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Online Education Specialist in Reading
Complete Coursework:
As little as 12-18 months
Credit Hours:
30
Tuition:
$301.25 per credit hour. This price includes the administrative fee.
The Education Specialist in Reading degree program at Arkansas State University is an accelerated, flexible degree program for those interested in advancing their career goals in reading and literacy.
Two tracks are available. Each candidate’s experience is assessed at the point of admission and based on previous master’s degree completed.
Track 1 – Advanced Perspective
Designed for students who hold a master’s in reading, literacy or related degree and want to take an in-depth look at classroom practices through research, applying reading knowledge to classroom practice, school systems and community.
In this program, you will:
- Expand knowledge regarding complexities of school systems and legislatures
- Understand and delve into research foundations of literacy, historical studies, seminal studies, literacy and how it influences society
- Explore competing views of how literacy starts
Career opportunities include:
- District Literacy Leader
- Adjunct University Professor
- Literacy Advocate
Track 2 – Professional Practice
Designed for students interested in pursuing a post-graduate degree in reading as a content specialist.
In this program, you will:
- Examine literacy issues in the context of multicultural education and culturally responsive pedagogy with a focus on the differentiation of literacy needs among various student cultures and special needs students
- Focus on the development of literacy skills
- Explore current research on literacy cognition, reading disorders, and research-based methodologies for reading instruction
Career opportunities include:
- Reading Specialist
- District Literacy Leader
Online Course Listing
Core Courses
You must take the following courses.
Examination of theory and practice in action research as applied to literacy education with practical application in literacy settings.
TBD
An overview of research design, framework, and methodological approaches that spans qualitative and quantitative paradigms, including a mixed methods approach, within the context of literacy.
An in-depth examination of the dimensions of understanding in literacy learning, the complexities of comprehension strategy instruction as they pertain to the learning of essential concepts, and how they impact literacy learning environments and professional development for teachers.
Track 1 – Advanced Perspective
All students in the Advanced Perspective track must take the following courses.
Overview of theoretical and practical orientations regarding language acquisition with a focus on English Language Learners including an examination of language acquisition models and their application in schools and classrooms.
An examination of varied perspectives of the processes of writing, with a focus on recursive practices in authentic, academic, and personal settings; reflection on personal and academic writing practices and research of writing pedagogy facilitating the study of effective application.
Serves as both the review and comprehensive examination of program content with a focus on developing descriptive, analytical, and reflective writings that demonstrate effective applications of practices for literacy instruction. Must be taken in final semester of coursework.
An overview of the social foundations of literacy within the context of sociocultural and sociopolitical theory. Limited to MSE-Reading and Ed.S.-Reading students or approval of the instructor.
An overview of theoretical and pedagogical frameworks of the New Literacies with an emphasis on the intersection of student lives, culture, and technology. Restricted to Ed.S.-Reading candidates or graduate students with permission of the instructor.
Examination of the role of literacy leaders within the school, community, and family context with a focus on literacy advocacy project development, implementation, and evaluation.
Track 2 – Professional Practice
All students in the Professional Practice track must take the following courses.
Course features clinical experiences in assessment and intervention in reading and related areas.
Clinical experiences in the correction of reading difficulties with emphasis on utilizing assessment data for professional development as a reading specialist in organizing and supervising school-wide reading reform. Prerequisite: RDNG 6333, or permission of professor.
Focuses on the development of literacy skills, birth through primary grades, including the process of exposure to words and print, and the opportunity to write as a part of the literacy process. This course maintains alignment with state and national standards.
This course examines literacy issues in the context of multicultural education and culturally responsive pedagogy with a focus on the differentiation of literacy needs among various student cultures and special needs students. Presentation and rehearsal of explicit literacy instruction to enhance comprehension.
Course analyzes current federal initiatives and reform policies related to adolescent literacy. Examines the social and cognitive processes related to adolescent literacy. The course features study of methods to facilitate literacy learning for adolescents in all curricular areas.
This course is an examination of current research on literacy cognition, reading disorders, and research-based methodologies for reading instruction, with implications for instruction.
