California University of PennsylvaniaSchool of Graduate Studies and Research

MASTER OF EDUCATION READING SPECIALISTand READING SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION

CAL UGraduate Studies

The Master of Education: Reading Specialist allows practicing professionals to earn a master’s degree and add a reading specialist endorsement to their Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate. The Reading Specialist Certification program is for educators seeking reading specialist certification only.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that those who specialize in the development of reading curricula will

see a projected employment increase of 22% through 2016. This jump in the number of reading specialists jobs reflects the need to meet new high standards in education.

Reading specialist candidates will learn and apply theory and research in literacy development and acquisition in preparation to fulfill the various roles of a reading specialist, which include teacher of struggling readers, mentor and coach to classroom teachers, and literacy leader in the community.

The reading specialist program is for certified teachers and offers two options:

MASTER’S DEGREE: The 36-credit program is for students who wish to earn a Master of Education degree and reading specialist endorsement of their Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate. In this option, students are required to complete 36 credits of graduate coursework. To have the reading specialist certification added to a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate, candidates must pass the Reading Specialist Portfolio Interview during their last semester and pass the PRAXIS II Reading Specialist Test. CERTIFICATION ONLY: This 27- to 33-credit program is for students who are seeking reading specialist certification only. The number required is dependent on the student’s background in special education. Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all reading specialists to have 9 credits of special education and 3 credits of English as a Second Language. If a student entering the Reading Specialist Program does not have those courses in his/her undergraduate transcript, those credits must be earned in the reading specialist program.

Graduate Programswith a Higher Degree of Character

Graduate programs at California University help people adapt to changes in their professional lives and position themselves for new professional and leadership opportunities. Our master’s degrees and

professional certificate programs are academically rigorous, and they build upon the rich work experiences that students bring to their studies.

> MASTER OF EDUCATION, READING SPECIALIST (36 CREDITS)

> CERTIFICATION PREPARATION (27-33 CREDITS)

Delivery ModeHybrid (Most coursework is online with a few face2face classes).

Accreditation• National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education• Pennsylvania Department of Education

Core Reading Courses (21 credits required)RSP 700 Foundations of Literacy: Theory and Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 RSP 702 Literacy Assessment and Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3RSP 703 Action Research I: Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3RSP 704 Action Research II: Instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3RSP 705 Psychology of Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3RSP 706 Literacy Leadership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3RSP 734 Content Area Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

English Language Learner Courses (3 credits required if not already completed)EDU 650 Supporting the English Language Learner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3EDE 704 Introduction to English as a Second Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3EDE 709 Develop Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Educational Research Courses (3 credits required)RES 800 Methods of Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3ESP 800 Seminar in Advanced Behavior Analysis and Research Design . . . . . . . 3

Related Electives (8-9 credits required)ECE 703 Literacy Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3EDE 701 Development and Organization of School Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . `3ELE 701 Teaching and Assessing Language Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ELE 702 Teaching and Assessing Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3EDE 713 Language Acquisition and Development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3ESP 610 Foundations and Collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3ESP 611 Assessment and Positive Behavioral Interventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3ESP 701 Introduction to Behavior Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3ESP 612 Evidence-Based Practices for Elementary Inclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 ESP 613 Evidence-Based Practices for Secondary Inclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3ESP 619 Evidence-Based Practices for K-12 Inclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3PSY 712 Advanced Psychology of Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3PSY 720 Neuropsychology of Learning Disorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3RES 829 Research Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Regardless of the degree program that you choose to pursue—either on campus or through Cal U Global Online —the University’s mission of “Building Character, Building Careers” is a driving force in the curriculum. We look forward to receiving your application!

For complete course descriptions of all master’s degree and professional certificate curriculums offered in a variety of academic disciplines at Cal U, visit www.calu.edu.

ADMISSION CRITERIA• Official Transcripts• Minimum 3.0 QPA in Baccalaureate degree • Copy of teaching certificate before

completion of first semester (students who fail to meet this requirement will not be approved for RSP candidacy)

• Current Act 24, 34, 151, and 114 clearances.• Graduate School Application $25.00

nonrefundable application fee

APPLICATION Applications are available online at our website, www.calu.edu. If you do not have computer access to apply online, please request application materials by contacting:

California UniversitySchool of Graduate Studies and Research250 University AvenueCalifornia, PA 15419-9902Phone: 724-938-4187

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATIONCatherine Hayden724-938-5892hayden@calu.edu

California University of Pennsylvania 250 University Avenue California, Pennsylvania 15419

GRADUATE FACULTYFaculty teaching graduate courses in the Reading Specialist program include:

Dr. Holly Diehl, 724-938-4027diehl@calu.edu

Dr. Diane Nettles, 724-938-4497nettles@calu.edu

Dr. Christine Peterson, 724-938-4028peterson@calu.edu