachers teach and students learn. Our M.Ed. in Reading graduate students are a part of the solution in helping other teachers to become more proficient and effective with their virtual literacy teaching. Specifically, our students created a three-minute-mini literacy instructional demonstration video that focuses on how teachers can use new media literacy tools to support their literacy instruction. These instructional videos are research based and are contributing to the body of knowledge regarding effective literacy instruction and new media literacy tools. These videos are a FREE RESOURCE for all PreK- High School teachers. Check them out here.

Invest in your future. Apply today.

  • It's Simple—Apply for admission. Enroll in classes. Enjoy learning from the comfort of your home.
  • It's Flexible—Enroll full-time or part-time. Complete your degree within two years.
  • It's Affordable—Save money. Pay lower rates than just about any program in the region. If you apply for scholarship support, our program saves you even more.  The 2023-2024 in-state tuition rate is approximately $10,019.88 for the entire program when taken over six semesters!

Admission Requirements

Option 1 - Texas Residents Only

To be admitted to the Master of Education in Reading program, a individual must:

  • Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  • Hold a Texas Teacher Certification (any field).
  • Submit Texas teaching service record and any other documents required by Texas governing units.
  • Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
  • Complete admissions interview.
  • Submit a written goal statement and initial philosophy of literacy statement.
  • Have an appropriate GPA in degree plan as set by Texas Administrative Code and other administrative units.
  • For consideration for admission to the program, the applicant must either have a 3.0 overall GPA, or last 60 hour GPA of 3.25 or higher, or submit GRE scores that equals or exceeds 158 verbal and 162 quantitative, successful admissions interview, and the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study.

Option 2 - Texas Non-Residents & International Students Only

  • Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
  • Hold a teacher certification (any field).
  • Submit teaching service record and any other documents required by Texas governing units.
  • Submit official transcripts from all institutions attended.
  • Complete admissions interview.
  • Submit a written goal statement and initial philosophy of literacy statement.
  • Have an appropriate GPA in degree plan as set by Texas Administrative Code and other administrative units.
  • Admission is determined based on GPA and, if necessary, satisfactory scores on the GRE in combination with the GPA, and successful admissions interview.
  • For consideration for admission to the program, the applicant must either have a 3.0 overall GPA, or last 60 hour GPA of 3.25 or higher, or submit GRE scores that equals or exceeds 158 verbal and 162 quantitative, successful admissions interview, and the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study.

Application Submission Process

To be admitted to the UT Tyler Master of Education in Reading program, a prospective student must complete the following steps.

First:

  • Start by applying through our online application.
  • After you have your student ID, submit a Goal Statement and a Philosophy of Literacy Statement at the provided link.

    Goal Statement:  Write a one-page, single spaced biographical statement that includes your teaching experience, your professional goals, and your reasons for pursuing this M.Ed. in Reading degree.

    Initial Philosophy of Literacy Statement:
      Write a one-page, single spaced statement that captures your thoughts, views, and ideas about literacy and its teaching.

Then:

Send all of the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions at ogs@uttyler.edu.

  • All OFFICIAL academic transcripts reflecting the reception of a bachelor's degree and any other undergraduate and graduate coursework.
  • If required, send official scores (obtained within the past five years) on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  • Copy of your teacher certification (any field)
  • Copy of your complete teaching service record from all districts. (Can be obtained from your district Human Resources office.)

Finally:

  • This program requires an admission interview. Within a week of receipt of all admission documents, you will receive an email providing you a link to our online scheduling system. Once you receive this email, you may schedule a Zoom admission interview. You must wait to receive this email to schedule the admission interview.

Notes

  • If your GPA is high enough to waive the GRE requirement, your official transcripts have been reviewed.  Until then, the GRE will remain on your to-do list.

Note: Students admitted to The Graduate School must pay a $250 admission fee to the School of Education Educator Preparation Program. This fee helps cover practicum supervision expenses. This fee is used to supplement program resources (i.e. Needed assessment materials) and practicum supervision expenses.

Criminal History Acknowledgement

As required by Texas HB1508, applicants need to be aware of the following.

  • In order to receive a reading specialist certification, you must pass a criminal history background check.
  • If you have been convicted of an offense that is considered not appropriate for a reading specialist, you could be ineligible to earn this certification from the state of Texas.
  • You have a right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the Texas Education Agency.  The Texas Education Agency currently charges a $50 fee for this criminal history evaluation.

For more information, see Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation.

Transfer of Credit/Experiences

In compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and in accordance with the policies of the UT Tyler Graduate School, transfer of graduate credit from an accredited institution is limited to six (6) hours for the master’s degree. All transfer credit must have been completed with a grade of “B” or better, completed within the last five years, and approved by the degree-granting program. Transfer credits should be evaluated and approved during the first semester. The course being transferred into a degree program should be a direct equivalent to the course within the certification/degree program. Students who have extended work experiences that cover the content of a course should work with their advisor and Director of the School to determine if those work experiences cover course content. Students should work with their advisor to have courses evaluated for transfer.

