Post-Master's Certificate in Reading Specialist
The Post-Master’s Certificate in Reading Specialist program, along with a supervised practicum, enables Reading Specialist candidates to meet the requirements for Initial Licensure in Massachusetts as a Specialist Teacher: Reading. This license, as issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) qualifies recipients to work in the area of reading and language arts with students at all age and grade levels.
The certificate program conforms to the ILA Standards for Reading Professionals as developed by the International Literacy Association. These standards were approved by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the International Literacy Association (ILA).
Certificate Learning Outcomes
To earn full national recognition, the learning outcomes of a program must align with the ILA Standards for Reading Professionals. The Literacy and Language master's degree program received full national recognition from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the International Literacy Association (ILA) in August 2018 and aligns with the ILA Standards for Reading Professionals. To meet the expectations of CAEP and ILA, the Post-Master's Certificate for the Reading Specialist License program aligns with the same ILA Standards:
- Standard 1. Foundational Knowledge. Candidates understand the theoretical and evidence based foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction.
- Standard 2. Curriculum and Instruction. Candidates use instructional approaches,
- materials, and an integrated, comprehensive, balanced curriculum to support student learning in reading and writing.
- Standard 3. Assessment and Evaluation. Candidates use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading and writing instruction.
- Standard 4. Diversity. Candidates create and engage their students in literacy practices that develop awareness, understanding, respect, and a valuing of difference in our society.
- Standard 5. Literate Environment. Candidates create a literate environment that fosters reading and writing by integrating foundational knowledge, instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessment.
- Standard 6. Professional Learning and Leadership. Candidates recognize the importance of, demonstrate, and facilitate professional learning and leadership as a career-long effort and responsibility.
Admission Requirements
- Complete the online graduate admission application
- Have earned a master's degree in education from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Have an Initial Teaching License.
- Have a minimum graduate quality point average of 3.3 on a 4.00 scale.
- Provide two letters of recommendation submitted on the Framingham State University Letter of Recommendation form and sent directly to the University's Graduate Admissions office by the recommender. One letter must be from a principal or supervisor, and the other must be from a faculty member who has taught the candidate at collegiate level if the candidate attended classes in the last five years;
- Submit a typed, 300-word personal statement discussing their motivation for seeking a post-master's degree certificate in view of prior formal education, current job responsibilities, and career plans.
For further information about the Post-Master’s Certificate in Reading Specialist, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 508-626-4501.
Transfer Credit
No transfer credit is permitted in this certificate program.
Certificate Course Requirements (7):
- LTRC 900 Research and Practice in Reading
- LTRC 901 Integrating the Language Arts
- LTRC 902 Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
- LTRC 903 Assessment for Learning Styles and Strategies
- LTRC 910 Leadership and Consultation in the Language Arts
- LTRC 926 Teaching the Writing the Process
One Children's Literature Course:
- ENGL 930 Workshop in Children's Literature
Required Practicum for students seeking an Initial Specialist Teacher Reading License (1):
LTRC 952 Practicum in Literacy and Language with Seminar
or
LTRC 988 Practicum in Reading Enrichment with Seminar
Per the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), candidates seeking an Initial Specialist Teacher: Reading license must obtain the Sheltered English Instruction (SEI) endorsement in one of the following ways:
- Complete an undergraduate program that includes an approved Sheltered English Immersion course.
- Complete the DESE approved Sheltered English Immersion course through a school district.
- Complete the DESE approved Framingham State University course, TESL 910 Sheltered English Immersion.
- Complete a DESE approved Sheltered English Immersion course through another licensure program.
- Earn a passing score on the Sheltered English Immersion 056 MTEL.