Select from two related tracks to match your career goals:

  • Master's Degree in Reading with a Reading Specialist Certification and UT Tyler Literacy Coaching Certificate (36 Credit Hours). Must complete requirements within five calendar years.
  • Master's Degree in Reading with a Reading Specialist Certification and UT Tyler Dyslexia Certificate (36 Credit Hours). Must complete requirements within five calendar years.

Work with committed literacy educators and mentors.

Join a team of highly qualified, caring and dedicated literacy faculty. Together, they have the expertise, experience and disposition to work with you and to support your diverse backgrounds, experiences and disciplines.

  • Dr. Kouider Mokhtari, (Interdisciplinary Ph.D., Ohio University, 1987), Anderson-Vukelja-Wright Endowed Chair, Literacy Education
  • Dr. Joanna Neel, (Ed.D., Texas A & M- Commerce, 2006), Associate Professor, Literacy Education
  • Dr. Annamary Consalvo, (Ph.D., UT Austin, 2011), Associate Professor, Literacy Education
  • Dr. Gina Doepker, (Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2007), Associate Professor of Literacy Education

Learn to take on and solve important literacy challenges in your schools and communities. Put knowledge into action.

Did you know?: "At grades 4 and 8, students whose teachers hold master's degrees have scored higher than their peers whose teachers hold bachelor's degrees in every assessment since 2005." (Institute of Education Sciences, 2005-2011)

Plan of Study

Courses Required

Title

Hours

READ 5301

Language, Literacy, and Culture*

3

READ 5302

Issues in Teaching of Literacy Using Children’s and Adolescent Literature*

3

READ 5303

New & Emerging Media Literacies*

3

READ 5304

Teaching Writing in K12 Contexts*

3

EDUC 5301

Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences

3

READ 5305

Teaching Disciplinary Literacy to Adolescents*

3

READ 5306

Literacy Assessment Practicum*

3

READ 5307

Literacy Instruction Practicum*

3

READ 5308

Action Research for Literacy Educators

3

READ 5309

Foundations of Literacy Coaching*

3

READ 5310

Literacy Coaching Practicum**

3

READ 5311

Literacy Coaching as Collaborative Professional development**

3

READ 5312

Diagnostic Reading Assessments Practicum***

3

READ 5313

Dyslexia Reading Instruction and Intervention Practicum***

3

*Courses required for Reading Specialist certification.

**Courses required for Literacy Coaching certificate.

***Courses required for Dyslexia certificate.

View the Course Rotation Offerings for the online Master of Education in Reading cohort.

View the handbook for the Master of Education in Reading.

View the M.Ed. in Reading Milestone Agreement. This form is provided for the purpose of informing students about the academic milestones that they will be expected to reach to earn their master’s degree as well as when they are expected to complete these milestones. 

Career Opportunities

Career tracks for completing the graduate reading program include reading specialists, literacy coaches, instructional support teachers and intervention specialists.

Instructional leaders, a career that encompasses reading specialists and literacy coaches, are expected to experience career growth during the decade ending in 2018. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, career growth is anticipated to be 23%, which is far higher than expected for other occupations.

"Throughout our quest to become master reading professionals at The University of Texas at Tyler, my fellow students and I have been well prepared by the most highly qualified professors in the field of literacy and education. Because of this, we are now ready to take on the challenges of being reading professionals and leading students and teachers to the best practices in literacy education and training." -Sharon Palmer, Reading Specialist, Spring 2012 Graduate.

"The Master of Education in Reading program through the University of Texas at Tyler has given me the insight and knowledge necessary to be a successful, professional literacy educator for both students and teachers alike. As a direct result of the expertise of the professors, I am prepared and have the confidence necessary to make a significant contribution in the literacy community. Thank you!" -Shelley Smith, Reading Specialist, Spring 2015 Graduate.

"I believe the Masters of Education in Reading program at The University of Texas at Tyler is vital to my future success as a literacy professional. The program classes were small, interesting and adaptive for real world classrooms. The professors were always available and happy to help. I could not have had a better experience obtaining my master's degree." -Carrie Thompson, Summer 2015 Graduate

Salary Information

See Bureau of Labor Statistics for detailed salary information on these careers. Another great resource is O*Net.

Financial Aid

Apply for one or more financial assistance options, including Teachers in Excellence Scholarships ($200 first graduate semester), graduate assistantships, and Stafford loans.

Contact

For Program Information:

Dr. Gina Doepker, Program Coordinator
903.566.6206
gdoepker@uttyler.edu

For Admission Information:

903.566.7361
SOEgraduate@uttyler.edu

*Tuition subject to change.

For complaints about this certification educator preparation program, please follow the policy outlined in the Certification Program's Complaint Policy.